How To Write Christmas Sermon Outlines: The focus of the Christmas sermon should be on the birth of Jesus Christ and the redemptive nature of His birth. I usually create Christmas sermon outlines from passages of Scripture that focus on these two points.
How To Write Christmas Sermon Outlines
While teaching homiletics to Bible College students, I have discovered that the biggest hindrance to writing sermon outlines is not the garnering of information but the creation or the development of the sermon outline in order to deliver that information. In other word, most students find it difficult to package the sermon for delivery.
We need to start at the beginning. Sermons have three parts: the introduction, the body or sermon outline and the conclusion. The introduction introduces the subject of your sermon. The sermon outline is the bulk of your message. It includes the subject of your sermon with sub-points and incidental points. The conclusion concludes the sermon by reinforcing the subject of your sermon with a personal application or action.
1. The Christmas Sermon Outline
I have been writing weekly sermons for nearly thirty years or so and I make it a point with students that I never write a sermon until I have finished the sermon outline. It is no different with Christmas sermons. I always write the Christmas sermon outlines first.
The sermon outline has a main preaching point. In other words, the sermon outline must have a title or main subject. For example you may want to talk about the uniqueness of Christmas or the significance of Christmas or what is all the fuss about Christmas.
Once you have decided on the main preaching point, you will need to expand and explain the main preaching point with sub-points and incidental points. By constructing a sermon outline like this, you will be able to preach your message with a natural flow and progression.
When it comes to writing sermons, I spend much of my time constructing the sermon outline. The sermon outline must have a natural flow to it. It needs to be clear and concise. I will spend as much time as needed to get this right because the sermon outline is the road map for preaching your message to your congregation. After all, your message is your sermon outline in short hand.
2 The Christmas Sermon
Once I have constructed the sermon outline, I then write content to the sermon outline with appropriate illustrations. The sermon outline dictates the sermon content and illustrations.
Once I have finished writing content to the sermon outline, I write the introduction to the sermon and then I write the conclusion to the sermon.
The Example Sermon Outline
Introduction:
There are five REASONS to stop and reflect upon the significance of Christmas.
- Christmas is a time to ponder (Luke 2:19)
- Christmas is a time to marvel (Luke 2:18)
- Christmas is a time to praise (Luke 2:20)
- Christmas is a time to tell (Luke 2:17)
- Christmas is a time to find Jesus (Luke 2:16)
Conclusion:
3. Some Concluding Comments
I generally write content to Christmas sermon outlines keeping in mind that many non-believers come to the Christmas service.
I grew up in a family where Christmas was about family, gifts and a festive time. I never took the time to see beyond the superficial. So when I share the Christmas message, I want people to hear about the birth of Jesus Christ and the redemptive nature of his birth.
Resources For How To Write Christmas Sermon Outlines
Haddon W. Robinson, Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages
Bryan Chapell, Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon
Charles W. Koller, How To Preach Without Notes
James Braga, How To Prepare Bible Messages
Eugene Lowry, The Sermon: Dancing The Edge of Mystery
David Buttrick, Homiletic Moves and Structures
Steven D. Mathewson, The Art of Teaching Old Testament Narrative
Eugene Lowry, The Homiletical Plot: The Sermon as Narrative Art Form