Sermons on Christmas Eve:

Beneath Life's Crushing Load

Contributed by Mary Erickson on Dec 17, 2020

Christ was born in vulnerability. He entered our realm because of our weakness, for only the weak and broken are in need of a savior.

December 24, 2020 Hope Lutheran Church Rev. Mary Erickson Luke 2:8-20 Beneath Life’s Crushing Load Friends, may grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and Christ Jesus our Lord. I extend a welcome to all of you who are worshipping with us this Christmas Eve. It’s an ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Lutheran

The Time Has Come Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Dec 20, 2014

The prophecy to David foretells the coming of the king whose reign will never end.

December 24, 2014 Eve of the Nativity Today we begin what I call the “thirteen days of Christmas.” This is the final day of the pre-Christmas novena, nine days in which the Church looks forward to the Christmas solemnity. The Church gets as excited as a five-year old child today. In ...read more

Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:10-16

Denomination: Catholic

The Innkeeper Series

Contributed by Jamie Bogaard on Dec 30, 2021

Even though the Innkeeper isn't mentioned in the Bible his is an interesting perspective on what it might have been like

Please feel free to use this however you would like. I have no copyrights. You can put songs in different spots to break it up if you want. The Innkeeper based on Matthew 2 & Luke 2 My name is Tobiah. I was an innkeeper in Bethlehem in Judea almost two thousand years ago, a time when the ...read more

Denomination: Friends

4th Sunday Of Advent

Contributed by Tim Walker on Dec 18, 2020

This sermon shows how miracles happen. This is a brief meditation that could also be used for a Blue Christmas service or for Christmas Eve.

Every year during the Advent season, advertisers and retailers will frequently used the expression, “The magic of Christmas.” Well, the kind of Christmas magic that they're talking about is a trick that retailers play on us that makes our money disappear. The true Christmas is not about magic. ...read more

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38

Denomination: Methodist

How Could One Solitary Life Have So Much Impact - Christmas Eve

Contributed by Michael Blitz on Dec 24, 2023

Church members and friends can support St. John's By-the-Sea by visiting our website https://www.stjohnsbythesea.com/donate, where a donation can be made by PayPal or credit card, if you prefer that to mailing your donations to the church.

Good Evening, and welcome again to St. John’s Church. And, as you can tell, I love our Christmas Eve Service. The first one at St. John’s was in 1892, 130 years ago. This is only my 5th Christmas here, and I absolutely love how this service paints a picture. It really has a feel to it. As we close ...read more

Denomination: Anglican

First Christmas Risk-Takers

Contributed by Ajai Prakash on Dec 21, 2011

Risk taking at times needs to be bold and calculated. Other times require spontaneity. Risk taking is taking on something that causes fear and has the possibility of failure. Risk taking is an essential ingredient in ministry in the Kingdom of God. Most B

Opening illustration: Three pastors have been called Monday to report to prison in Shiraz, a city in southwestern Iran, within the next 30 days in what is estimated to be an act of religious persecution. The pastors were essentially being sentenced for having meetings at home, making the government ...read more

Scripture: Acts 5:40-42

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

In The Air There Is A Feeling Of Christmas

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Dec 20, 2012

Can you hear it? There is a buzz in the air. Maybe you can feel it. As the song states, In the air there is a feeling of Christmas.It permeates everything tonight. Everything.

For those not familiar with an Anglican Service; there are four Scripture Readings before the Sermon. The Scripture Readings for this day were: Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2: 11-14 and Luke 2: 1-20. Can you hear it? There is a buzz in the air. Maybe you can feel it. As the song states, " ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: Anglican

Not Just Another Charlie Brown Christmas

Contributed by William Akehurst on Dec 24, 2015

This is a complete Christmas Eve Service with music and scripture. Using Charles Shultz's Charlie Brown Christmas as an illustration of making known the real meaning of Christmas. Christ Jesus, God with us, God Saves. Read the Big Idea below.

