Every Christmas Eve they stream into your church. They're the C & E crowd, the Christmas and Easter visitors. But they're not just a "Crowd." They're people—sinners, seekers, and saints—who need to meet Christ.

I love the way Juan Sanchez addresses them in this week's sermon, What Child Is This? Juan opens by saying, "We just finished singing "What Child Is This?" and I think it's an appropriate question to ask. What's the big deal with a child born in a manger over two thousand years ago? Did you know that in our day over four million babies are born in the United States each year? Why is this Child—the Child that we celebrate every Christmas—so special?" Read the rest of Juan's sermon to start thinking about how you would answer those honest questions.

Also, if you're looking for an New-Old, ancient-fresh way to plan your sermons for next year, check out this week's skills article— Preaching the Lectionary, a conversation with veteran preacher Dan Meyer on what the lectionary is and why he and his preaching team decided to use it for 2013-2014.

This week to help you in your preaching efforts we offer the following:

• Featured Illustration: Stradivari Taught Others through "Elbow Learning"
• Preaching Skills Article: Preaching the Lectionary By Dan Meyer
• Video: The Christmas Gospel

In 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.