13 Very Unorthodox Christmas Sermons

Christmas is one of the most wonderful times of the year. Every Christmas pastors joyfully preach and teach the Nativity Story as the Church celebrates the birth of Christ. This collection of very unorthodox Christmas sermons features 13 sermons taught by Pastor Chris McMichael during our annual Christmas Eve service. By the titles alone, you can tell these sermons will bring wonderful insights to your Christmas

Becoming A Mighty Man of Valor

God has called His servants to live and serve in victory—not defeat! But nobody starts off victorious.  What does it take to become a mighty man or woman of valor?  This three-lesson series studies the early days of King David and his mighty men of valor.  These men first joined David when they were discontent, distressed, and in debt, but years of discipleship and training under David’s tutelage made them into mighty men of valor! The change didn’t happen overnight, but it did happen – and it can happen to you too!

“For we are saved by grace through faith,” Grace not only begins our walk with God at the new birth, it also maintains and defines our entire Christian walk. This five lesson study will provide the student with a thorough understanding of the grace of God from salvation, to grace to overcome sin, to grace to serve in the Kingdom, and everything in between. Lessons titles include: What is the Grace of God?, Multifaceted Grace, Grace to Work, Grace to Sin???, and Other Aspects of Grace.

Biblical Sexuality

As humanity continues along its path of corruption and defilement, it is more important than ever to be established in biblical morality. Societies and cultures flourish when they operate within the constraints of God’s laws. This is especially true concerning the subject of human sexuality. God’s design and plan for sex can either be followed and enjoyed or it can be defiled and bring harm. These 6 lessons evaluate the subject of God’s intentions for human sexuality. Lesson titles include: The First Marriage, Part 1—Original Design and Part 2—Gender Assignments; Egalitarianism vs. Complementarianism; Sexual Sins and Sexual Crimes; The Sacredness of Nakedness; and Marital Intimacy.

Doctrine is a system of teaching by which we live our lives. God’s word declares that He has given us good doctrine—a good system of teaching we can live our lives by. The problem is today wicked, strange, and devilish doctrine also abounds. We as Christians must study the Bible to develop sound biblical doctrine and then live our lives accordingly. Sound doctrine is our only defense against false teachers. Lesson titles include: Teaching vs. Preaching, What is Doctrine?, Hermeneutics, and The Nitty Gritty.

Christian Tattoos?

As Western culture “progresses”, tattoos are becoming more and more common, even finding their way into mainstream Christian culture.  But has God changed His view of tattoos and other forms of body modification?  These two lessons provide a brief history of body modification art, a look at the famous Leviticus 19 verse against tattoos, and what the New Testament says about the believer’s body.  Lesson titles are: History and Old Testament Commands and Do You Have the Right?

This set of 13 Lessons was designed as a “new members/new believers” class for our church. These lessons are used to give new Christians a crash course in the primary doctrines of the New Testament Church. This class is also designed to rapidly bring new church members up to speed with what we believe at Engrafted Word Church. Lesson titles include: The Authority of God’s Word; The Creation of Man and His Threefold Nature; The Salvation of God: Man’s Fall and Redemption; Sin, Repentance, Forgiveness, and Sanctification, The Church: What It Is and Why You Should Go!; The Fruit of the Spirit: The Testimony of a Christian; Evangelism and World Outreach; The Gifts of The Spirit; Communion: The Celebration of the Lord’s Supper; Tithes and Offerings; Diving Healing and Divine Health; The Doctrine of Baptisms; and The Rapture. As a bonus, there is a lesson on the history and vision of our local church.

Church Governments

An eight lesson course on the biblical prescription for New Testament Church governments and administration.  Lesson titles include: The Nature Of Authority, Offices Of The Church, The Four Types Of Church Government, and The New Testament Authority To Administer Discipline. This subject is critical to any church leader.

Death is the only thing all mankind has in common.  There is in fact a Biblical doctrine concerning death, and God has much to say about it in His Word.  The Bible promises us that we each have an appointment with death, but don’t let death terrify you.  For the Christian believer, death is just the end of our natural life and the beginning of our eternal life.  As odd as it may sound, this could be one of the most encouraging lessons we’ve ever taught!  Subjects covered in this 9 lesson course include Spiritual Death, Natural Death, Hell, The Biblical Way to Die, The Resurrection of the Dead, How to Mourn, and How to Get Your House in Order.  We’re all going to die one day, so we should at least know what the Bible says about it and be prepared to meet our God.

