Not about us

Here's some good advice on resisting the urge to make even Christmas sermons about us:

Luke 1 is not ultimately about marriage stress. We need to be on guard against inserting ourselves and our needs into the center of every passage. Luke 1 is ultimately about one of the most significant events ever - the announcement of the arrival of the Messiah. It’s a pivotal moment in all of history. We risk trivializing the passage when we make it a how-to sermon on dealing with marriage stress.

As preachers, let’s help our people find their place in the grand story of God’s mission. Preach Christ and what his arrival means for the world today. It’s a story that deals with marriage and all the other stresses we face - but it is much bigger than that. Preach Christ this Christmas. It’s not all about us!

Amen. Human beings naturally prefer how-to sermons. Yet the Bible insists on giving us not a set of operating instructions, but Jesus the Christ. Preachers, regardless of what our sinful natures want, what we need is Jesus—born, crucified and resurrected for the sins of the whole world.