How to Preach the Christmas Story Like It’s Brand New

Even the Magi, who show up later in Matthew’s account, remind us that Jesus’ coming reached beyond Israel’s borders. Their long journey illustrates how God draws unlikely people to Himself.

Every character offers a lens through which the congregation can see Jesus afresh.

Christmas Story – Preaching the Humanity of Jesus

The Incarnation can feel abstract, but Christmas makes it concrete. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14). Those few words changed everything.

Preach the reality of that moment—not merely as doctrine, but as divine empathy. God entered our story. He felt cold nights and calloused hands. He grew tired, hungry, and misunderstood.

The Christmas story invites people to see that God does not love us from a distance. He has shared our weakness so that He might redeem it.

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This truth hits home when we connect it to real life. Talk about what it means that God knows what it feels like to be human—exhausted parents, fearful shepherds, confused teenagers, or travelers far from home.

Christmas says that God’s love came wrapped in flesh, not theory.

Stirring Imagination Through Simplicity

Sometimes we think “fresh preaching” requires clever outlines or creative props. But often, the best way to preach the Christmas story like it’s brand new is through simplicity.

Tell the story clearly. Use sensory details—what did the stable smell like? What did the angel’s voice sound like against the quiet of the fields? The Bible’s beauty lies in its earthiness, and painting the scene with simple imagery helps listeners step into the story.

Consider inviting the congregation into reflection. Ask them to imagine standing with the shepherds, or to hear the lullaby of a young mother holding the Savior. When preaching becomes participatory, the story comes alive.

A Message That Never Grows Old

Samuel Johnson said, “We need to be reminded more often than we need to be instructed.” The Christmas story reminds us that light still shines in darkness, that hope still enters despair, that grace still takes flesh among us.

Preach the old story as if you were announcing it for the first time. Speak with the reverence of a witness who has just seen glory.

Resist the urge to overcomplicate it. Let the message be as pure as the angel’s words: “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”

Bringing It Home

As you step into the pulpit this Christmas, remember: your task isn’t to impress but to illuminate. The same Holy Spirit who inspired Luke and Matthew is eager to breathe life into your message again.

Before you preach, pray, “Lord, let me see it again.” Let your awe lead theirs. Then preach with conviction that the good news is still good, the hope is still real, and the miracle still matters.

The Christmas story may be ancient, but it’s never old. When the preacher’s heart is freshly amazed, the congregation will hear the familiar words—unto us a child is born—as if for the very first time.