2015.12.24.CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE William Akehurst, HSWC It’s not just another Charlie Brown Christmas THE BIG IDEA: Charles Shultz shared the message of Christmas through Linus to Charlie Brown. The many Charlie Browns of the world need to hear from the Linuses of CHRIST. Something hit me ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Holy Miracle Series

Contributed by Randy Shepard on Jan 5, 2019

The miracle of Christmas is the God became flesh so that every one of His Children would know that he or she is valued and highly favored by God.

Christmas eve is my favorite day of the year. Some of you may find that odd especially if you know that I love everything about Christmas. And, I do love everything about Christmas. I love the lights, the decorations, the eggnog, the cookies, and my grandma’s homemade banana pudding that my mom ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Denomination: United Methodist

"The Intersection Of Faith And Doubt"

Contributed by David Henderson on Dec 29, 2016

We know from previous passages of scripture that Jesus had given them the authority to heal and they had been successful many times. But this time they seem to be in over their heads. They pray and nothing happens.

"The Intersection of Faith and Doubt" Mark 9:14-24 We find in the scripture that nearly 40 times Jesus performed an act of healing. Water to wine. Fed 5000 without very little food. He healed the blind, the deaf; the lame. And the reason was simple: it was never just about the healing…it was ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:14-24

Denomination: Baptist

The Word Became Flesh

Contributed by Thomas Clawser on Dec 24, 2017

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Nothing compares to the Incarnation of Christ. Nothing.

C.S. Lewis describes the incarnation this way: Lying at your feet is your dog. Imagine, for the moment, that your dog (and every dog) is in deep distress. Some of us love dogs very much. If it would help all the dogs in the world to become like men, would you be willing to become a dog? Would ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-18

Denomination: Other

Anticipate The Fulfillment Series

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Dec 23, 2024

We can Anticipate the fulfillment of God’s promises in three ways as we see how the 1) Shepherds hear the News (Luke 2:8-12), 2) Heavenly Hosts Rejoice (Luke 2:13-14) and finally how the 3) Shepherds See and Share (Luke 2:15-20)

As we have been singing various carols tonight, many ring with the theme of anticipation. The season of Advent, beginning four Sundays before Christmas is the season of the church year that emphasizes the anticipation of the first coming of Christ to this earth. His coming as the Messiah was first ...read more

Scripture: Luke 2:8-20

Denomination: Other

Christ The Savior On Christmas. Series

Contributed by Peter Silway on Nov 6, 2014

Is Jesus the Savior of the world? Has he really come on this Christmas Eve that we celebrate ?Was he sent of God? Was he the Messiah the world was looking for? This one line from Mathew. will reveal to us.today the truth.

CHRIST THE SAVIOR ON CHRISTMAS. Mt.1:1.The book of the generation of Jesus Christ the son of David the son of Abraham.’ Is Jesus the savior of the world? Has he come on this Christmas eve that we celebrate ?Was he sent of God? was he the Messiah the world was looking for? This one line from ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 1:1

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Christian Tree

Contributed by Val Black on Dec 14, 2005

Our Christian Tree is on a hill in a city called Jerusalem, in the nation of Israel. Its not much to look at. Its made of wood and isnt even finished or sanded smooth. Its really rugged looking. I see gifts under it. Lets investigate!

The Christian Tree In a few days it will be Christmas and a lot of us are going to be around friends and relatives who we see only at this time of the year. Many of those people will be unsaved and because of the season, they will be more receptive to spiritual things than they would at other ...read more

Scripture: John 19:17-19

Denomination: Charismatic

God Lying In A Manger

Contributed by Jack Perkins, D.min., Ladc, Csac, Cclc on Dec 24, 2020

This is a Christmas Eve homily that focuses on God's ultimate plan for humanity. The primary message is how God, in Jesus, share with us his true image. The challenge is for each of us to bear that image as he transforms us from the inside and lived out in the world.

God lying in a manger! Celebrating Christmas should not be viewed as an event, we should view it from the perspective of a process. Christmas, as reflected in my Christmas series, Reliving Christmas, began with God. Our introduction to God is found in the creation story—God is eternal and existed ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6, Mark 1:7-8, Philippians 1:6, Philippians 3:12-14

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational