What do you think Christmas is all about? We’ve included a video of some people answering that question on the street at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ1050bLTVw
From that experience, or your own, you can probably identify some answers drive religious people crazy: Santa, gifts, Elf on the Shelf, and so on. They will shout – it’s about Jesus!
You can also probably identify some answers religious people would love. Jesus is the reason for the season. A saviour was born. God is with us.
You can see how polarizing Christmas can be! It is a religious occasion that is solemn, deep and meaningful, and yet it is also a cultural reality with rampant consumerism, time with family, funny traditions and oddities like eggnog and mistletoe.
You might think Chiristmas shouldn’t be polarizing, and that this is a new reality. But Christmas and its effect on the world was polarizing not just today, but 2000 years ago. We’ll see how later this week.
Question: How much of Christmas do you think is religious, and how much is cultural? How much Santa, how much Jesus?
Reminder: We have a great Christmas event coming December 14th, 2013: The Original Christmas Party. Hope you’re coming!
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CloseRyan Sim - January 3, 2014
Friday - Reflect - The Night that Changed The Wise
We pray and reflect about the night that changed everything, including the wise. Reminder: We are reading the Bible in sync as one community - so check out today's reading at https://www.redeemthecommute.com/readingplan Reminder: The best way to grow spiritually this year is to join our Christianity 101 in the Cafe Course in Pickering starting January 22nd. Register for you and a friend today at https://www.redeemthecommute.com/events/!
Related Topics: Christmas, Herod, Jesus, Magi, Wise Men | More Messages from Ryan Sim | Download Audio
From Series: "The Night that Changed Everything"
In preparation for Christmas, our Daily Challenges are going to explore the lifechanging significance of Jesus' birth so long ago. It's more than a sentimental story, or a time for generosity, Christmas celebrates The Night that Changed Everything. We'll explore the original Christmas story from the Bible, and its impact on five kinds of people.
More Messages From Ryan Sim...
| Day 32 - CLUES to your calling | Ryan Sim | October 27, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 31 - Discovering our Gifts | Ryan Sim | October 26, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 30 - Work in the Christian Community | Ryan Sim | October 25, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 29 - Making a difference for God | Ryan Sim | October 24, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 28 - How much should I give? | Ryan Sim | October 20, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 27 - Is there a right amount? | Ryan Sim | October 19, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 26 - 4 Principles of Stewardship II | Ryan Sim | October 18, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 25 - 4 Principles of Stewardship | Ryan Sim | October 17, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 24 - Money: A matter of Stewardship | Ryan Sim | October 14, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 23 - Money: A matter of Security & Satisfaction | Ryan Sim | October 13, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 22 - Money: A matter of identity | Ryan Sim | October 12, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 21 - A New Way of Living | Ryan Sim | October 11, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 20 - Why join a Church? | Ryan Sim | October 6, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 19 - What do Churches Do? | Ryan Sim | October 5, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 18 - How do Churches Gather? | Ryan Sim | October 4, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 17 - What is the Church? - Part 2 | Ryan Sim | October 3, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 16 - What is the Church? Part 1 | Ryan Sim | September 29, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 15 - What words should we pray? Others' Words | Ryan Sim | September 28, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 14 - What words should we pray? Part 1 - Your Words | Ryan Sim | September 27, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 13 - When should we pray? | Ryan Sim | September 26, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 12 - What can we pray about? | Ryan Sim | September 22, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 11 - How does God Answer Prayer? No and Maybe | Ryan Sim | September 21, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 10 - How does God Answer Prayer? Yes | Ryan Sim | September 20, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 9 - To whom should we pray? | Ryan Sim | September 19, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 8 - What is Prayer? | Ryan Sim | September 15, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 7 - How the Read the Bible - Part 2 | Ryan Sim | September 14, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 6 - How the Read the Bible - Part 1 | Ryan Sim | September 13, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 5 - What is the Bible? Part 5 - Varied Literature | Ryan Sim | September 12, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 4 - What is the Bible? Part 4 - A Library | Ryan Sim | September 9, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 3 - What is the Bible? Part 3 - Authentic | Ryan Sim | September 8, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 2 - What is the Bible? Part 2 - Light and Owners Manual | Ryan Sim | September 7, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Day 1 - What is the Bible? Part 1 - A Letter | Ryan Sim | September 6, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Conclusion | Ryan Sim | September 1, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - How Much to Give? | Ryan Sim | August 31, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Giving Levels | Ryan Sim | August 30, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Attitudes | Ryan Sim | August 29, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Everything is God's, Giving is a Need | Ryan Sim | August 25, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Stewardship | Ryan Sim | August 24, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Security and Satisfaction | Ryan Sim | August 23, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Power and Identity | Ryan Sim | August 22, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Getting In and Out of Debt | Ryan Sim | August 18, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Credit Scores | Ryan Sim | August 17, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Payday Loan Rules | Ryan Sim | August 16, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Payday Loan Interest Rates | Ryan Sim | August 15, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Loan Sharks: Don't Get Bitten | Ryan Sim | August 11, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Reading Debt Fine Print | Ryan Sim | August 10, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Calculating Debt APR | Ryan Sim | August 9, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Financial Jargon | Ryan Sim | August 8, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Comparison Shopping | Ryan Sim | August 4, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Smart Shopping | Ryan Sim | August 3, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Your Money Saving Tips | Ryan Sim | August 2, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Budget Surprises | Ryan Sim | August 1, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Start your Budget | Ryan Sim | July 28, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Spending Diary | Ryan Sim | July 27, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Increasing Income | Ryan Sim | July 26, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Reducing Spending | Ryan Sim | July 25, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Overspending | Ryan Sim | July 21, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Savings | Ryan Sim | July 20, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Priority Expenses | Ryan Sim | July 19, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Expenses | Ryan Sim | July 18, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Income Sources | Ryan Sim | July 14, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Budget Basics | Ryan Sim | July 13, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Your Money Type | Ryan Sim | July 12, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| Money: Basic Budgeting - Introduction | Ryan Sim | July 11, 2016 | Watch | Listen | |
| We Are...Transformed - Thursday | July 7, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Transformed – Wednesday | July 6, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Transformed - Tuesday | July 5, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Transformed - Monday | July 4, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Made New - Thursday | June 30, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Made New - Wednesday | June 29, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Made New - Tuesday | June 28, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Made New - Monday | June 27, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...One - Thursday | June 23, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...One - Wednesday | June 22, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...One - Tuesday | June 21, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...One - Monday | June 20, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Gifted - Thursday | June 16, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Gifted - Wednesday | June 15, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Gifted - Tuesday | June 14, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Gifted - Monday | June 13, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...At Peace - Thursday | June 9, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...At Peace - Wednesday | June 8, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...At Peace - Tuesday | June 7, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...At Peace - Monday | June 6, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Protected – Thursday | June 2, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Protected - Wednesday | June 1, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Protected - Tuesday | May 31, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Protected - Monday | May 30, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Spirit Led – Thursday | May 26, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Spirit Led – Wednesday | May 25, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Spirit Led - Tuesday | May 24, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Spirit Led - Monday | May 23, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Love - Thursday | May 19, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Love – Wednesday | May 18, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Love - Tuesday | May 17, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Love - Monday | May 16, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Community - Wednesday | May 12, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Community - Wednesday | May 11, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Community - Tuesday | May 10, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Community - Monday | May 9, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Generous - Thursday | May 5, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Generous - Wednesday | May 4, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Generous - Tuesday | May 3, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Generous - Monday | May 2, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Healers - Thursday | April 28, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Healers - Wednesday | April 27, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Healers - Tuesday | April 26, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Healers - Monday | April 25, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Free - Thursday | April 21, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Free - Wednesday | April 20, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Free - Tuesday | April 19, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Free - Monday | April 18, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Messengers - Thursday | April 14, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Messengers - Wednesday | April 13, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Messengers - Tuesday | April 12, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Messengers - Monday | April 11, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Changed People - Thursday | April 7, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Changed People - Wednesday | April 6, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Changed People - Tuesday | April 5, 2016 | Watch | Listen | ||
| We Are...Changed People - Monday | April 4, 2016 | Watch | Listen |