Christmas Thoughts

by J.C. Ryle, Andrew Atherstone (Editor)

Christmas, and New Year, are excellent moments to pause and reflect--as scattered families regather for the national holiday, and as the calendar turns over again, with another year gone forever. J. C. Ryle urges us--in the midst of our feasting and festivities and family reunions--to make time to consider our spiritual state and our relationship with God. How is it with our souls? What do we make of Jesus Christ? What will be our future, when all our Christmases are past? This little book contains five of Ryle's most popular Christmas tracts, the spiritual wisdom of which is timeless. Ryle challenges us--while we enjoy the wonderful delights of mince pies and mistletoe and mulled wine and music and merriment--to make the most of every Christmas, to consider seriously the person of Jesus Christ and questions of eternal significance. In Words from the Cross Ian Hamilton places Jesus' seven expiring words of grace and hope in their wider biblical context and explores their theological, pastoral, and evangelistic significance. The short chapters encourage us to reflect and meditate on the love of God which is 'the fountainhead of the gospel' (John Owen) and bring us to devote all we are to the Saviour who gave his all for us.

Genres: Christmas, Faith, Nonfiction, Theology, Christian

128 pages, Hardcover

Published November 10, 2022

About the author

(John Charles Ryle) Ryle started his ministry as curate at the Chapel of Ease in Exbury, Hampshire, moving on to become rector of St Thomas's, Winchester in 1843 and then rector of Helmingham, Suffolk the following year. While at Helmingham he married and was widowed twice. He began publishing popular tracts, and Matthew, Mark and Luke of his series of Expository Thoughts on the Gospels were published in successive years (1856-1858). His final parish was Stradbroke, also in Suffolk, where he moved in 1861, and it was as vicar of All Saints that he became known nationally for his straightforward preaching and firm defence of evangelical principles. He wrote several well-known and still-in-print books, often addressing issues of contemporary relevance for the Church from a biblical standpoint. He completed his Expository Thoughts on the Gospels while at Stradbroke, with his work on the Gospel of John (1869). His third marriage, to Henrietta Amelia Clowes in 1861, lasted until her death in 1889.

Reviews

[April Schuss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly wonderful. Will be reading again next Christmas. I can’t wait to meet JC Ryle in heaven.

[Eliézer Salazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must for all Christians AND non-Christians! This is a good balm and exhortation for believers, and a great evangelism tool for unbelievers. I plan to use some of it in an evangelism event coming soon in my town. Read it and think deeply, drink deeply from the gospel here. Don’t waste this Christmas. Read it, share it, enjoy it!

[Darin · Rating 5 out of 5]

J.C. Ryle has become one of my very favorites over the last few years. I think I discovered him through the Banner of Truth magazine (a blessing in and of itself) and can’t read enough of him.

This Christmas book of his is composed of several (5) tracks that he wrote surrounding Christmas. You simply can’t go wrong with anything he wrote and I pray you will be blessed by him, Christmas time or otherwise. I am grateful for his life and dedication to the gospel and joy in Christ.

Ryle was such a special way to end my 2023 reading journey. What a blessing the Lord has given us in men like him.

[Brooke Chessum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a blessed addition to my heart this Christmas season. Ryle is so adept at pointing the heart back to Christ - what we most need all year and especially at Christmas. This book is wonderful for believers and would be so great as a gift to someone who is not saved as it probes the heart with “Christmas questions” to help us examine the state of our soul. Will read again and again over the years.

[Shea Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of Christmas Tracts, we read these for family devotions this Christmas.
I haven't read a ton of Ryle, but he is becoming one of my favorite authors. He writes in a very personal voice where you feel as though you are having a conversation with him. In this work that is particularly seen as he is addressing the "dear reader".
The five tracts are titled as follows
1. Come! A Christmas Invitation
2. What Think Ye of Christ?
3. The Whole Family
4. Without Christ
5. Our Gathering Together

In these he drew our eyes to look upon Jesus and what He has done. He called us to rejoice in the family of God even as the holidays can be a reminder of earthly family members that have passed away. (An apt reality for my wife and I this year) And what being without a spiritual family is like. He gave grave warnings of what being apart from Christ does to a man. And finally stirred our hearts to long for Heaven and the gathering of the faithful.
A wonderful Christmas devotional to be sure.

[Bobby Bonser · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Christmas without Christ! It cannot be a really happy one. There may be plenty of laughter, and merriment, and revelry. Music, and songs, and dancing, and feasting may make the hours pass pleasantly away. But if the Saviour, whose birth Christmas was intended to keep in mind, is not remembered and honoured, the joy is worth very little. There can be no true happiness 'without Christ.'" - JC Ryle

This is a compilation of several Christmas tracts that Ryle wrote. Thus, a majority of the content is focused on convincing the unregenerate of the riches of Christ. However, though Ryle writes mostly to the unbeliever, He provides wonderful exhortations and reminders that will warm the hearts of any believers. I appreciated his depth, variety, and consistency in Biblical arguments for the preciousness of Christ. Though some tracts did repeat similar ideas or arguments, each one took a slightly different argument to make a plea for trusting in Christ.

My favorite was probably "What Think Ye of Christ?"

This would be an excellent book to buy for family or friends who perhaps do not know Christ, and would pick up a Christmas book to read. Its a very accessible and easy read in this format with quick chapters and small size. At the moment I am writing this, Truth For Life has it for only $4 free shipping.