A five lesson course on the origin, operations, and Christian authority over demon entities.  Paul exhorted the believer to “be not ignorant of Satan’s devices.”  These five lesson will help you to fulfill that command.  Titles include: The Origin and Operation of Demons, The Order and Habitation of Demons, The Names and Operations of Demons, The Christian’s Authority Over Devil’s, and The Devil’s Open Door.  These lessons are sure to educate and equip any believer.

The simple parting assignment of Jesus Christ to His followers is called the Great Commission. Summarized, it charges and empowers Christians to preach the Gospel and make disciples. Sadly, it seems this two-pronged divine mandate, though often quoted, is hardly fulfilled. Preaching the Gospel is one thing, but making disciples is something entirely different. In these three lessons, discover what biblical discipleship looks like and, quite possibly, see how the Western Church may not have many real disciples. Lesson titles include: The Biblical Pattern of Discipleship, Modern Discipleship, and Evidences of Discipleship.

Each passing year seems to present greater and greater calamity in the earth. Wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, plagues, uprisings, murders . . . and the list goes on. Are we being judged? Are these examples of God’s judgment on America? On the whole world? Are Christians immune from divine judgment? What does divine judgment even look like? These are all very pertinent and pressing questions that require biblical answers. In this 10-lesson curriculum, Pastor Chris McMichael delves into the scriptures and presents the concepts of self-judgment, active judgment, passive judgment, the God of Vengeance, and New Testament judgment. These lessons will challenge you and cause you to walk humbly before the Almighty God.

A 13 lesson course on the End Times.  These lessons cover everything from Daniel’s 70^th Week and the signs of the times to the assignment of the Antichrist.  This is a general overview of Eschatology and is not an in depth study of the Revelation.

This 9 lesson course is a study of the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. These two books of the Bible cover what is known as Israel’s Post Exile period. The life and leadership examples of Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah are examined to help the student understand what it takes to repent from sin and rebuild a move of God in your life and church. These lessons are both historical and allegorical. Topics covered include: A brief survey of Old Testament history, Persian Kings, Samaritans, Syncretism, Zerubbabel’s Temple, the ministry of Zerubbabel, the ministry of Ezra, and the ministry of Nehemiah

Faith is at once a substance, an attitude, and a force.  Without it we cannot please God, yet every human walks in faith—just not always faith in God.  Christians must learn to place their faith in God and accomplish His will for their lives.  This four lesson study includes the following titles: What is Faith?, How to get Faith, What Faith Can Do, and How to Activate Your Faith.

A four lesson course on the biblical practice of fasting.  Fasting is found throughout the Bible, but unfortunately, not much in the Body of Christ today.  These lessons are designed to educate and encourage the believer to seek God while using the powerful tool of fasting.  Lesson titles include: Introduction to Fasting, Three Biblical Reasons to Fast, What Does Fasting Accomplish? Fasting Do’s, Don’ts, and Miscellany.

There comes a time in every person’s life when they must master money if they desire to ever succeed and prosper.  Unfortunately, many Christians are lacking when it comes to financial stewardship and therefore never master money.  Jesus observed that the children of darkness are, in their generation, more wise than the children of light.  This should not be so.  These eight lessons are designed to train the believer to be a better steward over the finances the Lord sees fit to give them.  If we can be faithful over a little, God promised to make us ruler over much.  Lesson titles include: Stewardship Defined, Getting a Heart for Stewardship, Prodigality—Part 1 and 2, Austerity—Part 1 and 2, Contentment, and Your Desperate Need for a Budget.

The New Testament reveals that each member of the Trinity gives special endowments, or gifts, to the Body of Christ. Most famous of these are the nine gifts of the Spirit. Second in fame are the fivefold ministry gifts of the Son. The five ministry gifts given by Jesus are actually people. They are anointed and assigned by the Lord to equip and train the saints of God for the work of the Kingdom. Each of these five offices has different graces and abilities designed by God to help us. Study on to discover the five different ministry officers Jesus Christ has given to the Church. Lesson titles include: The Five Gifts of Jesus, The Apostle, The Prophet, The Evangelist, The Pastor, The Teacher, On the Nature of Ministry Callings, and False Ministers and Misc.

A five lesson course on the different stages of Christian maturity.  Salvation in Jesus Christ is just the beginning.  After we’ve been born again the New Testament clearly teaches four different stages of Christian growth and development: baby, little child, young man, and father.  Jesus Christ expects us to grow up.  Don’t stay a baby forever.  Titles include: Christians are Expected to Grow, Baby Christian Stage, LIttle Children Stage, Young Man Stage, Father/Mother Stage.

