Faithlife StaffEverybody has heard of the 12 Days of Christmas. In fact, we’ve all probably sung about them. But what are the 12 Days of Christmas, and who actually celebrates them? What are the 12 Days of Christmas? For more than 1,400 years, the 12 days of...
Every year, Sunday school teachers spend time teaching the virgin birth. But pastors and small group leaders teach it too—and as a small group leader or pastor, you can dive deeper into Mary’s story and its applications. For one, faithfulness to God...
Matthew BoffeyReady to lounge around with the family this Christmas? Here are some family-friendly movies, shows, and series you can stream free all month long—all available with a free 30-day trial of Faithlife TV Plus. Charting Christmas Why do we celebrate...
Lexham PressChristians understand the meaning of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem . . . but there’s so much that’s hazy in our imagination and understanding of the details. Popular Christmas songs, Christmas movies, and Christmas media have given us the wrong idea...
With all the preparation you’re putting into your Christmas services, don’t forget one of the most important elements: presentation slides. What should you keep in mind as you build your service slides for Christmas and Christmas Eve? Here are five...
Christmas! It’s one of the best times of the year—especially for church outreach. And this year, that outreach may be even more important than ever. Many churches are shrinking. Carey Nieuwhof reports that “anecdotally, most churches find themselves...
Guest Author“In the middle of winter when fogs and rains most abound,” C. S. Lewis once wrote about those who inhabit the island of Niatirb, “they have a great festival which they call Exmas, and for 50 days, they prepare for it in the fashion I shall describe.”
I’ve been in church all my life, and I’ve been in volunteer leadership positions long enough to know that planning a service simply takes time and energy.
Jess HollandThe holidays—Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the new year—are a special time in ministry. Not only do we celebrate the birth of Jesus but we also get the chance to welcome visitors in our churches—many of whom will be attending for the first time. ...
This year has been a year for the books, one that many of us would like to forget. But despite fear of what is happening and uncertainty of what’s ahead, God is still among us. And he has not stopped working out his perfect plan of redemption. So...
This December, spread Christmas cheer for all to hear . . . and see! Inside Proclaim + Pro Media, you’ll find church media as pretty as a sparkling Christmas tree or the fireworks on New Year’s Eve. As you close the door on 2020, you can use new...
To some, Christmas means only a time of warm celebration with friends and family, gift-giving, and festive holiday traditions. To others, Christmas means the celebration of something eternally significant—the Savior’s birth. “Jesus is the reason...
This Christmas, deck your church’s screens with good tidings of great joy. Christmas and Advent motion graphics are waiting for you inside Proclaim + Pro Media! This winter, use new professionally designed graphics from Faithlife Media to . . ...
A 2015 study from LifeWay found that 61% of Americans attend church at Christmas time—and even more would come if invited. What an opportunity! Whether your church is meeting in person again or not, you can still take advantage of that opportunity...
“Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” asked Charlie Brown in the Charles M. Schultz 1965 classic A Charlie Brown Christmas. With childlike simplicity, his buddy Linus answers by reciting Luke 2:8–14: And in the same region...
This post is the third in a series adapted from Anticipating His Arrival, a family Advent devotional by Rick Brannan. We will be posting one devotional a day through Christmas. Psalm 126 When Yahweh restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like...
Jennifer GrishamThe songs we sing at Christmas are some of the richest, most special in the church’s history. But even the best songs can get overplayed. Here are a few modern Christmas songs you can add to the mix for some variety this year. “He Shall Reign...
This post is the second in a series adapted from Anticipating His Arrival, a family Advent devotional by Rick Brannan. We will be posting one devotional a day through Christmas. Isaiah 64:1–4, 8–11 Would that you would tear the heavens and come...
This post is the first in a series adapted from Anticipating His Arrival, a family Advent devotional by Rick Brannan. We will be posting one devotional a day through Christmas. As Christ’s arrival draws closer, a natural consequence is joy. When the...
Christmas is just a few weeks away, and that means it’s the season for carols and Christmas hymns. We compiled this list by identifying the most-used songs in Proclaim last December, plus a few more that thematically fit well (covering themes of the...
It’s that time of year when churches kick things up a notch. We’re celebrating God’s greatest act of mercy: sending his Son to redeem the world. And since a multitude of angels sang at his appearing, it’s right that churches celebrate with at least...
Ryan NelsonIf your work place embraces holiday festivities, take a look at how we transformed the place we work every day into a fun holiday retreat. For the last couple of weeks, Faithlife’s offices have been full of subtle (and not so subtle reminders)...
At the Faithlife office, December means Christmas decorating contests. This year, in addition to our usual inter-office decorating competition, employees teamed up to come up with the most creative gingerbread houses around. For those of you with...
Kaleb CuevasThis Christmas season, explore the importance of the word light in the Scriptures. From the beginning: “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” —Genesis 1:3 To the coming king: “After listening to the king, they went on their way...