This is The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview.Part I (00:13 – 08:44) ‘Teens Who Grow Up Checking Social Media Become Hyper Sensitive to Their Peers’: New Study Shows Social Media Use Changes Brain in TeensSocial Media Use Is Linked to Brain Changes in Teens, Research Finds by New York Times (Ellen Barry)Part II (08:44 – 14:29) How Should Christians Think About IVF? — Dr. Mohler Responds to Letters from Listeners of The BriefingChristian Morality and Test Tube Babies, Part One by AlbertMohler.com (R. Albert Mohler, Jr.)Christian Morality and Test Tube Babies, Part Two by AlbertMohler.com (R. Albert Mohler, Jr.)Part III (14:29 – 18:12) Does Life Begin at Fertilization In Utero or at Fertilization Regardless of the Location? — Dr. Mohler Responds to Letters from Listeners of The BriefingPart IV (18:12 – 20:22) If Blood is Such an Important Part of Atonement in the Sacrificial System, Why is Flour Acceptable for Those Who Cannot Afford Turtledoves or a Lamb? — Dr. Mohler Responds to a Letter from a Seven-Year-Old Listener of The BriefingPart V (20:22 – 22:36) Why Do You Think People So Harshly Attack the Doctrine of Penal Substitutionary Atonement? — Dr. Mohler Responds to Letters from Listeners of The BriefingPart VI (22:36 – 26:44) What Does the Bible Say about Education? Why Do We Put Such a Focus on High Academic Achievement in the Modern Age? — Dr. Mohler Responds to Letters from Listeners of The BriefingSign up to receive The Briefing in your inbox every weekday morning.Follow Dr. Mohler:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTubeFor more information on The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, go to sbts.edu.For more information on Boyce College, just go to BoyceCollege.com.To write Dr. Mohler or submit a question for The Mailbox, go here.

This is The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview.Part I (00:13 – 03:35) Why Did Jesus Have to Be Born as a Baby? Why Did He Not Come as a Man? Why Was He Born in a Manger? — Dr. Mohler Responds to a Letter from a 4-Year-Old Listener of The BriefingPart II (03:35 – 04:53) Is the Christmas Spirit the Same as the Holy Spirit? — Dr. Mohler Responds to a Letter from a 5-Year-Old Listener of The BriefingPart III (04:53 – 06:47) Did Baby Jesus Fuss and Cry Like Other Babies? If so, Is that in Conflict with His Nature as the Son of God? — Dr. Mohler Responds to Letters from Listeners of The BriefingPart IV (06:47 – 07:54) Is It Inconsistent to Say Jesus Was Born in Joseph’s Lineage When They Did Not Share DNA? — Dr. Mohler Responds to Letters from Listeners of The BriefingPart V (07:54 – 09:16) What are Your Thoughts on an Ecumenical Advent Services That Includes a Reading by Rabbi and Muslim Leaders? — Dr. Mohler Responds to Letters from Listeners of The BriefingPart VI (09:16 – 10:50) Should Christians Participate in Santa Claus? — Dr. Mohler Responds to Letters from Listeners of The BriefingPart VII (10:50 – 13:41) Do We Rightly Celebrate the Birth of Christ on December 25? — Dr. Mohler Responds to Letters from Listeners of The BriefingPart VIII (13:41 – 16:13) Assuming Life Begins at Conception, When Exactly Did the Incarnation Happen? — Dr. Mohler Responds to Letters from Listeners of The BriefingPart IX (16:13 – 18:48) Did the Son of God Give Up His Deity at the Incarnation? — Dr. Mohler Responds to Letters from Listeners of The BriefingPart X (18:48 – 20:38) Why Did God Choose Mary to Be the Mother of Jesus? — Dr. Mohler Responds to a Letter from an 8-Year-Old Listener of The BriefingPart XI (20:38 – 22:27) Did God Choose Mary Because She Was a Perfect Vessel? — Dr. Mohler Responds to Letters from Listeners of The BriefingPart XII (22:27 – 24:00) Who is the King in the Song “Do You Hear What I Hear?” — Dr. Mohler Responds to Letters from Listeners of The BriefingPart XIII (24:00 – 25:43) May the Joy of Christ Fill Your Hearts and Homes: Merry Christmas from Dr. Mohler to Listeners of The BriefingSign up to receive The Briefing in your inbox every weekday morning.Follow Dr. Mohler:Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTubeFor more information on The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, go to sbts.edu.For more information on Boyce College, just go to BoyceCollege.com.To write Dr. Mohler or submit a question for The Mailbox, go here.

DOCUMENTATION AND ADDITIONAL READING
PART 1
(0:0 – 15:6):
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The State of the Union Address and America’s Constitutional Order: President Joe Biden Delivers State of the Union Address to the Nation

NEW YORK TIMES
Full Transcript of Biden’s State of the Union Address

PART 2
(15:7 – 17:40):
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Governor Greg Abbott Set to Face Beto O’Rourke in Epic Texas Gubernatorial Race — Upcoming Midterm Elections Will Determine Who Sits in Many Governorships

PART 3
(17:41 – 24:33):
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Precedents Should Stand Even if Wrong? What is the Point of the Supreme Court if It Stands on Its Mistakes Rather than the Constitution?

LA TIMES (NICHOLAS GOLDBERG)
Who Says the Supreme Court Shouldn’t Overrule its Precedents? When It Needs to, It Should