GOD WITH US: THE MIRACLE OF CHRISTMAS

by John F. MacArthur Jr.

Christmas is about more than the birth of a baby. It's about God becoming human so He could fulfill His promise to redeem us. God's Gift of Christmas takes readers deep into the heart of that promise. The book's tone is warm but authoritative. Chapter topics

The Incarnation The Names (Jesus, Immanuel, Prince of Peace, Mighty God, etc.) God, Mary, and Joseph (Jesus' dual nature as man and God) The Truth of the Nativity The Fullness of Time The Purpose (God's Redemptive Plan)

Genres: Christmas, Christian, Theology, Christian Living, Nonfiction

143 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1989

About the author

John F. MacArthur, Jr. was a United States Calvinistic evangelical writer and minister, noted for his radio program entitled Grace to You and as the editor of the Gold Medallion Book Award-winning MacArthur Study Bible. MacArthur was a fifth-generation pastor, a popular author and conference speaker, and served as pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California beginning in 1969, as well as President of The Master’s College (and the related Master’s Seminary) in Santa Clarita, California.

Reviews

[Amanda Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book. Nothing spectacular or new, but certainly a nice Christmas read.

[Sid Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book.

[Jennifer Konie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this book this afternoon and cannot say enough about it!! My whole perspective on Christmas has changed! I am so thankful I came upon this book as a young mother who has yet to establish traditions for my young family (girls ages 4 and almost 2). This book helped explain the pure awesomeness that is Christmas and shows what Christmas should really look like- our hearts worshiping Jesus<3

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good Christmas read.

[Matthew Kutilek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty basic, but a good reminder of what Christmas is all about.

[Lynne Fruechting · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basic but good

[Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short book (144 pages, including topical and Scripture indices), was previously published as 'God With Us: The Miracle of Christmas.' I don't recall if I had read the original publication or not.

The book reads like an 8-sermon series which have been serialised for publication. Nothing wrong with that, but it is rather basic. It would serve as a great primer on what the original Christmas event was all about.

John MacArthur, in his inimitable style, does what he sets out to do, remove the pagan influences, sentimentalism, and non-biblical traditions that attached themselves to the narrative of that first Christmas event in Bethlehem. So, if you want the raw, unexpurgated Biblical truth about 'the first Noel' then this is the book for you.

A solid 3-star read!

[Jody · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book about the true meaning of Christmas and the background behind our traditions. I think what struck me most was at the very end regarding Christmas presents. It said, "Our society is literally filled with the unnecessary, the insignificant, and the meaningless. And people spend a fortune on that kind of junk for Christmas. Why? Often, it is the quickest and easiest way to complete an obligatory Christmas list. What meaning is there in that?" I think this book would be good to read every year before the start of the Christmas season.

[Deb Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a very astute and insightful look at the scriptures pertaining to Jesus' birth, life, and crucifixion. The author draws detailed parallels and differences in the purposes of modern Christmas celebrations with the facts and myths about the characters of the original Christmas. This book is a good companion to ' The Stories of the Traditions of Christmas' , by Ace Collins, that is read at the beginning of the Christmas season.

[Grant Fawcett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very typical MacArthur fare, this is a well presented theology of Christmas.

[Marjorie Towers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Re-read this Advent season. It had been years since I first read this (probably early 1990's). I enjoy some of the historical details about our Christmas traditions like cards and trees.

[Troy Stauffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read with lots of fun illustrations and interesting tidbits and speculations on lesser known parts of the Christmas story (like the Magi, the innkeeper, Herod, etc..)

[alwayss.rejoice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous book on the meaning of Christmas

[Ricardo Garza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read, a good reminder of what Christmas is truly about. I enjoyed and found interesting a lot of the single page reflections of how and where a few of our modern day traditions originated.

[Rob 2272 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, easy to read book, but filled with significance about the true meaning of Christmas.

[Abbey Wilkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second year reading this book at Christmas time. It gives such gospel centered perspective on different elements of the Christmas story.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was browsing our bookcases for good Christmas reads when I came across this small book. I'd been thinking along different lines -- fiction with a good underlying lesson or the warm fuzzy kind of story. If I've discovered anything over the last year, it's that the warm fuzzy feelings from those kinds of stories are nice but temporary. Truth is lasting. Truth doesn't change. Truth brings me face to face with the reason for this celebration of Christmas, and that reason is much bigger than decorations and social engagements, Christmas movies and pleasant stories. For the truth it speaks and the glorious message it proclaims, I love this book. Making an annual reading of it wouldn't be a bad tradition to add to the holiday season. MacArthur takes his usual straightforward way through many of the questions surrounding The Christmas Story. He is quick to point out typical misconceptions and quick to share the invitation to salvation. Discussions of standard Christmas traditions are scattered throughout the book, but the author is gracious to note the good in them and to point out that a heart of worship expresses itself in many and various ways.

[Joe Keefhaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great little book, in which MacArthur focuses on the true nature of Jesus as God incarnate. The author debunks much of the mythology that has grown up around Christmas and explains its significance as a celebration of the birth of our savior.

[Derrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Christmas book. I reread it almost every Christmas.