| We need to take seriously the historical record of the birth of Jesus. Because it's true, Christmas cannot be ignored. — Lee Strobel 
The Case for Christmas: Setting the Record Straight by Lee Strobel from session one, The Case for Christmas  
Welcome to Bible Study of the Week, where every Sunday we give you the free first sessions of video Bible studies from leading authors, pastors, and Bible teachers.
Even when he was an atheist, author Lee Strobel enjoyed the Christmas season–the gift-giving, holiday parties, and being with friends and family. But after his wife became a Christian, Lee started to investigate the real meaning behind all those nativity scenes he had seen outside of churches. In The Case for Christmas, Lee reveals what he discovered as he sought to separate the holiday from the holy day, the facts from the fantasy, and the truth from the tradition.
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The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God. ~ C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Introduction
Holidays just bring out the best in us. Whether it's roses and chocolates for Valentine's Day, or baskets of candy for Easter, or flags and fireworks for the Fourth of July, we love the celebratory focus a holiday brings to our lives.
Of course, there's little debate over the best of all holidays. It has to be Christmas. When you close your eyes, you can almost see the forest as you hike to cut down your very own Christmas tree. The scent of fresh pine permeates the air on the way back to the car — and once home, there's the smell of those Christmas cookies in the oven that the kids and grandkids created in the shapes of angels, shepherds, and Christmas trees.
The sounds of Christmas fill the house with the music of the season. You've already lost track of how many times you've heard Bing Crosby sing "White Christmas" or Elvis sing "Blue Christmas" or Mariah Carey sing "All I Want for Christmas Is You." The lights on the newly decorated tree bring a warm glow to the whole house.
As evening falls and the dinner dishes are cleared, it's time for another Christmas tradition — watching those classic Christmas movies. There's a long list of family favorites: A Christmas Carol, Holiday Inn, A Christmas Story, Miracle on 34th Street, Home Alone, Elf, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Christmas Vacation… just to name a few.
And let's not forget what many consider the finest Christmas movie ever made — Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life. You remember that one, don't you? The movie centers on George Bailey, who lives with his wife and children in Bedford Falls. The drama begins when George's Uncle Billy is supposed to deposit $8,000 of George's business receipts into the bank, but Billy loses the money. The town villain, Mr. Potter, finds the cash and realizes it is exactly what he needs to put George out of business. In doing so, he can then take over the town.
George is despondent when he hears about the loss and doesn't know what to do. He believes his life insurance policy could cover the loss, and he concludes that he's worth more to his family dead than alive. As he contemplates suicide, he meets an angel named Clarence, who helps him sort out his issues. Clarence shows George what the world would be like without him in it. George discards the plan for suicide. A happy ending ensues.
There are so many memorable lines in the movie, but one stands out for our purposes. It's a tantalizing theological morsel uttered by the Baileys' little daughter, Zuzu:
Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.
You don't have to be a learned theologian to sniff out the theological weakness of Zuzu's statement. The connection between bells and angel wings seems flimsy at best. But did you know there are more traditional statements about Christmas — the first Christmas — that are equally suspect? We will look at a few of those in this opening session.
 Your Turn
Watch the video, come get the remaining session one study questions, and share your thoughts on this study on our blog. We want to hear from you!
Discover the TRUE Christmas story
Save up to 45% off study resources The Case for Christmas: Evidence for the Identity of Jesus  Softcover List Price: $10.99 Sale Price: $6.04 + FREE shipping on your order of $35 or more ★★★★★
A wonderful opportunity to view Christmas in a whole new light.
Great study... full of good information to learn and live by.
Even though I have been a believer since childhood, I love his investigative approach. Anyone who reads this book, will have no doubts.
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The Case for Christmas will invite you to look beyond the familiar traditions of the season, challenge you to examine the evidence for yourself, and consider why Christmas really matters.
In each session you will explore:
Sessions include:
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