For clergy all over the world, ’tis the season to stress about what to say on Christmas Eve. The
Having preached over 20 Christmas Eve (and Christmas Day!) sermons over the years, I thought I’d share some unsolicited advice for preachers. I’ve surely violated some of these over the years, so please don’t take this as homiletical self-righteousness. Just a few tips I’ve picked up along the way.
Most of these are probably obvious. But, having also listened to a number of Christmas sermons over the years, they may not be as obvious as one might expect. The thing is, Christmas Eve should be a night not just of tradition, but of transformation. And preachers have a unique opportunity to share the gospel with many who are yearning to hear a word of hope.
1. Keep it short. This is not the time to try to say everything you ever learned about Christmas. That’s for the pre-Christmas dinner grace that you will be inevitably asked to say.
2. Let Scripture and music do the heavy lifting. Generally speaking, our preaching can’t hold a candle to how people will be moved by St. Luke’s account of the birth narrative, or the singing of the familiar carols. We all know that nobody leaves church humming the sermon.
3. Avoid words like homoousious. You may be really jazzed that Jesus is “of the same substance as the Father.” So am I! But this is not be the time for a Greek word study. Save that for your popular 18-week series on the Nicene Creed.
4. Don’t throw Santa under the bus at the pageant service. Actually at any service. You just never know who may be nestled in those pews at Midnight Mass.
5. Preach the gospel. In the end, that’s all that really matters. “Christ the Savior is born.”
6. Connect through story. If you don’t have a personal story of how love came down at Christmas and changed your life, that’s fine. Just lean on the nativity story. That never fails (“greatest story ever told” and all that).
7. Please don’t forget to tell people Jesus loves them. Because it’s true. And also because people — especially those who don’t attend church regularly — don’t hear this nearly enough.
Preachers, know that I am praying for you this holy season. When you speak faithfully from the heart, the people in your congregation will indeed see a great light. Wherever you serve, thank you for your ministry. It makes a difference. And it matters.
Merry (almost) Christmas!
PS. The image above is of St. John's Church in Hingham, MA (a place I preached 14 of those Christmas sermons).
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