THE REAL CHRISTMAS TREE

       

            There are 30 million trees sold in America each year. 100 million trees worldwide.

            The Christmas tree tradition has been around for a long time. Many claim to be the originator of the tradition such as Saint Nickolas of Roam, Germans in the nineteenth century, the Dutch etc…

            There isn't any proof that any of these started the practice. Maybe they all had part and from them all evolved to what we practice today.

            I don't claim my message today is any closer to the origin of the Christmas tree. I think it relates better to the Christian Christmas.

Jeremiahs tree

            Jeremiah 10:3-5 For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

⁴ They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers that it move not.

⁵ They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

The tree of life

            Genesis 2:8-17  And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

⁹ And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

¹⁵ And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

¹⁶ And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat. This included the tree of life.

¹⁷ But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Trees are for life

            Deuteronomy 20:19 When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man's life) to employ them in the siege:

            Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

            Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

The real Christmas tree

            1 Peter 2:21-25 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

²² Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

²³ Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

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.

²⁵ For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

           

ANNOUNCEMENTS

January 4, Work day.  10:00 a. m.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Wednesday 7:00 p.m, Bible discussion, Hebrews 13

Third Wednesday in February; Annual business meeting..

Bible study available (Foundations of Faith).

Nancy's village

Lunch after Service.

Philippian offering

Remember the brown box, building fund, bicycle, and sewing machine.

Cans and food donation.