December 22, 2025
The Wonders of His Love
Jesus came to save us from sin and fulfill messianic prophecies. He is the Christ of the cross who arose as King of kings. Don't miss the wonders of his love.
Articles for tag: Nativity
December 22, 2025
Christmas in Uruguay
John Bliffen tells the story of a celebration of Christmas in Uruguay, reminding us that the traditions may differ, but the message is the same.
December 20, 2025
Who’s That Guy?
Chad Broaddus tells us about reading the Christmas story with his family and how Quirinius reminds him of the authenticity of Jesus' birth.
December 15, 2025
HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
Here at the Communion table, we gather as wanderers who have come home and are part of God’s forever family: his church.
December 25, 2022
A Block of Wood: A Reflection on Christmas, Expectations, and Gratitude
I don’t know what I was expecting. What lofty Christmas dreams did 3-year-old me cherish in my heart that would make the giant, handmade, wooden kitchen my grandfather lovingly built for weeks in his spare time seem like garbage on Christmas morning?
November 1, 2022
The Stories God Tells
By Michael C. Mack Who doesn’t love a gripping story of adventure told by a master storyteller? Some of my favorites are epic sagas: Star Wars, Indiana Jones, National Treasure, and the like. I was reminded about the adventures of the Pilgrims as I read Bob Russell’s feature article about Thanksgiving in this issue. It’s a true story about religious convictions, bravery, suffering, perseverance, and faith. God uses stories like that to teach us and transform us. It’s why Bob used this and a story about his grandson Charlie in his article, and it’s why I often remind our writers
December 23, 2020
Retired Ministry Couple Continues to Share Jesus as Mr. and Mrs. Claus
By Chris Moon After 35 years in ministry, Vernon and Ellen Landreth found a new way to share the story of Jesus Christ—as Mr. and Mrs. Claus. The couple have spent more than a decade serving their Idaho community as the jolly couple in red. They created a business to match—The Santa Couple—and typically do 60 to 70 “gigs” per year, Ellen Landreth said. They make home and business visits and join customers on carriage rides. They’ll even drop off presents wherever they are needed. And they’ll tell the story of the birth of Jesus Christ “at every opportunity we
December 15, 2019
How’s Your Christmas I.Q.?
We plan to post a few Christmas-themed articles from Christian Standard’s archives during the days leading up to the celebration of Jesus’ birth. We’ll start with this Christmas quiz from 1974. _ _ _ How’s Your Christmas I.Q.? December 15, 1974; p. 12;By Maxine Fream You’ve heard the Christmas story ever since you were a small child and you know it backwards and forwards, right? So you should have no trouble answering the following few questions, right? Watch it! True or false?— 1. Joseph and Mary were both descended from King David. 2. Joseph thought Mary’s child was illegitimate and
November 2, 2019
Sacred Responsibility, Sacred Trust
By Jerry Harris I have many fond childhood memories of Christmas. I remember the silver tree we set up in our front picture window. We shined a filtered light on it that changed its color to red, green, blue, and yellow. My older brother would attempt to hypnotize me by setting me in front of it. I remember getting a Close’n Play record player one Christmas that didn’t survive the day. I remember sneaking up behind my deaf uncle, who had fallen asleep in my dad’s chair; we made a huge racket, convinced he was faking not being able to
December 26, 2015
Meditating on Joy: December 26
By Becky Ahlberg Saturday, December 26 Read 1 Peter 1:3-9. We ended our thoughts yesterday with the first verse of today”s Scripture. The phrase “inexpressible and glorious joy” (v. 8) is the one that always jumps out at me. It”s the day after Christmas and these may not be your first thoughts! However, Christmas can bless us every year by allowing us to embrace anew the incarnation and the sheer joy of belonging to God””and it”s all because of his willingness to move first. Emily E. S. Elliott captures it in her carol, “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne”: Thou didst
December 22, 2010
We Wonder Too
By Mark A. Taylor Schoolchildren in a Nairobi slum sing with gusto: Jesus, what a wonder you are! Their boisterous voices reverberate inside the corrugated tin walls of their tiny classroom: Oh my Jesus, what a wonder you are! And any visitor is struck by the wonder that Jesus has moved men and women to serve in this difficult place. A host of smiling teachers stands before thousands of children in classrooms like this one, rising above a sea of 12-by-12 lean-to huts these kids call home. Meanwhile, the school”s well-dressed social workers step over running streams of raw sewage
December 5, 2007
Holly, Jolly, and Holy?
By Mark A. Taylor My church”s annual Christmas pageant is wonderful. It engages its audience as well as any Broadway play with compelling pictures of the stable, the Baby, angels in the air, shepherds peeking into the manger, and regal Magi processing through the aisles. But the first 20 minutes or so of the evening is far removed from Bethlehem. It”s a bouncing, laughing, dancing, show meant mainly to remind us that this, indeed, “is the most wonderful time of the year.” In past years, this first act has featured a rollerblading Frosty, a rapping Rudolph, or a ballerina ascending
December 25, 2005
Once Upon a Time in Bethlehem
By Tom Lawson Author”s Note: With apologies to those who insist on sticking to what we actually know about important biblical events, the following is offered in the spirit of the season. Mary still weakly held on to Joseph”s hand. Trembling, mostly caused by sheer exhaustion, still came in waves. Joseph dabbed the sweat off her face and tried to smooth her hair. He”d been so wonderful the whole long night. She knew he was as scared as she was, but he tried hard not to sound like it. He had even wrapped the child up in the strips of
