Christmas Symbols: Decorations That Point Us to Jesus

Today we let our kids help us rediscover why our homes fill up with evergreen, lights, bells, stars, and bows in December. We asked a simple question—what do all these decorations have to do with Jesus?—and then walked room by room through the story. The evergreen is “ever” green, pointing our hopes heavenward and reminding us of the life Jesus brings. Ornaments invite us to count blessings, not just collect things. Lights call us to shine—visible, not hidden—so that ordinary spaces become places of testimony. Bells echo the voice of our Shepherd who laid down his life and keeps calling us home.

We followed the star with the wise men and remembered that God still guides, now through Scripture, as faithfully as ever. We heard the angel’s announcement for “all people,” locating Christmas squarely among the overlooked and ordinary. Holly’s red pricked our conscience toward the costly love of Christ—Christmas already facing Good Friday. The wreath’s unbroken circle quietly preached his eternal, unchanging love.

We looked at the gifts of the Magi—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—and saw how they name Jesus as King, God, and sacrifice. Even the bows and ribbons hinted at a deeper binding—the love that holds a community together in perfect harmony. And then we slowed down. In a season that can easily run us ragged, we opened our hands like clay before the Potter, asking to be shaped into his likeness. My hope is that as you hang a wreath, plug in a string of lights, or tie a bow this week, you’ll see signs everywhere pointing to Jesus—and let those small signs do big work in your heart.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Let ordinary symbols teach faith The home can be a quiet catechism when we let meaning interrupt habit. Evergreen, stars, and wreaths become more than décor; they become daily reminders that re-aim our loves. Instead of speeding past them, pause and let each object invite prayer, gratitude, and hope. In doing so, the season forms us instead of simply entertaining us. [11:57]
• 2. Be the light you hang up Jesus doesn’t ask us to decorate light but to become it—visible, useful, and steady. That means simple courage in ordinary places: truth-telling at work, tenderness at home, integrity online. Light exposes and heals; it costs something to shine, but it also helps others see the path. Don’t hide what God has lit in you. [16:17]
• 3. Let the Word lead your steps The wise men had a star; we have Scripture—steady guidance when the sky feels cloudy. God’s Word doesn’t always rush us; it often asks for patient obedience over many miles. Trust the next step it gives, and you will find it always leads toward Jesus. Guidance grows clearer as we keep moving in faith. [21:03]
• 4. Remember the cost within the joy Christmas is bright, but its light falls across a cross-shaped shadow. Holly’s red and thorny leaves remind us that the cradle points to the crown of thorns. Holding joy and sacrifice together protects us from sentimentality and draws us into deep gratitude. Love celebrated at Bethlehem is love poured out at Calvary. [23:01]
• 5. Stay moldable in the Potter’s hands The season’s pace can harden us—busy, brittle, unteachable. God invites a different posture: soft clay that yields to his wise pressure and patient timing. Ask where he’s reshaping your desires, habits, or relationships right now. Surrender is not loss; it’s the path to becoming a masterpiece of grace. [28:59]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [11:15] - Kids ask Christmas question
• [12:33] - Evergreen tree and new life
• [13:25] - Ornaments and counting blessings
• [16:17] - Lights and being a city on a hill
• [17:27] - Bells, Shepherd, and His call
• [20:12] - Star guides wise men to Jesus
• [21:03] - Scripture leads us to Jesus
• [21:52] - Angel announces good news to all
• [22:27] - Holly and Christ’s sacrifice
• [23:31] - Wreath and eternal love
• [24:18] - Gifts of the Magi explained
• [25:36] - Bows, ribbons, and binding love
• [28:59] - Potter and clay invitation
• [29:33] - Joyful conclusion and song

1. In Matthew 5:14-16, what two places does Jesus contrast for a lamp, and what result does He want from our light?
2. In Matthew 2:1-12, what guided the wise men, and how did they respond when they found Jesus?
3. In Jeremiah 18:6, what picture does God use to describe His people, and what does that imply about His role?
4. Which three gifts did the wise men bring, and what did each gift say about who Jesus is? ([24:18])

1. What does it practically mean to be “a city on a hill” and “a lamp on a stand” in Matthew 5:14-16? Where might visibility be costly yet life-giving?
2. The wise men had a star; today, Scripture leads believers toward Jesus. How does Matthew 2:1-12, alongside the claim that “we have God’s Word to lead us,” shape a slow-and-steady view of guidance? ([21:03])
3. If God is the Potter and His people are clay (Jeremiah 18:6), what attitudes or postures make a person “moldable,” especially in a busy season? ([28:59])
4. The red and thorns of holly were linked with Christ’s suffering. How does holding Christmas joy together with the cross deepen the meaning of celebration? ([22:27])

1. Be the light you hang up: Where is one specific place this week to put your “lamp on a stand”—at work, at home, or online—and what will that look like in action (truth-telling, tenderness, integrity)? (Matthew 5:14-16)
2. Let the Word lead your steps: What is one decision or worry you’re carrying right now? Choose one passage to guide your next step this week, trusting that guidance becomes clearer as you go. How will you act on it by a specific day? ([21:03])
3. Let ordinary symbols teach faith: Pick one decoration in your home (evergreen, wreath, star, or ornaments). What short prayer or practice could you attach to it for the rest of this week so it becomes a daily reminder instead of background décor? ([12:33] or [23:31])
4. Remember the cost within the joy: What is one simple way to keep the cross in view during December (for example, reading a Passion passage one morning, journaling about Christ’s sacrifice, or serving someone who is hurting)? When will you do it? ([22:27])
5. Binding love in community: Who is one person God might be calling you to “tie in” with love this week—someone overlooked, someone hard to love, or someone you need to reconcile with? What is one concrete step you can take to pursue harmony? ([25:36])
6. Follow the Shepherd’s call: Who comes to mind when you think of Jesus seeking His sheep? Reach out with a text, visit, or invitation. What will you say, and when? ([17:27])
7. Stay moldable in the Potter’s hands: Where have you become hurried or hard to teach? Choose one small practice (five minutes of silence daily, a tech-free evening, or a weekly Sabbath block) to keep your heart soft. What will you try first? ([28:59])