From Secular to Sacred
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From Santa to Savior
From Holiday to Holy Day
From Decoration to Devotion
From Getting to Giving
From Santa to Savior
• When Virginia O'Hanlon, an 8-year-old girl from
New York City, sent a letter addressed to the
newspaper The Sun in 1897, she asked a very
simple question: "Please tell me the truth; is there
a Santa Claus?" In what must have been a surprise
to her, the question was answered quite frankly.
After calling out Virginia's "little friends" for
doubting the existence of Santa Claus and being
clouded by an age of skepticism, the writer of the
article, Francis Pharcellus Church, gave his
straightforward reply, "Yes, Virginia, there is a
Santa Claus."
 THE SANTA CAUSE
 Origins in the Saint Nicholas Story
 THE SANTA CAUSE
 Origins in the Saint Nicholas Story
 Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, and
other variations
 THE SANTA CAUSE
 Origins in the Saint Nicholas Story
 Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, and
other variations
 Modern Santa
 THE SANTA CAUSE
 Origins in the Saint Nicholas Story
 Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, and
other variations
 Modern Santa
Santa Claus originated as a mispronunciation
of Dutch Sinterklaas, which in turn is a
contracted form of Sint Nicolaas (Saint
Nicholas).
 THE SANTA CAUSE
 Origins in the Saint Nicholas Story
 Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, and
other variations
 Modern Santa
 What is he like?
Santa Is Like Jesus!
Some comparisons from Cutting Edge Website
 Has white hair and a beard
 Hour of his coming is a mystery
 Is a carpenter
 Is Omnipotent
 Is Omniscient
 Is Omnipresent
Santa Is Like Jesus!
Some comparisons from Cutting Edge Website
 Lives Forever
 Gives Gifts
 Bids Children Come To Him
 Children Can Ask Him For Anything
 Judges If You Are Good Or Bad
 Brings Peace
 THE SANTA CAUSE
 Origins in the Saint Nicholas Story
 Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, and
other variations
 Modern Santa
 What is he like?
 What is the emphasis?
 What is the truth?
 What should we say?
 THE SAVIOR’S CAUSE
 A Baby In A Manger - Luke 2:1-20
 Luke 2:1-20
Please turn to this passage
in your Bible.
 THE SAVIOR’S CAUSE
 A Baby In A Manger - Luke 2:1-20
 Fulfilled Prophecy
 Examples of Prophecy
 Isaiah 7:14
Born of a Virgin
Therefore the Lord himself will give you
a sign: The virgin will be with child and
will give birth to a son, and will call him
Immanuel.
 Matthew 1:18, 24-25
Born of a Virgin
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came
about: His mother Mary was pledged to be
married to Joseph, but before they came
together, she was found to be with child
through the Holy Spirit. … When Joseph woke
up, he did what the angel of the Lord had
commanded him and took Mary home as his
wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she
gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name
Jesus.
 Psalm 2:7
Son of God
He said to me, "You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.
 Matthew 3:17
Son of God
And a voice from heaven said, "This is
my Son, whom I love; with him I am well
pleased."
 Jeremiah 23:5-6
Family of David
"The days are coming," declares the
LORD, "when I will raise up to David a
righteous Branch, a King who will reign
wisely and do what is just and right in the
land
 Luke 3:23-32
Family of David
The Genealogy of Jesus
 Micah 5:2
Born In Bethlehem
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though
you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me one who will
be ruler over Israel, whose origins are
from of old, from ancient times."
 Matthew 2:1-5
Born In Bethlehem
Please turn to this passage in your Bible.
 Isaiah 7:14
Called Immanuel (“God with us”)
Therefore the Lord himself will give you
a sign: The virgin will be with child and
will give birth to a son, and will call him
Immanuel.
 Matthew 1:22-23
Called Immanuel (“God with us”)
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord
had said through the prophet: "The
virgin will be with child and will give
birth to a son, and they will call him
Immanuel"-which means, "God with us."
 THE SAVIOR’S CAUSE
 A Baby In A Manger - Luke 2:1-20
 Fulfilled Prophecy
 Examples of Prophecy
 The Impact of Prophecy – Proof!
 The God-Man – Philippians 2:5-11
 Philippians 2:5-11
Please turn to this passage
in your Bible.
What Should We Do?
Tell your children the truth.
Be tactful – Explain the history of St.
Nicholas
Explain that our focus is on Jesus’
birth – Tell the incredible story!
Explain – Santa is a fun decoration.
Don’t upset other children.