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December 15, 2023


Title: Who Was St. Nicholas?
Topic: Christmas History
Discussed by Bill Federer
with American Minute (www.AmericanMinute.com)

Bill Federer is the Founder of the American Minute. Today he offers an interesting history lesson about St. Nicholas and the origin of gift-giving.

Click here to read more on this topic from Bill Federer.

Questions/Issues Discussed:

During the first three centuries of Christianity, did the Church suffer multiple waves of severe government persecution?

Who was St. Nicholas? What was his childhood like? Did Nicholas give away all his money?

What may be the origin of “secret gift-giving”? This is an amazing, sad, and happy story!

Why did Nicholas spend time fasting?

When and why did Nicholas become the Bishop of Myra? Was he reluctant to accept this title? Bill Federer explains what happened and what the origin of “x-mas” means. I always thought this was a bad thing – but it’s really interesting!

What is the Nicene Creed? What was Nicholas’s reaction to this creed?



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December 14, 2021


Title: Who Was St. Nicholas?
Topic: Christmas History
Discussed by Bill Federer
with American Minute (www.AmericanMinute.com)

Bill Federer is the Founder of the American Minute. Today he offers an interesting history lesson about St. Nicholas and the origin of gift-giving.

Click here to read more on this topic from Bill Federer.

Questions/Issues Discussed:

During the first three centuries of Christianity, did the Church suffer multiple waves of severe government persecution?

Who was St. Nicholas? What was his childhood like? Did Nicholas give away all his money?

What may be the origin of “secret gift-giving”? This is an amazing, sad, and happy story!

Why did Nicholas spend time fasting?

When and why did Nicholas become the Bishop of Myra? Was he reluctant to accept this title? Bill Federer explains what happened and what the origin of “x-mas” means. I always thought this was a bad thing – but it’s really interesting!

What is the Nicene Creed? What was Nicholas’s reaction to this creed?



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December 24, 2020


Title: Christmas History and Hymns
Topic: Christmas History
Discussed by Mark Lanier
with Biblical Literacy (www.Biblical-Literacy.com)


Day 4

This week, we will be airing a past lesson from Mark on the History of Christmas in four segments. We will not be airing a lesson on Friday, Christmas Day. We reserve that for Christmas music and special devotions as you spend time with family and friends.

If you have a prayer request, need Scripture encouragement, or would like a copy of Mark’s lessons each week, email wantmore@biblical-literacy.org

Questions/Issues Discussed:

What is the history of Santa Clause?

Why is our image of Santa a big round man with rosy cheeks, a white beard, and a red suit?

Today Mark uses the songs “O Christmas Tree”, “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”,Do You Hear What I Hear”, and “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire”.

SPECIAL NOTE: Mark is preaching the Christmas Eve services at CFBC (the Main Campus). Click here for more information

For more information about Mark Lanier’s Biblical Literacy class, click here.



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December 23, 2020


Title: Christmas History and Hymns
Topic: Christmas History
Discussed by Mark Lanier
with Biblical Literacy (www.Biblical-Literacy.com)


Day 3

This week, we will be airing a past lesson from Mark on the History of Christmas in four segments. We will not be airing a lesson on Friday, Christmas Day. We reserve that for Christmas music and special devotions as you spend time with family and friends.

If you have a prayer request, need Scripture encouragement, or would like a copy of Mark’s lessons each week, email wantmore@biblical-literacy.org

Questions/Issues Discussed:

Yesterday, we ended Mark’s segment with a portion of the Christmas Hymn “Away in a manger” and he said that some of the lyrics have no basis in Scripture. Today he explains why.

He also talks about the Christmas hymn “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem” and the fun song “Jolly Ol’ St. Nicholas”.

SPECIAL NOTE: Mark is preaching the Christmas Eve services at CFBC (the Main Campus). Click here for more information

For more information about Mark Lanier’s Biblical Literacy class, click here.



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December 22, 2020


Title: Christmas History and Hymns
Topic: Christmas History
Discussed by Mark Lanier
with Biblical Literacy (www.Biblical-Literacy.com)


Day 2

This week, we will be airing a past lesson from Mark on the History of Christmas in four segments. We will not be airing a lesson on Friday, Christmas Day. We reserve that for Christmas music and special devotions as you spend time with family and friends.

If you have a prayer request, need Scripture encouragement, or would like a copy of Mark’s lessons each week, email wantmore@biblical-literacy.org

Questions/Issues Discussed:

Today, Mark will be sharing some Scripture passages in reference to the birth of Jesus.

