Rediscovering Christmas

Year after year, countless believers immerse themselves in the story of the first Christmas, rehearsing the well-known tale of the baby King who was born into the humblest of circumstances. But for some, the nativity story has become so familiar, it has been robbed of its power. For others, the biblical narrative is more like a puzzle: the pieces are all there, but it’s not clear how they all fit together. Luke talks about shepherds and a census, while Matthew deals with wise men and an escape to Egypt. There’s a star and a manger and more angels than you can count—it can be hard to keep it all straight!

Rediscovering Christmas is a modern paraphrase of the Christmas story, drawn directly from the Gospels and created to help readers see the Father’s heart in details that are all-too-often overlooked. The result is a seamless retelling of Jesus’s birth that will fascinate new and mature believers alike. Also included are twelve devotional essays that invite readers to step into the first Christmas story as if they were there, going deeper into cultural contexts that will help them discover the goodness of God in fresh and surprising ways. This beautiful, hardcover volume is perfect for quiet times, group study, or family reading, and is sure to become a favorite holiday tradition.

1. Opening Credits
2. Dedication
3. Acknowledgements
4. Introduction
5. Prologue: The Word Became Flesh (John 1:1-14)
6. Reading 1: An Answer to Prayer (Luke 1:5-25)
7. Reading 2: The Son of God Promised (Luke 1:26-38)
8. Reading 3: Shared Joy in the Hill Country (Luke 1:39-56)
9. Reading 4: His Name Is John (Luke 1:57-79)
10. Reading 5: An Earthly Father for a Heavenly Son (Matthew 1:18-25)
11. Reading 6: The Birth of Hope (Luke 2:1-7)
12. Reading 7: Angels and Sheperds and an Ancient Prophecy Fulfilled (Luke 2:8-20; Isaiah 9:6-7)
13. Reading 8: The Baby Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:21-39)
14. Reading 9: From Abraham to Jesus (Matthew 1:1-17)
15. Reading 10: The Visit of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-11)
16. Reading 11: The Nightmare after Christmas (Matthew 2:12-15)
17. Reading 12: The Road to Galilee (Matthew 2:16-23: Isaiah 9:1-2)
18. Epilogue: Above All (Colossians 1:15-20)
19. Closing Credits