This four lesson series was originally written for a leadership conference in Uganda.  These lessons are great for anyone who feels called of God to lead.  The course evaluates the very beginning of Gideon’s call to leadership and the fears and struggles he faced and overcame.  Lesson titles include: Called to Greatness, Make Sure Your Calling, God’s Proving Ground of Consecration, and Selected to Lead.  These four lessons were originally taught in our church over the space of seven weeks.

1 Corinthians 12:7 tells us that the Gifts of the Spirit are given to every man to profit us all.  It is clear we still need the Gifts of the Spirit.  Unfortunately, the Church fears what it doesn’t understand.  Let us be ignorant no more (1 Corinthians 12:1).  This four lesson curriculum covers all nine Gifts of the Spirit in detail with lesson titles such as: The Vocal Gifts, The Power Gifts, and The Revelatory Gifts.  Don’t be destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Tongues is a divisive doctrine in the Body of Christ today, but with over 100 verses in 15 passages, it is a doctrine any serious Christian cannot ignore.  This nine lesson study thoroughly covers every aspect of the gift tongues, including the views for, and against tongues in the church today.  Lesson titles include: The Doctrine of Baptisms and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, The Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Five Bad Doctrines Debunked Parts 1-3, The Two Manifestations of Tongues, Tongues and Interpretation, Eight Things Tongues Accomplishes, and The Holy Spirit in Our Lives.

A nine lesson course on what a man of God does and does not look and act like.  Lesson titles include: The Man of Authority, The Attributes of Ahab, The Man of Labor, The Man of Integrity and Honor, The Godly Husband, and The Man of Sexual Purity.  This is definitely a challenging study for any Christian man.

This five lesson course takes a closer look at God’s original plan for children and what the Bible says about parenting. These lessons are sure to help, educate, and convict.  Lesson titles include: God’s Original Intent for Children, Your Best Disciple, Learning to Honor and Submit to Authority, Proverbs Concerning Child Discipline, and Wisdom and Regrets from Spirit-filled Parents.

The world is getting darker and parenting is not getting any easier. Christian parents need more wisdom than ever before. As a follow-up to the popular Course, Godly Parenting, these four lessons raise the bar for parents everywhere. This Course is sure to challenge many Western assumptions concerning parenting. Lesson titles include: What If You Only Get 13 Years?, Goliaths Make For A Horrible Inheritance, A Father’s Responsibility, and Regrets From Spirit-Filled Parents And Their Children.

A 9 lesson course on the Bible description of a woman of God.  Major women in the Bible are examined to glean from their faith, behavior, and even rebellion.  Lesson titles include: The Proverbs 31 Woman, Holy Women of Old, The New Testament Job Description, and The Attributes of Jezebel.  This course is our most popular, but also, perhaps our most controversial!

The New Testament reveals that each member of the Trinity gives special endowments, or gifts, to the Body of Christ. Most of famous these are the nine gifts of the Spirit. Second in fame are the fivefold ministry gifts of the Son. Least known are the seven grace gifts of the Father spoken of in Romans 12:6-8. The seven grace gifts of the Father have also been called special functions. These seven graces are special when compared to the other gifts of the Trinity because, unlike the ministry gifts, they are available to everyone, and unlike the gifts of the Spirit, the grace gifts are always available. Study on to discover the special function God has made you to provide in the Body of Christ. Lesson titles include: The Trinity Endowments, Charisma as a Special Function, Prophecy, New Testament Examples of Prophecy Grace, Serving and Teaching, Exhortation and Giving, Leadership and Mercy, and Charismata Review. 

An eight lesson course on the subject of Healing.  This course looks at supernatural healing from several different perspectives.  Lesson titles include: Sick People In The Bible, Healing As A Commandment, The Sin-Sickness Connection, The Demon-Sickness Connection, and Bible Ways To Keeping Your Healing.

The Bible speaks of the heart over 700 times. It is described as desperately wicked, incurably sick. It can be deceived, directed, guided, and even stolen. Anyone who trusts it is deemed a fool. Yet it is the source of faith, “for with the heart man believeth.” If we are to successfully love the Lord our God with all of our heart, we need to understand what it is and how it works. These critical lessons from Pastor Chris McMichael cover many topics, including: How to Train Your Heart, What the Conscience Is, How Can a Christian Have an Evil Heart, and How to Build Faith. This course is sure to revolutionize your walk with God.

