Sermons found for the topic Christmas

Behind The Scenes At Christmastime: Zechariah's Song - Luke 1:67-80

This year the title of our Christmas series is "The Songs of Christmas." The theme is appropriate because it is a time for music and especially a time for singing. In the next few weeks we'll be enjoying an extra he More

'Twas the Day After Christmas - Luke 2:17-20

Our text tells us how to celebrate Christmas. In its most literal sense, this passage describes the various responses of people to the birth of Christ. In his sermon on this passage, Charles Spurgeon points out that c More

Faded Glory: Why Christ Had to Come - Psalm 8 & Hebrews 2:5-9

On Christmas Eve, 1998, George Will wrote a column called "The Happiest Holiday." It began this way:A sardonic British skeptic of the late 19th century suggested that three words should be carved in stone over all chu More

Follow the Christmas Star - Matthew 2:7-12

This isn't exactly the sermon I planned to preach on the Sunday before Christmas, but I don't suppose that will surprise anyone since Christmas itself comes as a relief at the end of a year that has not been what we t More

Who is That Baby? - Hebrews 1:1-3

We live in a day when Christmas has become a controversial holiday. If you doubt that statement, just try putting up a manger scene on public property. Or try saying “Merry Christmas” instead of the ubiqui More

Lessons from the Manger - Luke 2:12

"Christmas is full of surprises." Somewhere in my reading this week I ran across that sentence. While I am sure it is true, it doesn't always seem true. Christmas poses a yearly challenge to those of us who have heard More

A Savior is Born - Luke 2:11

Recently I received an e-mail from a man who attended "Two from Galilee," the Christmas program presented by our music ministry several weeks ago. He wrote to say how much he enjoyed it, and then added this sentence: More

The First Christmas Miracle - John 15:22; Galatians 4:4

"If I had not come" (John 15:22)."But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law" (Galatians 4:4). In the first verse, which is really just a fragment of a verse, Jesus invites us More

Christmas Tears - Matthew 2:16-18

"The rulers of this world are seldom friendly to the cause of God." J. C. RyleLast night the contemporary Christian musician Michael Card performed a Christmas concert at Wheaton College. As part of the build-up More

Lessons from the Manger - Luke 2:12

"Christmas is full of surprises." Somewhere in my reading this week I ran across that sentence. While I am sure it is true, it doesn't always seem true. Christmas poses a yearly challenge to those of us who have heard More

It's Okay to Say "Merry Christmas"

It’s Okay to Say “Merry Christmas”� by Ray Pritchard A man came into church last Sunday and said, “Merry Christmas.”� Then he looked at me and said, “I guess it's still all right to say that here.”� His comment reflects the growing frustration many Christians feel about the aggressive s… More

Christmas Joy - Luke 2:8-11

If there is a single word that describes what Christmas is all about, it's the little word "joy." Several of our favorite carols mention it: "Joy to the world, the Lord is come," "O come all ye faithful, joyful and tr More

The First Christmas Miracle - John 15:22; Galatians 4:4

"If I had not come" (John 15:22)."But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law" (Galatians 4:4). In the first verse, which is really just a fragment of a verse, Jesus invites us More

Who is That Baby? - Hebrews 1:1-3

We live in a day when Christmas has become a controversial holiday. If you doubt that statement, just try putting up a manger scene on public property. Or try saying "Merry Christmas" instead of the ubiquitous "Happy More

Dear Sarah: A Letter About Forgiveness at Christmastime

(A few days ago I received a letter that took over a month to finally reach me. It came from someone I have never met. Because of the unusual nature of the letter, I began to think about the question, "What does forgi More

Eighth Day Savior - Luke 2:21

"On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived" (Luke 2:21).Today we're going to explore a forgotten corner of the Christmas s More

Everything I Needed to Know, I Learned at Christmas

EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO KNOW, I LEARNED AT CHRISTMAS by Ray Pritchard Several months ago Lou Diaz of Wheaton Evangelical Free Church suggested to me the idea of preaching on “Christmas and the Christian Worldview.” Because the coming of Christ changed history–literally, from B.C. to A.D.–we aren't straining thi… More

