Steve Carter, editor for Preaching Today, and Gary Burge, New Testament scholar, help us understand the feeling of prophetic expectancy for a Messiah.

The Jews understood that even during Roman occupation and oppresion there was this expecation that God would step in and resuce them. The best way to illustrate this expecation is from their history with Moses and Egypt, and why Moses is then seen as the template figure for the Messiah.

Gary also gives us some of the central OT prophecies to use in our Christmas sermons. As well as an interesting take on the role suffering and oppression plays in the expecation for a Messiah.

Then stay tuned to the second half of the video where three pastors—Alison Gerber, Lee Eclov, and Joel Thomas—discuss how to apply Gary’s revelations to our Christmas sermons.

Other Videos in this Series

Historical and Cultural Setting of Christmas

Gary Burge shares important information about Roman occupation and the census in Bethlehem.

Steve Carter and Gary Burge

The Christmas Scene

Gary Burge helps us better understand the lives of some of the main characters of the Christmas story.

Steve Carter and Gary Burge

Christmas Sermon Ideas

Gary Burge, as a New Testament scholar, tells us what he would like to hear in a Christmas sermon.

Steve Carter and Gary Burge