Christmas: The Rest of the Story with Rick Renner

The Rest of the Story

Buy the book » [https://renner.org/product/christmas-the-rest-of-the-story/] Christmastime is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on God’s eternal plan of salvation. What is your salvation story?

The Real Purpose of Christmas

Get the book » [https://renner.org/product/christmas-the-rest-of-the-story/] Jesus’ purpose in coming to the earth was not just to give us the sweet picture of a baby in a Bethlehem manger. Certainly, the act of God coming as a baby, in the form of human flesh, was an astounding, magnificent feat that should keep us in awe of the God who designed it, planned it, and executed salvation to make salvation a living reality in the lives of everyone who believes. But what did it look like for Jesus, who undertook this mission and willingly fulfilled His part in God’s great design and plan?

Why Did Herod Kill Babies in Bethlehem?

Buy the book » [https://renner.org/product/christmas-the-rest-of-the-story/] Matthew is the only Gospel writer to record this heartbreaking event, but this tragic, horrific scenario happened, just as the Bible tells us. Strangely, this horrendous event wasn’t even recorded by the Jewish historian Josephus, a scholar who was careful to chronicle many of Herod’s horrific deeds. Why is that? We will address this question in this episode.

The Value of the Magi's Gifts

Get the book » [https://renner.org/product/christmas-the-rest-of-the-story/] Why does Matthew 2:11 specifically mention three gifts of the magi? To find the answer to this question, we must remember where the Magi came from and what we know about the culture of Magi from that part of the world.

Why Was Herod Troubledd?

Get the book » [https://renner.org/product/christmas-the-rest-of-the-story/] What does the Bible mean when it says Herod was “troubled”  and that all of Jerusalem was troubled with him at the visit of the magi and the birth of Jesus? Why were they so troubled?