Sermons on Approach To Christmas:

A Christmas Of Contrasts Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Dec 23, 2019

As we consider the first Christmas season, we are struck with contrasts that illustrate how God works in His providence and among people.

A Christmas of Contrasts (Luke 2:7, 16-19; Matthew 2:1-10) 1. What Christmas memories do you have? “When I was 9 years old, I ran into my mom and dad’s room to wake them up to open presents. I tripped over a rug while I was running and smashed my teeth against my parent's bedpost. Blood was ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:7, Luke 2:16-19, Matthew 2:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

A Christmas Hymn

Contributed by Michael Stark on Dec 24, 2019

In his first letter to Timothy, Paul appears to cite a hymn to extol Christ as Lord. The message, designed to be delivered on Christmas Eve, explores this hymn as Paul presented it.

By common confession, the secret of our godly worship is great: In flesh was he revealed to sight, kept righteous by the Spirit’s might, adored by angels singing. To nations was he manifest, believing souls found peace and rest, our Lord in heaven reigning! [1], [2] From earliest days, the ...read more

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:16

Denomination: Baptist

The Christmas Story

Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Jan 10, 2020

4th Week of Advent and we are looking at the main characters of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth, and Zachariah

The Christmas story Matthew 1:18-25 Introduction- We are in the 4th week of advent- Each week we lit a candle of the advent wrath and here we are in the final week. Tuesday night at our Christmas Eve service, (7pm) we will light the Christ candle- Christ fulfilling the promise of God. The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25

Denomination: Nazarene

Waiting For Christmas Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 8, 2021

We need to remember, Christmas is a celebration, not of what might be or of what we hope to see happen, it is a celebration of a sure thing that has already happened. God has come down to man to dwell with him.

In 563 BC, a son was born to a ruler in India. The local astrologers predicted he would either be a great ruler or a world renowned ascetic. His father wanted to prevent that, so he sheltered his child from all contact with suffering of any kind. The little prince was to never see life's ...read more

Scripture: Haggai 2:1-9

Christmas Secrets Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 8, 2021

The secret of the star is based on the fact that the more precious the gift the greater the secrecy connected with it. A precious gift is meant to be a surprise and so it is kept secret.

C.S. Lewis is one of the most read and most quoted Christian scholars of the 20th century, but he had to endure the burden of a very heavy secret in his life. He fell in love with a divorced woman and his church, the church of England, forbid marriage to one who was divorced. Joy Davidman, the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:16-25

The Foolishness Of Christmas Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 8, 2021

Let's look at the foolishness of Christmas and see just how wise it really is. The foolishness of God is very simply the foolishness of love. True love tends to be foolish for it takes risks.

A large number of life's greatest blessings start out as stupid, moronic foolishness in the eyes of many people. This was the case with Samuel Morse, a pastor's son and an artist who left his art for a new idea. He thought that a message could be sent by means of electricity. He labored ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Christmas Is Contagious Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 8, 2021

The fastest way to get infected with the spirit of Christmas is to start praising God for what He has done for you through His Son. This sort of praise is very contagious. If you let it start coming out of your mouth, before you know it, it has infected your heart.

Celestine Sibley tells of her father saying to her mother one grayish December morning, "the lumber business is going badly. It looks like a poor Christmas this year." She cried out, "A poor Christmas-shame on you! There is no such thing as a poor Christmas! Times can be hard and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

The Sights Of Christmas Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 8, 2021

The challenge for all of us is to go into this Christmas season determined to see in the sights of Christmas that which makes us praise God and want to be part of His light in this dark world. Let your prayer be, open my eyes Lord, I want to see Jesus.

Hal Bowser said, "the most exciting gift I've ever received was the microscope my parents gave me for Christmas when I was eleven." The first thing he did on that Christmas day was to go out in the back yard and get some water from a rain puddle. He put a drop under his microscope ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Christmas Stuff Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 8, 2021

Jesus created all of the stuff of this material universe, and in His Incarnation He became personally involved with the animal, mineral, and vegetable kingdom. His goal is to redeem all of His creation from the effects of the fall, so that even stuff is a part of the plan of salvation.

Back in October of 1948, a young pastor and his wife took on the challenge of repairing and restoring an old church. Their goal was to have it done by Christmas Eve. But just two days before Christmas a storm dumped over an inch of rain, and the roof leaked, and right in front of the church the ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

The Wonder Of Christmas Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 8, 2021

Just scratching the surface of a match can cause it to burst into flame and though that is all we can do with Luke's record, scratch the surface, it is hoped that this will kindle a flame of wonder in our hearts for Christmas.

Typical of last minute Christmas shoppers, a mother was running furiously from store to store. Suddenly she became aware that the pudgy little hand of her three year old son was no longer clutched in hers. In a panic she retraced her steps and found him standing with his little nose pressed ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Miracles Of Christmas

Contributed by Douglas Phillips on Jun 22, 2019

THIS SERMON EXAMINE SOME OF THE MIRACLES OF CHRISTMAS AND THEIR MEANING FOR US.

MIRACLES OF CHRISTMAS LUKE 2:10-20 THE CHRISTMAS NARRATIVES ARE A COLLECTION OF EVENTS THAT SPEAK OF JESUS BIRTH, AS RECORDED IN THE BOOKS OF MATTHEW AND LUKE. MARK AND JOHN ACTUALLY START WITH JESUS’ PUBLIC MINISTRY AND DO NOT INCLUDE THE BIRTH NARRATIVES AT ALL. NEITHER MATTHEW NOR LUKE GIVE ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:10-20

Denomination: Baptist

Christmas And The Cross

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 8, 2021

It is possible to look forward to a merry Christmas in full awareness that we live in a world of misery. Just as there is nothing inconsistent with taking medicine to feel better in a world of sickness, so there is nothing inconsistent with a merry spirit in a world of misery.

Dr. Samuel Upham, a theological professor and a man of great learning, was dying. The family was gathered around his bed and someone said I believe he is already dead. Someone else said his feet are still warm and nobody ever dies with warm feet. Dr. Upham opened one eye and said, "Joan of ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2

The Timing Of Christmas Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 23, 2021

What we want to see is that though timing may not be everything to Christmas it is plenty, and a focus on the timing of Christmas events can be quite revealing.

Timing may not be everything, but it is plenty. At the dedication service of the Statue of Liberty a boy was to wave a flag indicating that Senator William Evarts had finished his speech. This way the signal for men high in the head of the statue to let go of a giant French flag, which in turn ...read more

Scripture: Galatians 4:1-7

Christmas And The Cross Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 23, 2021

One of the greatest gifts that comes to us from Christmas is the cross, and all of its benefits for time and eternity. Christmas marks His coming, and the cross marks His conquering.

One of the great turning point days in the history of the Western world was June 18, 1815. Napoleon and Wellington faced each other on the battlefield for the first and last time. The history of Europe, and possibility the whole world, hung in the balance. The weight began to shift in ...read more

Prepare For Christmas

Contributed by Hans Krause on Oct 23, 2018

How should we prepare for the birthday of King Jesus? John the Baptist calls us to repentance, to preparing the way for him into our lives and making straight a highway into our hearts.

[Sermon preached on 17 December 2017, 3rd Sunday in Advent / 3rd year, ELCF Lectionary] Every year again I am surprised how much time and energy goes into preparing for Christmas. So many things to do… and in the end so few things that really matter. The famous American author John Grisham wrote ...read more

Scripture: John 1:19-27, Deuteronomy 18:15-19

Denomination: Lutheran