​As the time nears Christmas this month, many have focused on Christmas rather than Jesus Christ.  The focus is on parties, presents, movies, music, food, traveling, and even doing good things for others, yet leaving Jesus Christ out of all of it.  People will help others in need to make themselves feel good for their lack of doing good things earlier in the year.  People focus on getting the right presents for family or friends they don’t even like, just to make sure they keep up appearances of a personal or financial situation.  Christians will watch more Christmas-related movies, many not even relating to the birth of Christ, rather than study the Bible to know Jesus Christ, the One Christmas is all about.  Some churches will focus on teaching from Christmas movies rather than Bible passages.  Churches all across the United States have fallen into this trap of deception regarding using popular movies or themes rather than allowing the Word of God to speak for itself.  When Die Hard, the Grinch, Scrooge, It’s a Wonderful Life, and other movies are the focus within a church setting, Christ has been removed from the focus, and Christmas is the center of attention.  When people, especially Christians, remove Christ from their focus, they have given to the anti-Christ spirit (1 John 2:22).  The Bible warns that such activity that removes the confession of Jesus Christ and His coming is deceiving (2 John 7).  These activities eventually lead to heresies in those people’s lives, either confessed in word or lived out (2 Peter 2:1).  Christians should not desert the grace of Jesus Christ by turning to another gospel (Galatians 1:6).  Some people distort the Gospel of Jesus Christ by adjusting it to culture or by perverting it with ideas that contradict the standard of God and His Word (Galatians 1:7).  The Bible declares that person is cursed until repentance (Galatians 1:8-9).  One could also say this is a form of Christ-denial, leading others to focus more on other things rather than Jesus Christ.  Whoever denies Jesus Christ before people will be denied before God the Father (Matthew 10:33).  The Bible also warns against those who depart from the faith by listening to deceiving spirits or the teachings of demons (1 Timothy 4:1).  Those who leave Jesus to teach culture have listened to this very demon of cultural relevance.  Jesus’ birth produced the only perfect person to walk the earth, Who obeyed God the Father in all He did (John 5:19; John 5:36; John 14:10), and Who fulfilled the plan of salvation (Romans 5:8; Acts 4:12) that all of mankind who are born again can now rejoice and be joint heirs with Him unto God (Romans 8:14-17).  Jesus is worthy to be the center of attention during the Christmas season and throughout the year.  Let’s not cheapen Christmas by focusing on culture or other things, but let’s allow Jesus to be the reason for the celebrations, church services, and other activities that take place around December 25th each year.  Jesus Christ obeyed the Father in giving His life so that whoever chooses to receive the gift of eternal life has the opportunity (John 3:16; Romans 6:23).  This Christmas and every Christmas from now on, let’s focus on Jesus Christ rather than Christmas and its activities that surround this wonderful holiday.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.  

​Many people start thinking of others and how to help them during this time of year.  Some people help others due to feeling convicted because of how blessed they are, some help because it makes for a good social media post, while others help because they truly have a heart for those less fortunate.  God’s people are commanded to help those who are in need by giving clothes, food, and other assistance, but Jesus did say there would always be the poor to help (Deuteronomy 15:11; Mark 14:7).  True Christians will have the heart to help those in need because of their love for God and obedience to His Word (1 John 3:16-18).  When people think of helping others during this season, they focus on giving a substance rather than a source of perpetual help.  The best way to help people during any season of the year is to give them the Gospel that calls people to repentance, builds faith, and teaches people to lean on God rather than substances themselves.  Not only is the Word of God the best way to help people, but those who help others should first be qualified according to the Bible (Acts 6:2-3).  When the widows were being neglected, the Apostles set up deacons to start a food program so the men of God could focus on preaching the Word (Acts 6:1-4).  The qualifications for those who helped the people in need had an honest report, being full of the Holy Ghost, being full of wisdom, and being people who could be trusted over the business of this ministry (Acts 6:3).  Seven people were ordained and appointed by leaders, not self-appointed (Acts 6:6).  Since the Apostles were able to focus on the Word of God, the Word grew and helped the people in need (Acts 6:7).  The most notable person of the seven ordained deacons was Stephen.  Even during his helping disperse food, Stephen preached the Word, and people wanted to dispute him (Acts 6:9).  As Stephen’s ministry of helping give people food continued, he gained the attention of the people of the region by his doctrine and not his supply of help.  More and more ministries find themselves helping people by giving things and less by giving the Word of God.  The early church knew the proper formula was giving substance but, more importantly, giving the Word of God to have a lasting impression.  This same formula is the proper way to help people today.  When the Word of God is not the focus, it reflects a purpose of only wanting a social media opportunity, helping others to feel less convicted, or not truly caring enough about others to help them for longer than the event hosted to hand them something.  Again, Christians are commanded to help, but the motive should be to give the Word and substance, not substance alone.  Stephen’s helping others while preaching created the desire in his opposition to the Gospel to make him the first martyr (Acts 7:54-60).  There is more to the Christian faith and work than helping others feel better.  It is about helping them have eternal life through Jesus Christ (Mark 16:15-16; 2 Timothy 4:2; Romans 10:1; Matthew 5:14-16).  The best way to help people is to give them the Word of God to benefit them in many areas and not by substance only.  May God’s people give more than substance this season, may they give substance and the Gospel that can benefit people in many ways, including now and for all eternity.  For more information about Abundant Grace Church visit agcsparta.org.