How many ways can you preach Christmas?

by Sunday Ready
on December 8, 2025
in stat, quote, story

When I was pastoring, Christmas was always one of the hardest seasons to preach.

It should be easy—after all, it’s the Christmas story—but there are only so many ways you can preach Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the manger.

In fact, Christmas was one of my biggest “borrowing” seasons. You know exactly what I mean. 😉

This was the time of year I’d borrow ideas, outlines, or illustrations from pastor friends while I tried to finish my Christmas Eve message.

So, if you’re a church leader who struggles to preach during the holidays, don’t feel bad. You’re not alone, and it’s a lot more common than you think.

This week, I’m giving you 1 stat, 1 quote, and 1 story you can use in your Christmas sermon prep.

I hope it lightens the load and gives you something fresh to work with this season.

One more thing. Sunday Ready is on Instagram. I would love to connect if you use the app. Give us a follow.

Stat

79% of Americans are concerned about having enough money for holiday gifts this year, an 11-percentage-point increase from last year.

Takeaway: Whether spoken or unspoken 8 out of 10 members of your church have anxiety about money as you preach this week.

Source: https://money.usnews.com/credit-cards/articles/2025-holiday-shopping-survey

Quote

“…the Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, unable to do more than lie and stare and wriggle and make noises, needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk like any other child.” – J. I. Packer

Source: J. I. Packer’s book, Knowing God

Story

In the late 1800s, leprosy was spreading rapidly in Hawaii, and because people didn’t understand the disease, fear took over. Anyone diagnosed was sent into permanent exile on a remote island.

Most priests refused to go to the island because it was too dangerous, but in 1873, a 33-year-old Belgian priest, Father Damien, volunteered for the mission no one wanted.

According to his letters, he moved fully into their world. He lived among them, hugged them, dressed wounds, built homes, dug graves, and shared meals.

He slept in a small shack with a leaky roof, built a church, held regular services, and opened every sermon with the same words: “My fellow lepers…” He wasn’t sick, but he chose to see himself as one of them.

After 12 years of serving, he accidentally put his foot into scalding water and felt nothing. That was the moment he realized he had contracted the disease.

The following Sunday, he stood before his congregation and began his sermon the same way as always: “My fellow lepers…” but this time the words carried a different weight.

He now fully shared their condition.

Father Damien eventually died at age 49, having given his life for the people he came to love.

Takeaway: Jesus took on our condition to save us. He is Emmanuel—God with us.

Source: The Spirit of Father Damien: The Leper Priest-A Saint for Our Times

Interesting Links

Free Prayer and Fasting sermon series (and book)
My friend Pastor JC Worley just released a new book called Deeper21: Experience the Power of Prayer and Fasting in Twenty-One Days. I’ve read it. It’s good.

He’s giving away a free 3-week sermon series you could use in January on the topic of prayer and fasting, and he’s selling books in bulk for $10 if you want to purchase copies for your church.

You can email kshaw@mygochurch.com for the books and/or sermon series.

Survey: 79% Concerned About Having Enough Money for Gifts
This is where I got the stat for Christmas spending. Americans plan to adjust their holiday spending this year because of financial pressure, with many cutting back on gifts, travel, and celebrations. People feel stressed or anxious about money during the Christmas season.

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I send emails just like this one to pastors every Monday. The goal is to help lighten the load of weekly preaching. I would love to add you to the list.