Christmas Worship Resources for Pastors: Sermon & Liturgy

Updated for Christmas 2025

Does planning Christmas worship feel like walking a tightrope? On one hand, you're preaching a story your congregation has heard dozens of times—how do you make Luke 2 feel fresh if they've heard a dozen sermons on it before? On the other hand, Christmas Eve brings one of your largest and most diverse audiences of the year: members, sheepish absentees, the curious, and the family who have been finally cajoled into attending. And skip a favorite carol? You'll hear about it.

This worship guide gathers our Christmas resources in one place to help you craft your sermon and service.

Need sermon help? We have guides for common Christmas texts, including Luke 2 and John 1, as well as Psalm 98 and Isaiah 9. Each Lectionary Guide includes original, preaching-oriented commentary, quotes, illustrations, and liturgy (our Scripture Guides are the same, except without liturgy). We also have a list of links to sermon content on Christmas themes.

Need liturgy? See our Liturgy for Christmas Services below for prayers and readings specifically for Christmas. Want more? See our list of links to liturgy on many different Christmas themes.

We also have a Blue Christmas service which can be used for people grieving during the holidays. These are often offered on Dec. 21, the longest night of the year.

Fresh Angles for Christmas Sermons

Looking for a new angle for your Christmas sermons? These blog posts explore Christmas themes from unexpected directions.

• A Christmas with Home Alone — They've all seen it. Help them find the story of forgiveness and reconciliation hiding in plain sight.

• Longing for Home: Christmas Movie Cheer — Christmas movies are about home—and the gospel is an invitation to come home.

• On the Outside Trying to Get Into Christmas — Many people feel isolated at Christmas—here are two stories about people who looked in at Christmas from outside.

• Hard Holy Days and the Wondrous Mystery — On overdoing it at Christmas and getting back to the real meaning

Christmas Sermon & Liturgy Guides by Scripture Text

Choose the passage you're preaching this Christmas. Lectionary Guides include preaching commentary, illustrations, quotes, and liturgy (Complete Package subscribers). Scripture Guides offer the same sermon content without liturgy (Essentials subscribers).

Sermon and Liturgy Resources by Theme

Browse sermon illustrations, quotes, and resources organized by theme. Click any theme to see all related content.

Sermon resources accessible to all paid subscribers. Liturgy requires Complete Package subscription.