Jesus The Revolutionary: Mary's Song - Luke 1:48-55

When the history of the 20th century is finally written, it may well be that the last forty years will be called the Age of Revolution. First we had the cultural revolution, then we had the sexual revolution, which w More

Backstage at Bethlehem - John 1:10-13

It's amazing how simple some things really are. Take the Bible, for instance. At first glance, it's an intimidating book filled with strange names, places we've never heard of, books we can't pronounce, and verses we More

When Was Jesus Born?

Let me begin by saying right up front that no one knows exactly when Jesus was born because the Bible does not clearly answer this question. That doesn't mean the question is unimportant, only that it is not essential More

When Did Christmas Begin? - John 1:14

Have you ever wondered when Christmas began? I'm not referring to the celebration of Jesus' birth on December 25 because we don't know exactly when he was born. It might be December 25 but it might be June 14 for all More

Overcoming a Judgmental Spirit - Romans 14:1-12

Christians love to fight over our deeply-held beliefs. Unfortunately, sometimes we fight for things that don't matter very much.Once upon a time a man took a walk and came to a bridge. When he got to the middle of the More

The ABC's Of Christmas - II Corinthians 8:9

Have you ever tried to explain the real meaning of Christmas to a child? It isn't easy. There is so much tradition mixed up with spiritual truth that it's sometimes hard to tell Jesus from Santa Claus and the Wise Me More

Christmas Hope - Hebrews 6:18-20

This is Christmas Eve. Even though there is no command in the New Testament to celebrate Christmas, we happily join with millions of Christians around the world in remembering the birth of our Savior. "Joy to the worl More

Herod: The Man Who Tried to Kill Christmas - Matthew 2

This is the story of the man who tried to kill Christmas. It is strange and bizarre and doesn't seem like it should be in the Bible. It doesn't seem like we should read it during the Christmas season. It doesn't so More

A Question for Jesus - Matthew 11:3

If you could have any gift you wanted for Christmas, what would you ask for? That's not an easy question to answer if you start to think about it. Some of us would ask for things. A new car.A new house.A nice blouse.A More

What Child is This? - Isaiah 9:6

One of the many important decisions confronting new parents is, "What shall we call our baby?" Most new parents spend hours debating this question. We all realize that names matter. Shall the new baby be named after h More

I'll Be Home For Christmas - Luke 2:1-7

It had been a long, hard day on the road, and the two travelers were exhausted. It was a long trip no matter when you traveled, but this time of year the roads were so clogged that it took even longer.Three days had More

Is This Really Christmas Eve?

Today is December 24. This is Christmas Eve, the day before Christmas. But is this really the day before Jesus was born in Bethlehem? Each year the question comes up and each year the answer is the same: We can't be sure. The Bible does not clearly answer this question. Evidently the first Christians didn't make a point of … More

What God Wants For Christmas - Micah 6:6-8

There are only ten days left until Christmas. Have you done your shopping yet? Be careful, because there are some crazy people out there. Have you heard about this new doll called Tickle Me, Elmo? Every year there More

The Cradle And The Cross: Simeon's Song - Luke 2:25-35

It's a good question, isn't it? If Jesus were born today, would it be any different than it was 2,000 years ago? We like to think the answer is yes, that we would be ready, that we wouldn't make the mistake of turni More

Mystery & Wonder at Christmastime

MYSTERY & WONDER AT CHRISTMASTIME by Ray Pritchard Christmas has been slow in coming this year. Maybe that's a statement about me personally, but I think it's more than that. It's almost as if the whole nation has been busy and distracted and we almost forgot that a special occasion is just around the corner. But now, at la… More

What Difference Does Easter Make? - Various

If Easter had not happened, Christmas would have no meaning. If Easter had not happened, Christmas would be nothing more than a sweet-sounding fable. If Easter is not true, then Christmas is only the story of an obscure baby born in an out-of-the-way town in a forgotten land 2000 years ago. It is the great miracle of Easter that gives Christmas its true meaning. More