[Abigail Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was our family worship Advent devotional for 2023. I really enjoyed it.

[Carsten Kates · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Ryle Christmas tracts compiled into a single book. Very good, very CHRIST in Christmas.

[Gabrielle Houweling · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short but very encouraging/soul searching read! It would be beneficial to read this every Christmas

[Patrick Hamblin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite possible the best Christmas devotional I’ve read. The book is made up of five Christmas tracts by J.C. Ryle that are both encouraging to believers while also presenting the gospel to unbelievers. This book would be a great gift to give to friends at Christmas. It does come from an English perspective and illustrations might be a bit dated but it is not distracting or too difficult to comprehend.

[David Dunlap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every year, at Christmas time, Bishop Ryle would write a pamphlet, exhorting his readers to accept the truths of the Gospel. This book collects several of these. -- The author writes with passion and compassion, making his points with clarity and directness. Highly recommended, for both believers and non-believers alike!

[Aaron Hand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryle is easy to read, yet rich and profitable. I wish this book was longer than five tracts and 116 pages.

[Julie Biles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful little book will leave any reader, whether his or her position is inside or without Christ, thinking more deeply about the true meaning of Christmas. Christ, left His riches in heaven and was made man. He was born into poverty and lived to die to save sinners. With this knowledge, how do we so easily become consumed with gifts, parties, food, drink, travel, and all that glitters during this time of year?

This is a collection of five Christmas tracts written by Bishop Ryle in the 1850s-1860s to believers
but with the intent to present the gospel of Christ to unbelievers in his parish as well. These tracts were hugely popular and were read in towns and villages across England. Though Ryle's style is Victorian, his writing is simpe, clear and easy to understand.

His masterful choice of words and imagery is like music to the ear and the message is medicine for the weary soul. I plan to return to this Christmas read again. It would be a lovely gift for any reader.

[BigGuyJawny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great set of tract-sermons by Ryle. It stirs the heart towards Christ with Ryle’s classic preaching rhythm that makes for impactful reading!

Three Reasons Why I gave it Three Stars
+ Ryle’s contextualizing of the Gospel within Christmas topics like “family” or “gathering” helps drive those Gospel points home.
- After reading a lot of Ryle, his sermon pattern can feel repetitive sometimes, but I’m always surprised at the soul-impact he can distill despite this!
+ This set of tracts is diverse enough in topic to make for engaging reading.
+ The shortness of the book helps drive the Gospel point home without being overly meticulous.

[Ben Hegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Ryle. Clear expositions on the person and work of Christ in the context of the whole counsel of God. Marvellously clear. Evangelical in focus yet still excellent for the believer to read. Attractively packaged by Banner despite the bookmark on my copy not being installed 100% properly. Loved the typesetting also, which made it very easy to read. Highly recommended, and I will be reading it again soon!

[Angela Colson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I added this to my TBR stack for Christmas. I thought I would spread it out over the month of December but ended up reading it straight through. I loved this little book of five tracts by Ryle. The gospel message is clearly presented. I pulled some nuggets to share in my weekly family group text. Lovely book.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book provokes the right thoughts for the Christmas season. Thoughts that have eternal significance rather than temporal satisfaction. Ryle speaks to the heart with love and concern but with urgency to address the needs of the soul.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of five tracts written by Bishop Ryle in the 1850s-1860s. Excellent sharing of the Gospel that still needs to be read and heard today. I do recommend this for your reading without hesitation.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely edifying collection of five Christmas tracts from Ryle. My favourite would probably be ‘Our Gathering Together’. All are incredibly warmly written, and as such make the book work well even as an evangelistic resource. I’ll definitely be putting this on my reread list.

[Lydia Bethay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved everything I read of Ryle’s. He knows how to convict you to your core and then lift you to the glory and beauty of Christ all within the same page. This book was no different. A compilation of multiple Christmas tracks Ryle wrote for the believer and unbeliever. This book leaves you with so much to think and pray about after you close the book. I hope to read this every few Christmases.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a compilation of 5 tracts written by JC Ryle. Written clearly and concisely, he draws the reader in a winsome way to help them focus on Christ and his birth during Christmas season.

Highly recommended!

[Shanynn Bernal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful, encouraging and inspiring Christian book for Christmas! It made mg Christmas extra meaningful as it reminded me of the good news. This is a perfect gift too for unbeliever friends as it focuses on the gospel.

[Jeremy Pynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can never go wrong with Ryle. A thought-provoking/heart-penetrating read for Christmas.

[Sydney Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evangelistic and encouraging. A great seasonal read.

[Drew Bennett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a series of tracts written around Christmas. I was moved by the earnest call to faith in each address.

[Daniel Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

So thought provoking! Ryle sets before us the glorious realities of the gospel. Great for self-examination and comfort.

[Savannah Filander · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much encouragement and reading this book definitely lifted my spirits.

[Jon Stricklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this out loud together and loved it! His pleas for the gospel is compelling. I want to preach the good news like Ryle!!

[Leah Goebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. This is one I’ll revisit every year. I even took one of the tracts from the book and attached it to our yearly Christmas letter.

[Ed Geinosky · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is one of the best books I ever read. I highly recommend this book be read by believers and non non believers. It makes you think and question what you currently spiritual condition is. Are you following Christ or are you against Christ?