No media available

The Virtues of Christmas

Christmas Cookies & Coffee – The Virtues of Christmas

Pastor Phil Derstine 12-22-24

The Virtues of Christmas – Look beyond the superficial commercialism

  • Virtue (def.) – Moral excellence; goodness; righteousness 
  • Galatians 5:22-23 (Nine Fruit of the Spirit) – The Character and Nature of Christ
  • Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance
  • See JESUS in every symbol of Christmas!

Five Symbols of Christmas – reveal the virtues of Christ

1. The Candy Cane - FAITH

  • Shape of a shepherd’s staff 
  • Letter “J” for the name Jesus
  • White for the sinless, purity of Jesus
  • Red for the shed blood of Jesus
  • Striped for the scourging of our Savior – Isaiah 53:5 “… with his stripes we are healed.”
  • Hard candy because He is our Rock
  • Candy to be broken & shared with others
  • John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.”
  • Psalm 34:8 “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusts in Him.”

2. Colored Lights – JOY 

  • John 8:12 “Then spoke Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
  • Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world… (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

3. The Christmas Tree – PEACE – the cross brings us peace with God.

  • I Peter 2:24 “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we being dead to sins should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
  • Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

4. Santa Claus - GOODNESS

  • St. Nicolaus – A Christian bishop in ancient Greece, used his inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. Became known for his generosity to those in need and his love for children.
  • II Corinthians 5:20 “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ’s behalf; Be reconciled to God.”

5. Gift Giving - LOVE

  • Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
  • John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (17)  For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.”