We end the segment today with a portion of the Christmas Hymn “Away in a Manger”. Does it have any basis in Scripture?

SPECIAL NOTE: Mark is preaching the Christmas Eve services at CFBC (the Main Campus). Click here for more information

For more information about Mark Lanier’s Biblical Literacy class, click here.



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December 21, 2020


Title: Christmas History and Hymns
Topic: Christmas History
Discussed by Mark Lanier
with Biblical Literacy (www.Biblical-Literacy.com)


Day 1

This week, we will be airing a past lesson from Mark on the History of Christmas in four segments. We will not be airing a lesson on Friday, Christmas Day. We reserve that for Christmas music and special devotions as you spend time with family and friends.

If you have a prayer request, need Scripture encouragement, or would like a copy of Mark’s lessons each week, email wantmore@biblical-literacy.org

Questions/Issues Discussed:

Mark begins today lesson with a Christmas hymn, Oh Holy Night.

When was Jesus really born?

Was it December 25th?

Why do we celebrate Christmas?

SPECIAL NOTE: Mark is preaching the Christmas Eve services at CFBC (the Main Campus). Click here for more information

For more information about Mark Lanier’s Biblical Literacy class, click here.



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January 13, 2015


Title: Church History - Week 1
Topic: Christmas History
Discussed by Mark Lanier
with Biblical Literacy (www.Biblical-Literacy.com)


Day 2

FIRST LESSON OF 2015!!!

Isn’t it reassuring to know that our faith is rooted in history from the seed being planted to the fruit we are today? For generation after generation after generation, we have the documented proof that God’s love is real and true and everlasting. Jews are obviously an essential part of church history. Throughout time, they’ve been persecuted and conquered by various armies. They’ve been spread throughout the world. But they always end up back in Jerusalem!! We wouldn’t have the Christian expansion without the Jews dispersion. NOTE: Mark uses a great map to show the spread of the Jewish faith, so make sure you log on to the website below to see the illustrations. Mark continues to talk about the soil of the tree and how it relates to the life and purpose of Christ. First, he discussed the Holy Spirit. Today he moves on to the presence of the Synagogue. The first place the disciples would visit when they entered a new city was of course the Synagogue. It was a sacred place for all believers. There were lots of rules and regulations about sacrifices and how they must be performed. Mark explains the do’s and don’ts of how the Jews sacrificed. He also talks about their communities and why the journey to Jerusalem was so important to the Jews. Mark ends this segment today with a look at the Gospel of Luke. Luke contains several vital pieces of information that the other Gospels do not. First, it talks of the virgin birth. Tune in tomorrow to hear the rest of the story!

Mark Lanier, the leader of the Context Bible study at Champion Forest Baptist Church, is a practicing attorney who also holds a B.A. in Biblical Languages from David Lipscomb University. He is both a committed student of Scripture and an excellent communicator of its truths.

If you do not have a church home, Mark invites you to come to Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston, TX. Attend the early service at 9:30 AM and then go the Family Life Center (located near the center of the church building) for his Life Group class, which begins at 11 AM. Mark’s class averages about 800 people every Sunday, so don’t be shy! Come and join them this Sunday!

For the lesson, unedited audio, handouts, PowerPoint slides, and video click [here].

Listen in every day to hear a portion of Mark’s lesson.

Remember, you can order a copy of his new book, “Christianity on Trial”, directly from the publisher [here].



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December 25, 2014


Title: Christmas History
Topic: Christmas History
Discussed by Mark Lanier
with Biblical Literacy (www.Biblical-Literacy.com)

Mark Lanier is a renowned attorney in the Houston area, with offices across the country. But his passion is Church History Literacy and anything about the Bible. Today Mark presents his lesson on Christmas.

As we approach December 25, 2013, much of the Christian world is preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus. However, you can scour the New Testament from Matthew chapter 1 to Revelation chapter 22, and you will find no indication whatsoever of the date that Jesus was born. While there are two accounts of the birth of Jesus (Matthew & Luke), neither of those accounts give any indication that the birth occurred on December 25th. Similarly, the New Testament gives no indication that the early church celebrated the birth of Christ on any special day. In fact, Paul makes no reference in all of his writings to the birth of Christ, nor do other New Testament writers beyond Matthew and Luke. In Luke's history of the church (the book of Acts), he also does not make any reference to the church celebrating Christ's birth.

