Christmas Traditions
One of our favorite Christmas traditions is listening to Christmas music. During the holiday season, we enjoy a remarkable Christmas program at our church, hymn singing in worship services at our church, some Christmas musicals on television, downloads of Christmas albums by favorite artists, and satellite radio songs of the season as we drive, while shopping or attending Christmas events. All in all—a musical overdose of Christmas set to music.
The music at Christmas is special for several reasons. First, the familiarity of frequently repeated hymns and songs means dozens of them can be sung from memory. Second, the biblical content is strong—particularly focused on themes like faith, hope and love. Finally, the songs lend themselves to all kinds of dramatic interpretations through skits, pantomimes, costumes, and other external effects. When you combine all this, the music during the Yule season is special.
One of our favorite Christmas memories is a duet some friends sung, year after year, in our church in Oregon. They did it so well it became a Christmas tradition. Our memories of their version are still better than any professionally recorded version. Another family memory is singing Silent Night as part of candlelight services. While our boys weren’t much into emotive experiences, even they participated in this service wholeheartedly. The boys still groaned when we later made them drive around looking at Christmas lights (singing along with Ann’s favorite musical collection). We usually bribed them with the promise of pizza after, which kept them passably agreeable during the drive. Christmas makes us all a little softer around the edges.
Enjoy your Christmas services this weekend. Allow the music to bond you with your church family, remind you of biblical truth about the birth of Jesus, and move you emotionally through visual reminders of the Nativity. And, even if they gripe a bit, take your boys (and girls) to look at Christmas lights accompanied by the songs of Christmas (use a pizza if necessary).
Merry Christmas!
Read More
![](https://thegateway.press/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/pexels-aleksejs-bergmanis-681368.jpg)
Comfort Twice Over
When we provide comfort to fellow believers, we are the means by which God has chosen to provide his comfort.
![](https://thegateway.press/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/StockSnap_BBWW1UTEXX.jpg)
Inheritance & Glory: Our Vocation
For believers, while heaven may seem long away, our eternal inheritance is already available to us in the here and now.
Listen
Brian Borgman
On this episode of The Jonathan Edwards Center Podcast, Dr. Chris Woznicki interviews Dr. Brian Borgman regarding his book, Jonathan Edwards on Genesis. They discuss Edwards as an exegete, as an interpreter of scripture, specifically looking at Genes
![](https://img.transistor.fm/by32VNV-Xy98QI72DR9xoEFWmfb_DQiFBbe5yZn-a1c/rs:fill:3000:3000:1/q:60/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzM5MTg0LzE3MDU0/Mzc5MjctYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.jpg)
The Dents
Tyler sits down with longtime missionaries and retired Gateway faculty, Don and Anne Dent. The Dents served with the IMB for over 30 years and most recently at Gateway Seminary. In this episode, they reflect on their past experiences from working in the mission field
![](https://img.transistor.fm/L9B6Hr-3VkAEFKfVoJxhSCszWoV4rjOmtlZh07HWMWk/rs:fill:3000:3000:1/q:60/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS81YTdk/NTJkYTU1MzMwMDNi/MTNkNmJkYjJlNzJi/OTMyOS5qcGc.jpg)
Watch
![](https://thegateway.press/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/pexels-pixabay-45975.jpg)
Jonathan Edwards and the Asbury Revival
Chris Chun and Chris Woznicki discuss the signs of true revival, signs of the work of the Holy Spirit, and why it is important to critically assess the characteristics of revival in a spirit of charity.
![](https://thegateway.press/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Edwards-and-the-Baptists-scaled.jpg)
Jonathan Edwards and the Baptists | Douglas Sweeney, Nathan Finn and Chris Chun
Dr. Douglas Sweeney and Dr. Nathan Finn joined Dr. Chris Chun for a panel discussion on Jonathan Edwards, recorded live at the SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim.