I have a course on Basic Christian Beliefs for new Christians and as a refresher for long-time Christians, which is posted on Udemy.
It is available by posting the following link in your browser.
https://www.udemy.com/course/christian-celebrations/?referralCode=D706C0B4E96819B18699
With the current epidemic, many schools are going to online teaching, but many students lack adequate technology to work from home and may not have an environment conducive to learning if there are pre-school children in the home or other barriers to studying. In addition, they may not have parental support. Many kids need a place to study, adequate technology, and supportive supervision, which churches can supply. Schools can sometimes help by printing off lessons, as well as helping with equipment for students to work on online classes. In addition, some children may not be able to attend school because of illness or disability and need tutoring in their home. Often subjects are elementary level and require only a high school education. Others in high school and college may need college level education in the subject. Some schools have paid tutoring positions open.
Tutoring-A- Many of our public schools have a poor record of teaching and many students are failing. While there are many dedicated Christian teachers in the public schools, they are often hampered by class size and administrative demands. Teachers rarely have time to spend helping students who are struggling. Many kids also fall behind in school because their parents may not be able to help them because their schools failed to help them when they fell behind. In addition, immigrants entering the U.S. may have only a minor grasp of English. Many students have learning disabilities, but far more are merely poorly motivated due to their home situation and lack of encouragement at school. Sterile public classrooms often teach by memorization and fail to encourage students to explore the wonders and majesty of God’s creation. All need assistance to help them. While many schools offer tutoring, many of them are not adequate. Volunteer tutors are needed for tutoring programs that can provide one-on-one assistance that teachers don’t have time for. Volunteers can also show that someone cares and can share a love of learning. Christian school students are often well ahead of public school students and many failing public school students tutored by caring Christian tutors often surpass their classmates. Tutoring can take place at school, after school, or in local churches.
The Meaning-The color of the first Sunday of Epiphany is white symbolizing purity. commemorates Jesus’ baptism by John-It reminds us that we need to seek to cleanse the sin out of our life so our life will show the love of God to those around us. Baptism represents our dying to sin and being raised in Christ. If we tell others that Christ has made a difference in our lives, then our lives must demonstrate a positive difference from those around us or they will not believe what we say. Therefore, we need to seek God to remove those things from our lives that hinder our witness for Him. If we have a quick temper or are careless and irresponsible and don’t fulfill our promises, we need to ask God to help us conquer them lest they hinder our witness. The sad fact is that the greatest hindrance to the spread of the Gospel in America is the behavior of those who call themselves Christians but live like the World. (see my series-“In The World, But Not Of It” on how to live a life pleasing to God and still enjoy life).
The Power of the Light-The story of the Wise Men reminds us that not everyone was glad to see Jesus come. We often think of the Wise Men coming to see the baby in the manger, but the Bible says that the Wise men went to the house where Jesus was. Since Herod ordered the soldiers to kill all male babies two years and younger, Jesus was probably a year or more old by the time the Wise men arrived. We like to think that the coming of a great king who would bring peace, would be a great thing and everyone would be glad, however the story of Herod reminds us of how jealously man without God seeks to maintain his power. They love the darkness because their deeds are evil. When the Jews forgot God and returned to their selfish ways, while still maintaining an appearance of worshiping God, God sent the prophets to remind them how to walk with God. However, they tortured and killed the prophets. Jesus came to bring Light into the darkness, but Herod tried to destroy Jesus by killing all the baby boys in Bethlehem. When the Catholic Church forgot God and sought to build up its power, God sent the reformers to restore the church, but church leaders tortured and killed many of them, rather than give up their power. Since then, men of power have feared those who preach the true Word of God because they know that men who know God will not bow down to them or serve them. We see today what lengths those in power will go to silence the church and those who serve God because they know that they can never totally control the world as long as there are Christians.
Those who feel forgotten. Christmas is a time when we remember that Christ came to His people to reveal the nature of God and to show us a better way to live; a way of peace and love. This should be a time when we should draw together as a family and draw together as a church family. We need to bring some light into their life just as Christ brought light into the world for us. We should seek those around us who will not know the joy of Christmas unless we share it with them We need to take time to reach out to those around us who may be alone, whose families are gone or far away, and have no friends close. By visiting, we remind them that we have not forgotten them and God has not forgotten them either. Some may be able to invite them to share Christmas with their family so they do not have to spend Christmas alone. There are also many who are burdened with heavy cares, or who have lost loved ones, are shut-in and cannot get out, and let them know they are not forgotten and are not alone. We need to bring some light into their life just as Christ brought light into the world for us. Some will not share the joy of Christmas because of financial needs and cannot afford special gifts. The church can help brighten their Christmas. A growing number of Christians are deciding that instead of giving each other gifts they don’t need, they will put that money into buying gifts for those that might not otherwise receive gifts, or by supporting Christmas programs by organizations in their local area like The Salvation Army, or abroad like Samaritan’s Purse or simply giving gifts to neighbors they know who might not otherwise know the joy of Christmas. Christmas is also a great time to teach your kids the value of giving and the greatest gift they can give is themselves. Volunteer as a family to help a local church, social service agency, day care, hospital, or nursing home. Many have special programs at Christmas that need volunteers.
This is the first in the series of previous posts and highlights
Christmas season, Advent, Christmastide, and Epiphany
Click on the links below to access those series.