The Christmas season is upon us! This is a unique time in the calendar year when nominal Christians and occasional visitors will come to your church to sing songs and listen to a sermon. How can we leverage this opportunity for the gospel? How can a preacher, who has perhaps preached dozens of Christmas messages over the years, keep it “fresh” now? 

Mike asks these questions and more to a self-proclaimed “Ambassador of Christmas,” Ronnie Martin. 

They speak about some beloved and obscure Christmas carols, sermon series ideas, Advent devotionals and the ethics of re-preaching old Christmas messages. 

Ronnie Martin is founder and lead pastor of Substance Church in Ashland, Ohio, where he also serves as a northeast regional church plant director for the EFCA. In addition to writing for The Gospel Coalition, his work includes numerous album and book titles, including The Best Gift Ever Given: A 25-Day Journey Through Advent from God's Good Gifts to God's Great Son. He and his wife Melissa have one daughter.

Resources Mentioned: 

The Best Gift Ever Given: A 25-Day Journey Through Advent from God's Good Gifts to God's Great Son :  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0736978542/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i2

Said Fantasy: https://plastiqmusiq.bandcamp.com/album/carols-gloria 

3 Ways to Become a Christmas Loving Pastor: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/3-ways-to-become-a-christmas-loving-pastor/ 

25 Advent Devotionals from Ronnie Martin: https://ftc.co/?s=advent 

Substance Church : https://www.substance-church.org/ 

Recommended Episodes: 

Tidings of Great Joy:  https://www.expositorscollective.com/podcast/2019/11/28/episode-76-tidings-of-great-joy

Ronnie Martin - The Danger of Being Over-Prepared: https://www.expositorscollective.com/podcast/2021/8/3/the-danger-of-being-over-prepared-ronnie-martin 

Jonathan Pennington:  https://www.expositorscollective.com/podcast/2021/8/10/the-first-and-last-minute-of-your-sermon-jonathan-pennington

The Expositors Collective podcast is part of the GoodLion podcast network, for more thought provoking Christian podcasts visit https://goodlion.io