John Ortberg

Nancy Ortberg

Funny thing about the Christmas story—it's the same story every year. Sometimes we know it so well, we've heard and preached it so often that we forget the original joy in the story. This week we offer two sermons to help you and your people recapture that initial, childlike joy of Christmas. In his sermon—"The Song of Simeon"—John Ortberg says, "I don't know what you're waiting for, but we're all waiting for something." The real question, though, is this: How will you wait? Nancy Ortberg's sermon—"The Song of Zechariah—points us to the over-the-top joy of Christ's birth that's too deep for words, that forces us to break out in song.

To inspire your Christmas preaching check out these resources as well:

• New Christmas Sermons: Simeon's Song By John Ortberg and Zechariah's Song By Nancy Ortberg
• Featured Illustration: Pastor Weeps at Gang Member's Vigil
• Preaching Skills Article: Ramping Up Your Christmas Preaching
• Video: God With Us

In Christ,

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

P.S. Don't forget to check out our Holiday pages filled with preaching resources for Advent, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

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