Episode 030 – The Festivals of Light

TheBLAST Podcast - The Potter's House

Welcome back to the TheBLAST Podcast.

It's been a while, we know. No excuses, we're back!

We do this to be a blessing to the Body of Christ: disciples, pastors and Christians everywhere; giving you the ammo you need to be a witness and to perhaps to make those long, quiet drives more enjoyable.

In this episode we discuss two very important holidays this time of year: Christmas and Hanukkah

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Part I

Christmas:

1. Why are so many lights connected with Christmas?
2. Celebration of the incarnation when a Light of hope entered into the darkness of the fallen world.

Hanukkah:

1. The Festival of Lights
2. For most Christians, Hanukkah is a confusing celebration
3. A brief history of Hanukkah and the radical resistance that led to the miracle.

More Study on the history of Hanukkah and its connection to the American Revolution:

4. A lot of interesting biblical numerology:

• Date Menorah was lit is 25th day of Kislev on Jewish calendar.
• Kislev falls during the modern calendar month of December.
• Significant because the 25th word in the bible (in Hebrew) is "light."
• The light kept going for 8 days - Jewish baby boys are circumcised on the eight day.

For more on this, check out Rabbi Daniel Lapin's essential podcast:

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During the Break

Our break song selection in this episode comes from Lauren Daigle's recent Christmas Album:

Why Men Hate Going to Church By David Murrow

Pastor Adam reads a book excerpt from the extremely helpful book: Why Men Hate Going to Church by David Murrow

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Part II

5. What can we learn by comparing/contrasting Christmas & Hanukkah?

• Both holidays occur during the darkest moment of year (Winter Solstice).
• Bringing light into the darkness
• Darkness is the state of things without God’s intervention
• God is not satisfied to allow darkness to remain, neither should we be.
• God was willing to send Jesus into the world to die so that light would overcome the darkness of sin.
• Wherever darkness remains the enemy has authority and sin is unchecked.

There's a connection here to Star Wars, but we'll save that for a future episode!

6. How does this tie-in to Discipleship and Church Planting?

• Evangelism is bringing light into darkness.
• Jesus said WE are the light of the world.
• Discipleship is bringing the light of truth into the dark places of your soul.
• Submitting your life to the light of a pastor to shine the light of truth into your dark lives.
• Light can be painful, revealing, embarrassing but also cleansing.
• Mark 4:22 "For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light."
• God is invested in keeping the light shining, even when it seems darkest.
• Living in dark times, morals and culture continue to descend into darkness.
• God is invested in keeping the flame burning in us!

Thanks again for listening!

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