Welcome to Why the Nativity?
Reflections on the First Christmas: the town of Bethlehem, the Virgin Mary, and the Christ-child
One thing is for certain about Christmas: It is not unexpected! We celebrate this glorious event every 365 days. Our calendar is based on this event. We know it's come, we plan for it, and we love it--year after year without fail. Every child in the world loves Christmas.
That said, there are unexpected dimensions to Christmas. In this course we will explore the ancient prophecies and significance of:
The town of Bethlehem
The Virgin Mary
The Christ-child
The focus of this course is to answer, as best as we biblically can questions about the unexpected way the first Christmas happened. But before we begin, let me offer one clue right here: the deeper we go in understanding the unexpected nature of the first Christmas, the more we will discover about the unexpected nature of God's love for us.
In this course we will reflect on the ancient prophecies and significance of the town of Bethlehem, the Virgin Mary, and the Christ-Child at the Nativity.
Jesus came so that we could be reconciled to God. He came to save "whosoever will." He came for the world. The most unexpected thing about Christmas--yet totally understandable in the end--is that we can be saved by grace, through faith, not as a result of our own efforts. Grace, faith, salvation--they are all the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). How is that for an unexpected first-Christmas gift!
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Dr. David Jeremiah serves as chancellor of Southern California Seminary and as senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California. He is the founder and host of the global radio and television ministry, Turning Point, a broadcast program dedicated to sharing the unchanging Word of God with an ever-changing world. The combined weekly audience of Turning Point exceeds 10 million people worldwide. Dr. Jeremiah is also the author of more than 40 books, including the bestsellers Captured by Grace, What in the World Is Going On?, and the most recent New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestseller, God loves You: He Always Has, He Always Will.
Dr. Jeremiah is committed to teaching the complete Word of God. His passion for encouraging believers in their faith is demonstrated through his faith communication of biblical truths.
The professors of Southern California Seminary serve as the facilitators for this course. The course designer, Dr. Gary Woods, has taught in classrooms and online for Southern California Seminary, San Diego Christian College, Luther Rice Seminary, and Liberty University since 1996. He has a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Education in Technology from Alliant International University. He serves on the pastoral staff of Shadow Mountain Community Church.