The Ministry of Helps is critical to the success of an church or ministry.  It is the first calling of every Christian and the best way to prove your faithfulness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Without an understanding of this vital ministry, it would be nearly impossible for a Christian to fulfill the call of God on his or her life.  This four part series includes the following lessons: Introduction to Helps, Biblical Examples of Helps Ministry, The Spirit of Unity, and The Spirit of Excellence.

The Ministry of Helps is just as necessary today as any other ministry.  Unfortunately, the Body of Christ is taught very little about their necessary role in this supernatural ministry.  In this second part of a two part series on Helps, Pastor Chris covers four critical topics such as: Communication and Unity, Loving Your Labor, Sweet Reasonableness, and Conflict and its Sources.

The Bible commands us to “study to show ourselves approved.”  These five lessons are designed to help the student do just that: study the Bible.  With lesson titles like: History and Organization of the Bible, Dispensationalism, Study Tools and How to Use Them, and Hermeneutics, these pertinent lessons could be considered a micro-seminary.  Don’t let the Bible intimidate you!  God wants you to know His Word.

Personal integrity is a necessary part of the Christian testimony. This two part series will help encourage and remind any believer to keep their word and fulfill their promises even when it hurts. These lessons are simply entitled: Required Christian Character Part 1 and Part 2.

This four lesson course aimed at teaching biblical truths concerning leadership.  Everyone of us is called to lead something, whether it be our home, our business, a community, or leading someone to Christ.  These lessons were written with the timid believer in mind in an effort to encourage even the shyest of believers to rise up and become a great leader for Jesus.  Titles include: 20 Leadership Keys, A Basic Leadership Formula, Leadership Wisdom from Proverbs, and Great Leaders are Not Born.  Equip yourself to become a great leader in God’s Kingdom.

Over the past 30 years much has been taught about being led by the Holy Spirit. Though this teaching was definitely needed, its emphasis has caused the other leadings of God to be overlooked or even ignored. These seven lessons cover the seven leadings of God as revealed in the Bible. They include: The Bible, Wisdom, Peace, the Holy Spirit, Ministers, the Word of the Lord, and the Supreme Voice of the Father. All seven are designed by God to not only guide, but also protect, aid, and comfort the born-again believer.

The Bible has a lot to say about our mouth.  Unfortunately, not much of it is positive.  All the power and authority we’ve been given as Christians is exercised through our mouth and yet we all struggle with how to properly use it.  In this five lessons curriculum, the student will learn what God is expecting for us to accomplish with our mouth, what all the many “mouth-sins” look like, and the account we will all give for what we’ve said.  Lesson titles include: The Allegory of a Powerful Tool, The Sins of the Mouth, The Proper Use of the Mouth, The Mouth—A Powerful Stewardship, and Blessing and Cursing.

Authority is the right or privilege to make decisions, give orders, and enforce obedience. It’s a lot more than just casting out demons or speaking to mountains. The primary purpose of authority is to create and maintain peace and harmony wherever men are found. This is to be practiced every day and everywhere we go, beginning with ourselves. Lesson titles include: Introduction to Authority, Stewarding Authority, Delegating Authority, Obtaining Authority, The Four Spheres of Authority, and Exercising Authority.

Have you ever wondered where Christmas traditions come from? Why do we exchange gifts? What’s the deal with Santa Claus? Why is Christmas celebrated on December 25th? Many of our traditions are inspired by ancient European pagan practices. What is a Christian to do about that?

The Bible teaches us that the House of God should be a House of Prayer.  Sadly, prayer has become a very rare commodity in many of today’s churches.  This four lesson curriculum is designed to take the mystery our of prayer by explaining what prayer is, what it’s not, and what the nine different type of New Testament prayers look like.  Lesson titles include: What is Prayer? and Different Types of Prayer, Pt.1, 2, and 3.  You’ll learn about intercessions, travails, groanings, tongues, the prayer of agreement, the prayer of faith, the prayer of consecration, petitions, and giving of thanks.

This 13 lesson course is an in depth study of the book of Revelation chapters 4-21. The book of Revelation is a book of hope for believers, but a terrible warning for the lost. It chronicles God’s last demonstration of mercy, His final judgments, and His last dealings with mankind. These lessons are sure to help simplify the symbolism and prophecy contained within the last book of the Bible. Some of the lesson titles include: Daniel’s 70 Weeks, The Purpose of the Tribulation, Nine Evidences of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture, The Major Characters of Revelation, The Four Orders of Saints, The Seven Seals and Matthew 24, The Beast System, The Seven Trumpet Judgments, The Seven Bowl Judgments, The Battle of Armageddon, The Final Judgments and the Millennial Reign of Christ, and The Tribulation Timeline.

