Useful list of resources from Mark Driscoll today:
Sermon Ideas
- A series based on the women associated with Jesus’ birth, such as Elizabeth and Mary.
- An expositional series on all or part of Matthew 1–2 or Luke 1–2.
- A comparison between how John, Matthew, and Luke each explain the incarnation of Jesus Christ in the opening chapters of their gospels.
- A study of either Matthew or Luke’s genealogy, or a comparison and contrast of the two.
- A series on the songs sung around the birth of Jesus, such as the one by Mary and the one by the angels.
- A study of the “I am the light of the world” statements of Jesus in John’s gospel.
- Another idea is to do an examination of the Old Testament prophecies that foretold Jesus’ birth.
Helpful Resources
The following resources may also be helpful in your studies.
- The Miracle of Christmas: God With Us by John MacArthur is an older book that has some good examples of how to explain the birth of Jesus. It also includes some good historical information on how we got Christmas cards, Christmas trees, and more.
- The Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren is a good and simple devotional book looking at the implications of Jesus’ humility in coming among us.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Christmas Sermons by Edwin H. Robertson is a good collection of sermons from a great Christian leader.
- Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus: Experiencing the Peace and Promise of Christmas by Nancy Guthrie includes chapters from John Piper, Randy Alcorn, John MacArthur, Francis A. Schaeffer, R. C. Sproul, Joni Eareckson Tada, George Whitefield, Martin Luther, J. Ligon Duncan, Timothy J. Keller, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Jonathan Edwards, Charles H. Spurgeon, and Augustine.
- Incarnation (Truth and the Christian Imagination Series) by Alister E. McGrath is a devotional-type book that includes beautiful holiday art and great insights.
- The Virgin Birth of Christ by J. Gresham Machen remains the best book outside of Scripture defending the virgin conception of Jesus Christ and is helpful for any teacher/preacher needing to shore up this aspect of their theology.
- Also, in our book Vintage Jesus, Gerry Breshears and I answer the following questions, with chapters 1–5 and 11 being obvious fits for the holiday season.
Christmas Sermons for Study
Lastly, some transcripts of good Christmas sermons may be helpful.
- Luther
Sermon for Christmas Day
Sermon for Christmas Eve - Spurgeon
Joy Born at Bethlehem
A Christmas Question
The First Christmas Carol - Piper
Why the Son of God Came into the World
The Word Became Flesh - Keller (audio form)
The Courage of Christmas
Christmas War
The Begats
Christmas Wisdom
