Today in History - December 17

   A special thanks to Wikipedia.com for following historical information. The sermons I have chosen from Sermonaudio.com

December 17:

197 B.C. - The first Saturnalia festival was celebrated in ancient Rome (Source)

Note: Some believe Christmas is simply the Christian version of the pagan festival of Saturnalia. Here are some sermons that take a serious look at this claim:

1. A Christmas Question, by Pastor Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)
2. A Teenager's Christmas, by Dr. Sinclair B. Ferguson [Text: Luke 1 & 2]
3. Is Christmas Christian? by Rev. Brian Schwertley [Text: 2 Kings 23:4-8]
4. Christian Myths #1: Christmas is the Pagan Celebration of Saturnalia, by Brian Abshire [Text: Colossians 2:16-23]

1538 -  Pope Paul III excommunicates Henry VIII of England (Source)

Recommended sermons and podcasts:

1. English Bible: Timeline, Translations, by Galyn Weimers
2. While Henry VIII Reigned, by Rev. Malcolm Watts

1812 - War of 1812: U.S. forces attack a Lenape village in the Battle of the Nississinewa (Source)

Recommended sermons and podcasts:

1. The War of 1812  - Commemorating 200 Years, by Pastor Kevin Swanson (2012)
2. The Star-Spangled Banner - The Story Behind the National Anthem, by James Walker [Text: John 12:32]

1892 - First issue of Vogue is published (Source)

Recommended sermons and podcasts: Netflix Teen Suicide Push, Teen Vogue Pushes Prostitution, Message Bible Messes, by Pastor Jason Cooley [Text: Romans 1]