Carols Illuminated: Rediscovering the Songs of Christmas
At some stage between the first mangoes of the season and opening presents on Christmas Day, we will all hear a few Christmas carols (most likely more than a few).
I’m not sure what you favourite Carols is, but until this year, “Joy to the World” has been a clear winner. However this week as we’ve started to think about our Christmas sermons, there is another carol that is pushing for that top spot (to find that out, come along on Christmas Eve).
But have you ever stopped and wondered “What’s the deal with Christmas Carols? Why do we sing them?”
Carols tell the story of Christmas
For some of us, carols can feel like a series of old songs that get dusted off at this time of year to be sung at various carols events and during our weekend church services. But they actually tell us the story of what sits at the very heart of Christmas: God stepping into our world as a person, the person of Jesus Christ who was fully God and fully man.
The best carols are ones that are full of the hope, rescue and redemption we have in Jesus. Some of these carols remind us of these things in a gentle way like “Silent Night”, or loudly in “Joy to the World” or poetically in “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”.
But they all remind us that Christmas is about God moving towards us through His Son, Jesus.
Carols engage our hearts
December is usually crazily busy for everyone. From Christmas shopping, finishing up work or school for the year, Christmas parties, and many other things, we can feel tired before we even get to Christmas.
Singing carols can slow us down so we can breathe a little. The right carol can cut through the frantic rush and remind us what Christmas is really all about. Carols don’t just tell us the Christmas story, they help us feel it too.
Carols connect people across generations and time
Carols are also intergenerational. Grandparents, adults, teens (even if they pretend not to like them) and kids, come together as one to sing the story of the birth of Jesus.
Carols invite us to respond
They also end up asking us quietly a question, “What if this is all true? What if Jesus is fully God in flesh? What does that mean for me?”
So we find an opportunity for us to respond in trust, joy, repentance, obedience and in hope. Without the need to have our lives sorted out first, even if we don’t know all the words to the carol and without needing to pretend we’re better than we are. Carols invite us to not just sing or listen, but to become part of the story.
Carols are worth singing
The gospel is so good, why not sing it?
As we sing we remember, we rejoice, we teach the next generation and our own hearts too. We sing because Jesus has come and Jesus Changes Everything!
On Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the weekend of December 27-28, we will look at 3 Christmas Carols and how they point to Jesus. We hope you’ll be able to join us.
Soul Revival Church gathers across the Sutherland Shire and Ryde.