70 results for tag: christmas

The Cradle and the Cross

Christmas upsets many people because at least once a year they can’t run away from Jesus. When Jesus shows up, things change, the status quo is threatened. It is a time of challenge and confrontation to religion and politics.

The King Who Became a Man – by Greg Albrecht

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood (John 1:14, The Message). During his reign (1910-1936) King George V of the United Kingdom and the British Empire visited Leeds, a city in the north of England. When he was informed that a school was situated next to the railway line, King George agreed to have the train slow down so that he could appear on a platform and wave to the children as the royal entourage passed. When the king came outside the train he wore no outward signs of royalty, but was dressed in a suit, like any other male subject of his kingdom. After the train glided by and the cheers of the children ...

Advent: Awaiting Arrivals – by Laura Urista

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) Advent is a time of expectation, anticipation and waiting. Ancient Israel awaited the arrival of a Savior – the Messiah to establish his kingdom of peace. The Magi awaited the arrival of a magnificent star to guide them to the newborn king. Mary awaited the arrival of her son, whom she named Jesus (Savior). Every year at Christmas-time, we await the arrival of friends and family at dinners and celebrations. ARRIVAL DATE: ...

December 2023

CLICK HERE to read now (PDF Format) Greg Albrecht: Not What Religion Expects – pg. 2 Kenneth Tanner: One-Sided God – pg. 6 Brad Jersak God in Our Image – pg. 7

Great Exchanges – by Greg Albrecht

Your first thought at this time of the year might be those frenzied crowds in shopping malls and department stores on the days immediately following Christmas. People exchanging and returning gifts they received that were the wrong size, wrong color—or just plain wrong! But there's another exchange we need to keep in mind. This great exchange is the reality of the cross of Christ. Jesus Christ took our sin and died for it, paying the debt that we could not pay. In exchange, God, because of his grace, gives us eternal life. Our sin for eternal life! The great spiritual exchange. Great exchanges characterize the month of December for Christians ...

What You Get for Christmas?

It's understandable that the focus of Christmas for children is the gifts they might get, but Christmas never becomes much more than that for many adults. Their question is, "What am I going to get?" In one way, that IS the question, but not in the way most of us think.

Christmas Presence – by Laura Urista

We’ve celebrated many memorable Christmases over the years. Sometimes it was a special trip or a special meal with all the family gathered in one place which made the day so memorable. But the one Christmas that stands out in my mind as the most memorable was not a very merry one. It is so memorable to me because I learned a valuable lesson. It was December “1990-something” and our daughter, Tawny, wanted a new bike for Christmas. After much searching, my husband and I found a bike that was the perfect size and in her favorite color—purple. With smiles of anticipation, we beamed with pride and joy as our wide-eyed little girl opened ...

Sleigh Ride – Michael North

From CWR/PTM - Enjoy this song by Michael North.

Las Posadas

Had we been the owner of the Bethlehem Inn, would we have given Joseph and Mary a room? Would we have made room for our Savior? https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR045.mp3

What If God Was One of Us? – by Greg Albrecht

"Stop Acting Like God. Start Acting Like Jesus." The message, on a poster being waved during a rally in support of a minority group, confronted and challenged me. It seemed to be directed at me and my fellow Christians.  If they really knew Jesus, I thought, they would know that he is God and he was God in the flesh!  I continued to ponder the poster until a free translation of its intended meaning occurred to me: "Jesus, save us from your followers who seem to be acting like our stereotype of the Old Testament God."  It was obvious they had a vague notion that Jesus didn't hurt people, that Jesus didn't abuse people, and that Jesus ...

Recognizing God

The birth of Jesus signaled a new way of doing things. The gospel insists that our relationship with God is all about what he does - it's all about him. But sadly, many are convinced by religion that their relationship with God is all about them. https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR097.mp3

The Word Who Became Flesh

He was born so that we might be spiritually reborn. Join us as we study the significance and meaning of Jesus' birth in John 1:1-14. https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR149.mp3

Christmas Reminds Us

The unending, eternal truth and beauty of the birth of Jesus stands in stark contrast over against the ugliness, hatred, oppression, abuse and warfare of our world - the good news is that Jesus not only came into the world of the first century, he still comes to ours. https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR513.mp3

The Carnal God

Because of the infinite love of God, Jesus was incarnated as God in the flesh - so that he might fully know us and so that we might know him. https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR512.mp3

The Message and Music of Christmas

His Name is Jesus - Greg Albrecht and Friends Join us as we celebrate Jesus' birth with a powerful and uplifting message from Greg Albrecht - combined with some of the greatest hymns of Christmas performed by the Plain Truth Ministries Singers. https://www.ptm.org/mp3/TheMessageandMusicofChristmas.mp3

The Three M’s

Many activities surround Christmas - sometimes the busy-ness of it all might even obscure the actual meaning of the birth of Jesus.   https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR511.mp3

The Little Stranger in the Manger – by Greg Albrecht

Friend and Partner Letter from December 2016 Come down to the manger, see the little stranger  Wrapped in swaddling clothes, the prince of peace. – “Christmas Must be Tonight,” The Band The invitation come down to the manger, see the little stranger announces the arrival of the God who cares, the God who comes near and the God who becomes one of us.  The invitation come down to the manger, see the little stranger proclaims God’s love being born into our story.  Come down to the manger, see the little stranger bids us to come receive the unconditional love of God who holds us near and dear.  When ...

Shame and Scandal

Jesus' birth, as well as his life and death, were surrounded by shame and scandal, yet the real shame and scandal was not then easily observed nor is it easily believed now. https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR461.mp3

The Crib and the Cross

The crib and the cross of Jesus Christ are the bookends of his human earthly life - the bookends of the greatest love story ever told. https://www.ptm.org/mp3/FreeDwnld/RCWR459.mp3    

When Did God Become a Christian? Connecting Covenants – Greg Albrecht

They arrived in Jerusalem with their camel caravan after spending more than a month on the road. These wealthy and wise men called the Magi were clearly men of means—their style of travel was the first-century equivalent to a sleek, sophisticated Motorhome more than it was an ancient VW bus. On-the-street speculation about the purpose of this visit quickly ended when these dignitaries started to inquire about a newly born king of the Jews to whom they had come to pay homage.   Herod (the Great) was more than a little interested when he heard what had brought these esteemed men all the way to his kingdom. Appointed by the Roman ...