Can You Hear the Angels Singing? Christmas and the "Other World" - Luke 2:8-14

"And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with More

Mary: Believing the Impossible - Luke 1:26-38

Let's talk about Madonna. It seems like everywhere you go these days you see her face and hear people singing her praises. She's certainly a hot topic. No, I'm not thinking about that Madonna, the one who was on Ni More

The King Has Come! - Matthew 2:1-6

We begin with the words of Flannery O'Connor: "The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it." Truth is truth whether we like it or not. The fact that I personally may object to the truth doesn't ma More

Good News for Poor Performers and Splendid Sinners - Luke 1:5-20, 57-64

This afternoon I read a bit from Faithfulness and Holiness by J. I. Packer. The book consists of Packer's short biography of J. C. Ryle, the 19t5h-century Anglican bishop, and a reprint of Ryle's justly-famous book ca More

Overcoming Loneliness - Isaiah 7:14 & Matthew 1:22-23

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14)."All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through th More

The Impossible Dream: The Angels' Song - Luke 2:14

It was 3 A.M. and as the fleet moved through the darkness of the Pacific Ocean men on every ship began to stir. This was the hour, this was the moment of truth. The waiting was over. The battle was about to begin. More

December…A Great Time For Fishing

If your family is like our family, fishing for fun or profit would not be high on your list of things to do during December. Yet fishing is vitally important to who we are. No, I'm not talking about throwing a hook into the lake on a balmy December day, or even following some family's traditions of picking out a live fish a… More

No Crib for a Bed: The God of Every Circumstance - Galatians 4:4

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:7 KJV).While doing some preparation for this message, I More

The Power of a Book - Various

Message to the R. G. Mitchell Christmas BanquetToronto, CanadaThank you. It is a great honor to be with you tonight. This is my first visit to Toronto and is really my first visit to Canada, if you don't count a twent More

The King Has Come! - Matthew 2:1-6

We begin with the words of Flannery O'Connor: "The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it." Truth is truth whether we like it or not. The fact that I personally may object to the truth doesn't ma More

From Bethlehem to Boston to Oak Park

Not many people know the connection between our church and the famous Christmas carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem." The connection goes from the carol to its author to the church he built to the Presbyterians of Oak Park to Calvary Memorial Church. In 1864 a pastor named Phillips Brooks visited the Holy Land at Christmastim… More

Doubt and Faith at Christmastime

DOUBT AND FAITH AT CHRISTMASTIME By Ray Pritchard An e-mail arrived a few days ago from someone who wanted to know how to deal with doubt. I wrote back and said not to worry, we all doubt from time to time and doubt can actually be good for the soul. A second message arrived a day later: “I wanted to tell you that I ve… More

Joseph: A Teenager's Dilemma - Matthew 1:18-25

If you were given the opportunity to meet any person in the first Christmas story, who would you choose? I've been thinking about that this week, and it's not easy to decide. There are so many fascinating people: He More

Our Name is Our Mission - President’s report

Dr. Ray Pritchard gives the 2007 President’s Report on the work of Keep Believing Ministries. He explains the thinking behind the Keep Believing logo, reports on various ministry projects, and shares his dreams for the future. More

Out of Egypt

Sometimes you're reading along when suddenly a phrase pops out and you say, "Whoa! Where did that come from?" That happened to me this week as I was reading the Biblical Illustrator in preparation for this message. I More

Does Jesus Know My Name?

A few months ago we opened the Anchor Book Depot in Chicago to give away copies of a simple gospel book called "An Anchor for the Soul." This is a continuation of a ministry that started seven years ago. Since then we More

Easter Questions - Luke 24:1-12

Can a person who calls himself a Christian ever doubt the resurrection of Jesus Christ? This morning I am going to argue that the answer to that question is Yes!It may sound odd to say that to a group like this on Ea More