In preparing for Christmas through the season of Advent I always like to find a new source of inspiration. This year I read Timothy Keller’s, Hidden Christmas: The Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ. Each chapter represents at least 10 or so meditations and sermons on each biblical text, delivered in Christmas services across the decades of his ministry. He is always rewarding.
I find that Christmas is the most challenging time for a preacher. The major services are on Christmas Eve when families throng the church, along with once a year visitors, to enjoy the unique candelight atmosphere, the Christmas decorations, trees decorated with lights, wreaths, poinsettias, and the glorious familiar music of the season. What can you say that will communicate the angelic message to such a multi-generational diverse congregation in a fresh and compelling way?
Keller’s chapter titles are eye-catching:
A Light Has Dawned
The Mothers of Jesus
The Fathers of Jesus
Where is the King?
Mary’s Faith
The Shepherd’s Faith
A Sword in the Soul
The Doctrine of Christmas
I will be quoting him a couple of times this year.
As I look back over the years my book of Christmas messages would have the following chapter titles:
Christmas in Solitary Confinement
The Vulnerability of God
What is so Special about Jesus?
The Showing of God’s Love
Fear Not
The Gift of Christmas
Christmas in a Hotel
Christmas and Miracles
You can find them in Volume 4 of my SOUL FOOD: Daily Devotions for the Hungry
What would you entitle your Christmas message this year? What does the coming of God in the flesh mean to you? This coming Christmas Eve my message will be an exposition of 1 John 1:1-4 entitled What Is Essential to Being a Christian?
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I enjoy Ted’s Blogs — They are always spiritually insightful, thoroughly researched, and broadly referenced. Here might some other possible Christmas titles and themes, for the hard-to-describe-though-important-to-try divine-human events surrounding the unique Incarnation:
“Gov Regs Affect God’s Son” (Jesus’ birth)
“God Makes an Ordinary Night Extraordinary” (shepherds)
“Seekers, Finders” (wisemen)
“When Can You Die in Peace?” (Simeon)
“What or Who Do You Hope to Meet in Worship?” (Anna)
“Power Confronted Causes Power Cleansing” (profiling babies)
“Egyptian Exile / God’s Family Are Refugees” (Holy Family flees)
Thanks Bill. Very helpful ideas for messages.