Christmas is such a special time of the year, as it should be. Therefore, all of my December sermonettes will pertain to this momentous, blessed time of celebration. Christmas season 2025 is upon us. The stores are packed, Amazon, UPS, and FedEx trucks are working overtime, and some of us have already pulled out the good scissors to wrap gifts we know will be torn open in five seconds! Homes are glowing with lights, children are creating wish lists longer than the book of Psalms, and the kitchen counters are covered with flour, sugar, and recipes we only use once a year. It is a beautiful and busy season, but in all of this activity, we must pause and ask a powerful question: Do we still know the real meaning of Christmas?
The world sends us a message that Christmas is about buying, baking, decorating, and entertaining. However, the Bible reminds us that Christmas is about receiving—receiving the greatest gift ever given to humanity. The angel declared in Luke 2:11 (ESV), “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Not a celebrity. Not a politician. Not a social media influencer. A Savior. A Redeemer. A King!
The real meaning of Christmas is that God came down, not in fireworks and fanfare, but in humility, wrapped in flesh and lying in a manger. While we stress over matching gift wrap and placing ornaments just right, God gave us a gift that was neither wrapped in paper nor placed under a tree; He was wrapped in love and placed in a manger. Matthew 1:23, ESV reminds us of this miracle: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us).” This is the heart of Christmas, not the gifts we buy, but the gift God gave.
So how do we celebrate this “real gift”? Slow down enough to reflect. Teach our children that Christmas is not just about getting what is on their lists, but appreciating what God already provided. Offer forgiveness. Extend kindness, and show love by taking out time to worship, pray, and thank God for sending His Son.
By all means, enjoy the lights. Bake the cookies. Wrap the presents. Put up that beautiful tree (even if one strand of lights always refuses to work every year)! Consequently, above all, celebrate Jesus: the Gift we didn’t deserve, the Love we cannot measure, and the Savior we cannot live without. This Christmas, let us not just exchange presents, but let us embrace His presence. Always abound in the faith, and never leave home without Him!