So, when did the church begin celebrating the birth of Christ? When did the church decide December 25th was an appropriate day for the celebration? Both of these are good questions that are fairly asked in a church history literacy course. In the process of answering these questions, we will also bring our Christmas history up to date with a few more questions: Was there a real Saint Nick? What about Santa Claus? Why do we exchange presents? Who thought of chopping down a tree and sticking it in a house with a bunch of light bulbs on it? Lastly, but not least, was there really a reindeer named Rudolph with a red nose?

Our discussion will focus first on the gospel accounts of the birth of Christ. We will then consider the historical development of the Christmas holiday. Finally, we will look at the origination of many modern American Christmas traditions.

Listen in as we study the origin and traditions of Christmas.

If you do not have a church home, Mark invites you to come to Champion Forest Baptist Church, Houston, Texas, attend early service at 9:30 am, and and then go the Family Life Center located near the center of the church building for his Biblical Literacy class, which begins at 11 am.



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December 24, 2014


Title: Christmas History
Topic: Christmas History
Discussed by Mark Lanier
with Biblical Literacy (www.Biblical-Literacy.com)

Mark Lanier is a renowned attorney in the Houston area, with offices across the country. But his passion is Church History Literacy and anything about the Bible. Today Mark presents his lesson on Christmas.

As we approach December 25, 2013, much of the Christian world is preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus. However, you can scour the New Testament from Matthew chapter 1 to Revelation chapter 22, and you will find no indication whatsoever of the date that Jesus was born. While there are two accounts of the birth of Jesus (Matthew & Luke), neither of those accounts give any indication that the birth occurred on December 25th. Similarly, the New Testament gives no indication that the early church celebrated the birth of Christ on any special day. In fact, Paul makes no reference in all of his writings to the birth of Christ, nor do other New Testament writers beyond Matthew and Luke. In Luke's history of the church (the book of Acts), he also does not make any reference to the church celebrating Christ's birth.

So, when did the church begin celebrating the birth of Christ? When did the church decide December 25th was an appropriate day for the celebration? Both of these are good questions that are fairly asked in a church history literacy course. In the process of answering these questions, we will also bring our Christmas history up to date with a few more questions: Was there a real Saint Nick? What about Santa Claus? Why do we exchange presents? Who thought of chopping down a tree and sticking it in a house with a bunch of light bulbs on it? Lastly, but not least, was there really a reindeer named Rudolph with a red nose?

Our discussion will focus first on the gospel accounts of the birth of Christ. We will then consider the historical development of the Christmas holiday. Finally, we will look at the origination of many modern American Christmas traditions.

Listen in as we study the origin and traditions of Christmas.

If you do not have a church home, Mark invites you to come to Champion Forest Baptist Church, Houston, Texas, attend early service at 9:30 am, and and then go the Family Life Center located near the center of the church building for his Biblical Literacy class, which begins at 11 am.



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December 24, 2013


Title: Christmas History
Topic: Christmas History
Discussed by Mark Lanier
with Biblical Literacy (www.Biblical-Literacy.com)

Mark Lanier is a renowned attorney in the Houston area, with offices across the country. But his passion is Church History Literacy and anything about the Bible. Today Mark presents his lesson on Christmas.

As we approach December 25, 2013, much of the Christian world is preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus. However, you can scour the New Testament from Matthew chapter 1 to Revelation chapter 22, and you will find no indication whatsoever of the date that Jesus was born. While there are two accounts of the birth of Jesus (Matthew & Luke), neither of those accounts give any indication that the birth occurred on December 25th. Similarly, the New Testament gives no indication that the early church celebrated the birth of Christ on any special day. In fact, Paul makes no reference in all of his writings to the birth of Christ, nor do other New Testament writers beyond Matthew and Luke. In Luke's history of the church (the book of Acts), he also does not make any reference to the church celebrating Christ's birth.

So, when did the church begin celebrating the birth of Christ? When did the church decide December 25th was an appropriate day for the celebration? Both of these are good questions that are fairly asked in a church history literacy course. In the process of answering these questions, we will also bring our Christmas history up to date with a few more questions: Was there a real Saint Nick? What about Santa Claus? Why do we exchange presents? Who thought of chopping down a tree and sticking it in a house with a bunch of light bulbs on it? Lastly, but not least, was there really a reindeer named Rudolph with a red nose?

Our discussion will focus first on the gospel accounts of the birth of Christ. We will then consider the historical development of the Christmas holiday. Finally, we will look at the origination of many modern American Christmas traditions.

Listen in as we study the origin and traditions of Christmas.

If you do not have a church home, Mark invites you to come to Champion Forest Baptist Church, Houston, Texas, attend early service at 9:30 am, and and then go the Family Life Center located near the center of the church building for his Biblical Literacy class, which begins at 11 am.



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