It's hard to imagine that Christmas has a dark side. Isn't Christmas all about good cheer, happy families, and shopping excursions? Well, yes, but for many people it's also a time of grief, loneliness, longing, and lament. In this week's featured sermon, "Rachel Weeping," Ken Langley reminds us that if we don't honestly address the dark side of the season—as the Bible does—the "Rachels" of the world will simply write us off. Here's a powerful sermon to help your people look at the Christmas season with fresh eyes, eyes of compassion for the world's broken and hurting.

This week we also feature:

• Illustration: List of the World's Least Powerful People
• Video: Christmas Spirit (The Right Way)

Preaching Christ,

Matt Woodley
Managing Editor, PreachingToday.com
mwoodley@christianitytoday.com

Matt Woodley is the pastor of compassion ministries at Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton, Illinois.