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Peace: Classic Readings for Christmas
Each of us is on a search for peace. During this season, we bake cookies and play music, but such comforts only hint at a much greater peace in the distance. The good news of Christmas is that we can stop searching, because we already know the One who is peace. This new book reminds us of the real meaning of Christmas, a world-changing event that reaches beyond December 25th and affects every life, every day, for all of time. Jesus is our peace (Eph. 2:14a). Meditations, Bible passages, and hymns unite with beautiful illustrations inviting you and your family to enter into the true peace
- GenresChristmas
141 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2013
3 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Stephen J. Nichols
76 books98 followersStephen J. Nichols (PhD, Westminster Theological Seminary) is president of Reformation Bible College and chief academic officer of Ligonier Ministries. Previously, he served as research professor of Christianity and culture at Lancaster Bible College. He is an editor (with Justin Taylor) of the Theologians on the Christian Life series and is the author of several books, including The Reformation, For Us and for Our Salvation, The Church History ABCs, and Bonhoeffer on the Christian Life.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 28, 2013
Got this as a Christmas gift. It will be mainstay for celebrating future Christmases. A treasure!
December 8, 2022
This is a beautiful book! Perfect for the coffee table and to give as a gift. Love it!
December 22, 2018
A beautifully arranged and presented book about the meaning of Christmas. A large part of the book consists of Bible verses, Christmas carols and quotations of different people. Also includes a devotional guide for Advent and Christmas.
January 3, 2017
What is Christmas about? Is it about presents or a bearded obese man squeezing down chimneys or awkward meals or public school pageants that attempt to walk the PC road of inclusivity mixed with nostalgia-lite(all the fluff and none of the substance)?
Or is it about peace on Earth? Or should I say, Peace on Earth.
Nichols recounts a story early on in this work about “The Miracle on the Western Front”. I vaguely remembered pieces of the story but was struck anew by this recounting. This Christmas truce of 1914 left opposing forces, who hours earlier would only rank “staying alive” higher on their to-do list than killing this enemy, singing together and playing football together and enjoying peace in the midst of battle, if only for a short time.
But this peace was not lasting. As any man-made peace is sure to do, this peace ended. The violence and bloodshed resumed and the war, and wars, would proceed as usual. Christmas is not about a truce. It is not about a hiatus of bloodshed, it is about peace. Peace with each other and peace with God, accomplished by His Son who came into the world via a virgin and a manger.
“The birthday of the Lord is the birthday of peace.”—Pope Leo I
But this story of peace does not begin in a manger and Nichols does well in showing this. It does not begin with an angelic announcement, but rather the Christmas story has its roots in eternity and grows throughout history—from the “Let there be” of God, to the Garden of Eden and on.
Nichols takes the reader from promise, to fulfillment, to reflection—seeing the manger from Genesis to Revelation, the incarnation from cover to cover. Nichols tells this story by blending Scripture readings, hymns and quotes. The reader will be encouraged to worship by the beauty of the content and the presentation.
Nichols chapter on “Keeping Christmas” helps the reader to develop traditions to keep the focus of Christmas firmly set on the God of Christmas. He gives some Scriptures to read alongside carols and introduces the practice of Advent with a month’s worth of Advent Sunday devotionals to do as a family. He also leaves space for families to record traditions or future traditions that they desire to develop.
Christmas is about the Lord and how He made peace with a rebellious creation. Nichols work leads the reader to this and leaves them worshiping in the midst of this truth. This is a great book to bring out every November and leave on the coffee table throughout the holiday season and a work to enjoy throughout the year.
Or is it about peace on Earth? Or should I say, Peace on Earth.
Nichols recounts a story early on in this work about “The Miracle on the Western Front”. I vaguely remembered pieces of the story but was struck anew by this recounting. This Christmas truce of 1914 left opposing forces, who hours earlier would only rank “staying alive” higher on their to-do list than killing this enemy, singing together and playing football together and enjoying peace in the midst of battle, if only for a short time.
But this peace was not lasting. As any man-made peace is sure to do, this peace ended. The violence and bloodshed resumed and the war, and wars, would proceed as usual. Christmas is not about a truce. It is not about a hiatus of bloodshed, it is about peace. Peace with each other and peace with God, accomplished by His Son who came into the world via a virgin and a manger.
“The birthday of the Lord is the birthday of peace.”—Pope Leo I
But this story of peace does not begin in a manger and Nichols does well in showing this. It does not begin with an angelic announcement, but rather the Christmas story has its roots in eternity and grows throughout history—from the “Let there be” of God, to the Garden of Eden and on.
Nichols takes the reader from promise, to fulfillment, to reflection—seeing the manger from Genesis to Revelation, the incarnation from cover to cover. Nichols tells this story by blending Scripture readings, hymns and quotes. The reader will be encouraged to worship by the beauty of the content and the presentation.
Nichols chapter on “Keeping Christmas” helps the reader to develop traditions to keep the focus of Christmas firmly set on the God of Christmas. He gives some Scriptures to read alongside carols and introduces the practice of Advent with a month’s worth of Advent Sunday devotionals to do as a family. He also leaves space for families to record traditions or future traditions that they desire to develop.
Christmas is about the Lord and how He made peace with a rebellious creation. Nichols work leads the reader to this and leaves them worshiping in the midst of this truth. This is a great book to bring out every November and leave on the coffee table throughout the holiday season and a work to enjoy throughout the year.
December 30, 2022
I am a Christmas guy and I very much enjoy the advent season of waiting expectantly for Jesus and celebrating his arrival. There are many good advent books and studies, but this one is hands down my favorite. It is beautifully constructed and weaves together scripture, Christmas carols, and commentary from early church fathers down to today’s theologians, all to make the point that Christmas is the birthday of peace because of who Christ was and is. It is full of tradition and truth and never feels monotonous or boring. Advent 2021 was our second time going through it as a family. I highly recommend!
Edit: Again in 2022! I gain more appreciation for the beauty and truth in this book every time we read it.
Edit: Again in 2022! I gain more appreciation for the beauty and truth in this book every time we read it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews