Scripture and ...

I am a bit of a Christmas Music connoisseur. I have multiple Christmas playlists on my smartphone, but my general Christmas playlist has over 400 songs and is nearly 24 hours long. I grew up listening to Bing Crosby and Perry Como croon Christmas carols on vinyl and loving Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant's newer Christmas songs. I thought I would share with you what I thought was the best modern version of each Christmas carol.  Which are your favorites? Or do you think another artist has topped any of these versions? The First Noel - TobyMac with Owl City O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Matt Maher O Holy Night - Point of Grace O Little Town of Bethlehem - Natalie Grant What Child is This? - Jason Bare Angels We Have Heard on High - Sanctus Real  or Chris Tomlin Silent Night - Big Daddy Weave It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - Kutless Joy to the World - Avalon Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Building 429 God Rest You Merry Gentleman - MercyMe  or Pentatonix We Three Kings - Tenth Av...

Here are all of the links to my Christmas blog posts in one place.  All of the Christmas carols, the DIYs, the Bible studies, the online quiz.  All connected here so that you can find them easily. Christmas Bible Studies and Quizzes A calendar with Bible verses with different names of Jesus  for four weeks of advent A calendar with Bible verses for the four weeks of Advent  themed on hope, peace, joy and love Bible verses that emphasize why Jesus was born  for sharing on social media, printing, or crafting A free printable Bible study to look into why Jesus was born An online or printable quiz to separating biblical fact from traditional presumptions about Jesus' birth Christmas Bible Verse Lockscreens Bible verses images to put on your smartphone's lockscreen Christmas Songs Are you looking for the Bible verses behind these Christmas songs? Just click on the links to read the lyrics and the Bible verse that correspond with them...

Isaac Watts is a hymn writer, well-known as the author of 750 hymns like “ When I Survey The Wondrous Cross ,”  “Alas And Did My Savior Bleed,” and “O God Our Help In Ages Past."  His  “Joy To The World” was first published in 1719. Later, Lowell Mason took lines of music from Handel's Messiah  to compose the tune, Antioch, that is now so familiar. Did you recognize the first notes of “ Lift Up Your Heads ” or possibly “ Glory to God ” as the beginning notes? “And heaven and nature sing” reflects the orchestra in the opening notes of “ Comfort Ye .” The interesting thing about “Joy To The World” is that the song is really more about the Second Advent (Jesus' return to reign) than the First Advent (Jesus birth so He could die for our sins). The biblical prophecies in verses 3 and 4 are not fulfilled yet, but they will be when Jesus Christ returns to set all things right. Even the first verse doesn't accurately reflect the birth of Jesus, as the earth didn't “re...

What can be more traditional at Christmas than a Christmas carol, especially one whose most prevalent tune dates back at least to 1580? "What Child Is This" brings out the truth that Jesus is both Savior and King of Kings and is worthy of praise. It contrasts the Baby who was worshipped while yet a child with the rejected Messiah who was crucified for our sins. My favorite verse is the last which invites everyone from pauper to royalty to worship Jesus and invite Him to be the Lord of their life. Like most Christmas carols, "What Child Is This" does sometimes portray more of a Christmas card scene with Jesus sleeping on Mary's lap, animals mentioned as being beside the manger (the location of the manger is never actually given, nor a stable mentioned), and the magi seem to visit Jesus at the time of His birth rather than probably two years later. In spite of these presumptions, this carol beautifully brings out the purpose of Jesus' birth- to save ...

Not many songs are more familiar for Christmas than Hark the Herald Angels Sing. My son calls it the Charlie Brown Christmas carol because the kids sing it at the end of the iconic Christmas program. Charles Wesley, the author, wrote over 6,000 hymns, including the familiar “ And Can It Be That I Should Gain ”, “Christ The Lord Is Risen Today”, “ Come Thou Long Expected Jesus ”, and “O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing.” In the first verse of “Hark The Herald Angels Sing,” he calls all nations to join in with the angels in giving “glory to the newborn King.” The second verse looks into the doctrine of the incarnation and the final verse looks at the purpose behind Jesus' birth*. While I love this song, I do want to point out that in Luke 2 it does say that the angels spoke "Glory to God in the highest," and did not sing it. In fact, angels are never mentioned as singing in the Bible (with the possible exception of Job 38:7). Ironically, the original hymn did n...

Are you looking for the Bible verses behind these Christmas songs? Just click on the links to read the lyrics and the Bible verse that correspond with them. Come Thou Long Expected Jesus Glory To God On High Handel's Messiah Hark the Herald Angel's Sing Joy To The World O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Welcome To Our World What Child Is This? While Shepherds Watch Their Flocks By Night

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel is an advent song that has been around for a long time. It is based on the O Antiphons that go back to at least the eighth century. The later version,  O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, is believed to date back to the twelfth century, though it was published in 1710 in Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum in Latin. Additional stanzas (Wisdom and Desire of Nations) were added in 1878.  The major English translations were written by John Mason Neale in 1851 and later revised in 1861. The revision changed "Draw nigh, draw nigh, Emmanuel" to "O come, O come, Emmanuel." In 1906, Thomas Alexander Lacey also translated the text. The additional verses were translated by Henry Sloane Coffin in 1916. This carol is undoubtedly based on Scripture passages.  It looks at many prophetic passages about the first coming of Jesus, born in Bethlehem.  As an advent song, it looks forward to Jesus' first arrival.  Although that event has already pas...

What do the following Bible verses have in common? All of these Bible verses are used by Handel in his oratorio, Messiah.  If you have had the privilege of participating in a performance of Handel's Messiah, then you have been blest with learning as many as 74 Bible verses.   You can find which Bible verses are used in each section using the links below: Handel's Messiah: Part 1 Handel's Messiah: Part 2 Handel's Messiah: Part 3

Welcome To Our World by Chris Rice Tears are falling, hearts are breaking How we need to hear from God You've been promised, we've been waiting Welcome Holy Child Welcome Holy Child Of Anna in Luke 2:38 "At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem ." Hope that you don't mind our manger How I wish we would have known But long awaited Holy Stranger Make yourself at home Please make yourself at home Luke 2:7 "And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn ." Bring your peace into our violence Bid our hungry souls be filled Word now breaking Heaven's silence Welcome to our world Welcome to our world Mary said in Luke 1:53 " He has filled the hungry with good things; And sent away the rich empty-handed." ...