These lessons discuss the deception often found in dating, the difference between courtship and dating, who can a Christian court, contentment, and raising your standards.  These are critical lessons for any single Christian living in today’s hyper-sexed society.

Marriage is God’s plan. It is not His will that man be alone, yet there are many protocols the Bible sets forth to help the single believer find God’s perfect mate. In this five-lesson follow up to our wildly popular Singlehood curriculum, you’ll learn how to avoid the pitfalls of Western culture when it comes to dating, courtship, and engagement. Lesson titles include: Controlling Your Love; The Unequal Yoke; Divine Timing, Pursuing, and Accountability; Getting Engaged; and Words of Wisdom.

The Bible promises us a great battle in the last days. A battle between the Spirit of Christ and the spirit of the antichrist. The spirit of antichrist is already at work in the earth and its number one fruit is lawlessness. Jesus prophesied that before His return lawlessness would abound. But what does lawlessness look like? Where does the “law” come into play in preventing lawlessness? Is the New Testament believer totally free from all laws? Why does the Old Testament only have 613 commands when the New Testament has over 1000 commands? What is the nature of God’s Law and how does it apply to us today? This six lesson curriculum delves in the nature of God’s divine laws and how they apply to us today. Lesson titles include: What is Jurisprudence, The Law of God in the Old Testament, The Laws of God in the New Testament, Delivered from the Law?, Antinomianism and Lawlessness, What the Law Can and Can’t Do.

A four lesson course on being led by the Holy Spirit.  These lessons look at the different seasons of a Christian’s life and how God will direct us differently in each season.  Lesson titles include: The Unchanging God of Seasons, Spiritual Seasons, and The Seasons of Your Life.  These lessons are designed to keep the believer from both growing stale in their walk, and help keep them from being discouraged when things change.  Seasons change, but God doesn’t.

The Trinity has been called the greatest of all divine mysteries and “the center gem of divine revelation.” Though the term “Trinity” is not found in the Scriptures, the concept it expresses is overtly Scriptural. The doctrine of the Trinity was implicitly held by the Apostles and the New Testament writers but not formulated explicitly. As one commentary stated, “They held it, as it were in solution: only time, reflection, and the shock of controversy and opposition, caused it to crystalize into definite and dogmatic form.” These five lessons are entitled: Introduction to the Trinitarian Doctrine, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, and Anti-Trinitarian Heresies.

Jesus promised that many are called but few would be chosen. If you believe you are called to full-time ministry, understand that your private life must be the first area you perfect. These lessons cover the three areas which 1 Timothy 3 requires for leadership: yourself, your family, and your money. Don’t expect to see full-time ministry if you can’t master these three areas. Lesson titles include: Master Yourself, Master Your Family, and Master Your Money.

This 9 lesson course covers the subject of tithes and offerings from before the Law, during the Law, during the Gospels, and under the New Covenant.  Many important questions are answered, such as: What’s the purpose of tithing?  Who do I tithe to?  What changed at Calvary?  Do Christians need to tithe?  Lesson titles include: The First Three Offerings, The Offerings of the Old Testament, The First Two Tithes, Tithing Under the Law, The Four Parts of the Tithe, Tithes and Offerings in the Gospels, Giving in the Book of Acts, Giving in the Epistles, and Ministry Money Ethics.

Almost all of Christendom is familiar with the Proverbs 31 Woman. Few, however, are acquainted with the Titus 2 Woman. If Proverbs 31 describes the righteous woman’s work ethic, then Titus 2 describes her character. These four lessons will challenge the woman of God to continue to grow up, revealing the plan and character God desires for all of His daughters. Lesson titles include: Time to Grow Up, The Titus 2 Commission, What is a Servant?, and Famous Handmaidens of the Bible.

We often think of racism and prejudice as strictly an American issue. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Before there was the modern concept of racism, the Bible was confronting the sin of tribalism—the belief that one’s tribe is superior to a different tribe. The Bible foretells that in the last days tribalism and racism will increase more and more. These five lessons cover the subjects of tribalism, bigotry, prejudice, and culturism. Discover the demonic attitude behind the new wave of prejudice trying to tear our nation apart.