The Christmas story is one of the most treasured tales in the world. Each year we go back to Luke 1 and 2 and hang out with the shepherds in the field, the heavenly host, and baby Jesus in a manger. This download pack will give you visual resources to tell the familiar story in new ways. Enjoy!
Luke’s Version
Here’s What’s Included in the Bundled Download:
- For Luke 1 from the Graphic Novel
- Powerpoint (23 slides)
- Image Pack (.zip file with 23 .jpg images)
- Printable Handout (PDF)
- For Luke 2 from the Graphic Novel
- PowerPoint (16 slides)
- Image Pack (.zip file with 16 .jpg images)
- Printable Handout (PDF)
- A Visual Guide to the Nativity Story
- PowerPoint (22 slides)
- Image Pack (.zip file with 22 .jpg images)
Use these PowerPoints and Image packs in your preaching, teaching, bulletins, handouts, or website. My hope is that these images will help you tell this familiar story in a new way that helps people connect to Jesus with a renewed passion this year.
You are free to use this video in worship as the reading of the Christmas story…
Matthew’s Version
Why don’t we preach from Matthew’s version of Jesus’ birth on Christmas?
Great question. Here are a few notes about that:
- Our culture, thinking particularly about those of us descended from Western European Christendom and the 20th century capitalization and commercialization of Christmas, has sentimentalized Luke’s version of the story. Therefore, it is very difficult for people to not associate Christmas Eve and/or Christmas morning with shepherds and sheep.
- The liturgical calendar is an attempt to bring together (harmonize) the two birth stories of Matthew and Luke. Therefore, the nativity story of Luke’s Gospel generally kicks off the twelve days of Christmas and Matthew’s story ends the celebration on Epiphany with the arrival of the Magi.
- Special Note: DON’T PUT THE MAGI WITH THE SHEPHERDS!!!! I know this is scandalous for those who deeply revere their nativity scenes, but let’s at least make this commitment to the bilbical narrative. Matthew and Luke tell radically different stories. They each paint a different portrait of Jesus. Let’s let them each tell their own story in their own way.
Return to the
Art Pastor’s Guide to the Liturgical Calendar
and explore more seasons of the year.
Explore Every Book of the Bible
Find cartoons, illustrations, videos, commentaries, and other helpful information about every book of the Bible.