Every December, pastors step into the pulpit to tell the same story—the one everyone already knows. Shepherds in the fields, angels in the sky, wise men from the East, and a baby in a manger.
Yet even as hearts are tender and pews are fuller, many pastors quietly wonder: “How do I preach the Christmas story without sounding like I’m pressing “repeat” on last year’s message?”
The answer isn’t to reinvent the story, but to return to its wonder. The challenge of preaching the Christmas story like it’s brand new isn’t about adding something novel—it’s about recovering something eternal.
Rediscovering the Wonder of the Christmas Story
When we read Luke 2 or Matthew 1 for the hundredth time, we can forget that the Christmas story is filled with astonishment. Angels break centuries of silence. A virgin conceives.
The Creator enters His creation as a crying infant. It’s no wonder Charles Wesley wrote, “Our God contracted to a span, incomprehensibly made man.”
Before preaching the Christmas story, pause to feel its weight again. Sit quietly with the text, not as a preacher preparing a sermon, but as a believer encountering grace. Read it aloud.
Picture the scene in Bethlehem. Imagine Joseph’s confusion, Mary’s courage, the shepherds’ shock, the Magi’s awe. When the preacher’s heart is moved, the congregation’s will follow.
RELATED: 4 Christmas Lessons From Joseph of Nazareth
A practical tip: begin your preparation by reading the story from a different translation than you normally use—the NLT or The Message can help you hear familiar phrases in a fresh way. Sometimes a new rhythm of words is enough to awaken old wonder.
Fresh Angles on Familiar Truth
There are dozens of entry points into the Christmas story, and each one opens a different door for your listeners. Try preaching from the perspective of someone often overlooked.
For instance, what if you focused on Joseph—the quiet man who obeyed without fanfare? His story teaches what faith looks like when obedience requires silence and trust.
Or consider the shepherds—uneducated, marginalized, yet entrusted with the first public announcement of Christ’s birth. Their joy is contagious and relatable in an age that longs for good news.
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