Pastors often talk about the challenge of preaching on Christmas once they have done so several years in one place. This is a real issue, and I think a key answer is awareness of biblical theology- seeing that Christmas is not simply one event in the Bible but is the culmination of the hopes and [...]
Archive of posts tagged Christmas
The Power of Symbols, Christmas
One of the best books I read this year was The Rage Against God: How Atheism Led Me to Faith by Peter Hitchens (who writes incredibly well, like his recently deceased brother). As we approach Christmas I was reminded of his discussion of the Communist attempt to suppress any vestige of Christmas in Russia. Drawing [...]
“All My Heart This Night Rejoicesâ€
Here is wonderful 17th century Christmas hymn by Paul Gerhardt which expounds the meaning of the Incarnation. This is hymnic gospel proclamation! Let us take great comfort in the work of Christ, God come to get us. All my heart this night rejoices, As I hear, far and near, sweetest angel voices; “Christ is born,†[...]
Incarnation poem from Bede
In Bede’s A History of the English Church and People, he includes a hymn in honor of a woman named Etheldreda. I can’t endorse all that is in the poem, but I appreciated this portion on the Incarnation. See! God most high resigns His royal throne, Descends to earth, and enters Mary’s womb; To free [...]
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas from the Van Nestes
Calvin on Joy in the Christmas Message
If you have read John Calvin but have not read from his sermons, you have missed his best. I have been edified this past week in reading from Songs of the Nativity, a new translation of selected sermons from Luke 1&2 (only one of which has previously appeared in English). In commenting on the angel’s [...]
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas from the Van Nestes
Our Favorite Advent Book
It is a little late to be recommending Advent resources, but in case anyone is searching, our favorite resource continues to be Christ in Christmas: A Family Advent Celebration. We don’t really use the four main stories by the prominent authors. What we like is simply the daily Scripture readings and the two carols a [...]
Keeping Holiday
Keeping Holiday, Starr Meade(Crossway, 2008), pb., 192 pp.Ages 6+ I got a copy of this book several months ago but waited for Christmas to read it to my children. We enjoyed it. It is sort of a “Pilgrim’s Progress meets Christmas.†In the story Holiday is a resort where many families come for vacation. The [...]
Who Was Born This Special Day?
Who Was Born This Special Day?, by Eve BuntingIllustrated by Leonid Gore(Atheneum, 2000), hb., 32 pp.Ages 3-5 This book is nicely illustrated and simple. There is not much to the book. The title question is asked through the book going through various animals as not the one born this day. On the last page it [...]
