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"They spread the word concerning what had been told them" (Luke 2:17). As I opened my mouth to speak my lines, I was upstaged by a little boy who jumped up and shouted, “It’s Jesus! We gotta tell everybody!”

[Hannah] named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him” (1 Sam. 1:20). Did you get what you wanted for Christmas? Or did you get what you needed?

The virgin... will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel — which means, God with us (Matt 1:23). The Bible is nothing if not the story of God's persistent desire to dwell with his people.

His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6). Who doesn't need more of the Prince of Peace and His peace in their home?

"How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years" (Luke 1:18). The saddest story of Christmas is how those closest to Christ's birth missed it.

His mercy is upon generation after generation toward those who fear him (Luke 1:50). It's always a little sad, isn't it? Christmas is over, and soon decorations will come down...

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Christmas is spelled L-O-V-E. What is the Christmas message? It's John 3:16.

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope (Jer. 29:11). Maybe today is the perfect time to revisit the manger to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ by giving Him the gift of obedience.

All things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God (1 Cor. 3:22-23). This Christmas I want to think and live as one adopted. One way to do this is to let every gift given to a loved one serve as a pointer to the Gospel.

Whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? (1 John 3:17). The world may give gifts for all the wrong reasons.

So that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught (Luke 1:4). Why is Christmas such a magical time of year? I think its because everyone is expecting a miracle.

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matt. 5:44). We had a quickly growing stack of nice things to take to people who were definitely not nice...

A tree from the forest is cut down... They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move (Jer. 10:3-4). If you come to my church, you’ll find a very large Christmas tree in the foyer!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given (Isaiah 9:6). Imagine for a moment that you have never heard the Christmas story and you visit a shopping mall on December 22.

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son... that we might receive the full rights of sons (Gal. 4:4-5). Christmas at my house meant preparing for the worst. The worst didn't always come, but you couldn't be too careful.

...that they should seek God (Acts 16:27). I love the Christmas traditions we have in our family. One of them is sitting down to watch the Jimmy Stewart movie, It's a Wonderful Life.

We have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him (Matt. 2:2). I think we should cancel the version of Christmas that is filled with hype and endless activity.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (John 3:16). Stop right where you are! Take a deep breath and travel back with me to a time when there was no hope and no celebration.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11). Usually, we don't celebrate historical figures as children...

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger (Luke 2:16). Our calendars so easily become overloaded, crowding out the spiritual significance of the Christmas season.