Podcast Summary: Peace: Rekindle Wonder at the Incarnation

Renewing Your Mind by Ligonier Ministries
Episode Date: November 10, 2025
Host: Nathan W. Bingham
Guest: Dr. Stephen Nichols (President, Reformation Bible College & Ligonier Teaching Fellow)

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode centers on rekindling awe and reflection at the Incarnation of Christ, especially during the Advent and Christmas seasons. Dr. Stephen Nichols discusses his new book, Classic Readings for Christmas: Peace, designed as an heirloom volume to help individuals and families deeply contemplate the biblical and theological reality of the Incarnation, drawing on Scripture, church tradition, and classic Christian writings.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Miracle and Wonder of the Incarnation

• Encouragement to Go Deep in Christology
  • Many Christians understand that Jesus is the “God-man” but often hesitate to explore the complexities of Christology. Dr. Nichols urges believers to read foundational creeds and go deeper:

    “I want to encourage people to definitely go out into the deep end of Christology... have this rich, truly rich understanding of Jesus as the God man.” (00:42, 12:36)

  • Meditating and marveling at the Incarnation strengthens faith and worship.

The Book: Classic Readings for Christmas: Peace

• Origin and Structure

  • Inspired by personal Christmas traditions that paired biblical readings with the Christmas story. Dr. Nichols sought to broaden the narrative by including Old Testament prophecies, Gospel accounts, and reflections from the Epistles, framing Christmas as central within redemptive history. (02:59)
  • The book is intentionally crafted as a keepsake: a coffee table-style, cloth-bound volume designed to last through generations. It contains:
    • Biblical story of Christmas in three acts: Promise (Old Testament), Fulfillment (Gospels), Reflection (Epistles)
    • Quotes from figures such as Martin Luther, Charles Spurgeon, R.C. Sproul, classic Christmas carols, prayers, and poetry. (04:14, 05:04)

• Purpose for Families

  • The design includes space for families to record their own traditions and stories, encouraging it to be passed down as a heritage item. (05:04)

The Longing for Peace and the Christmas Truce Story

• Deeper Need for Peace
  • Christmas is often joyful but also can be difficult and sad—a season of anxiety, loss, and even increased suicide rates. (06:34)
  • Story of the 1914 Christmas Truce during WWI is introduced to illustrate both humanity’s longing for peace and the fleeting nature of worldly peace.

    “People really want peace. But the way this world presents the solution to peace, it’s a band aid. It’s not going to be a true solution... We ultimately need peace because we are at war with God. And that’s where the Christmas story needs to start.” (07:16)

  • The Incarnation brings true, lasting peace between God and humanity.

Old Testament Foundations & The Person of Christ

• Following the "Seed" Theme

  • Dr. Nichols recounts biblical history: post-Fall conflict, the promise of a Redeemer woven into the curse, and the development of the promised “seed”—prophet, priest, king, and ultimately Yeshua (Jesus). (08:41)

    “While Adam and Eve turn on each other, Cain turns around and slays Abel... In the very giving of the curse to Adam and Eve, God in his gracious mercy embeds the solution to the curse and speaks of the promised seed.” (08:41)

• The Paradox of the Infant

  • A favorite Nichols insight:

    “This infant created all things. This infant created his own manger. And this infant, this king, brings peace on earth, ultimate and permanent peace.” (10:44)

  • Spurgeon is quoted: “Infant, but infinite.” (11:04)

Tradition, Family, and Reclaiming Christmas

• Family Heritage

  • The book is dedicated to Dr. Nichols's children, intended as a tool for their spiritual formation and as a potential tradition for their families. (14:14)

• Classic Traditions Included

  • Two church traditions highlighted:
    • Festival of Lessons and Carols: Old Testament prophecies, Gospels, Epistle readings, and interspersed carols (15:03)
    • Advent Sundays Readings: Structured progression through promise, fulfillment, and reflection, helping families focus beyond just Luke 2 (15:03)

• Personal Family Traditions

  • Nichols: Christmas afternoon hikes in Florida nature parks; a “ham not turkey” household (16:57)
  • Bingham: Australian tradition of watching "Carols by Candlelight" on Christmas Eve. As a new believer, the carols’ meaning became deeply significant:

    “Growing up as an unbeliever, I didn’t know who Grace was and why she was so amazing... singing about Christ and what he had done, but was blinded to that truth.” (17:28)

Carols and Hymns—Gospel Proclamation

• Evangelistic Power of Carols
  • The ubiquity and gospel clarity contained in Christmas carols—“Joy to the World,” for example—offer hope that listeners may be drawn to Christ through their lyrics. (18:32)
• Surprising Christmas Hymns
  • Not all "Christmas hymns" are recognized as such, e.g., “Go Tell It on the Mountain”:

    “Down in a lonely manger / Our humble Christ was born / and God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn / So go tell it on the mountain.” (19:09)

R.C. Sproul’s Endorsement & Reflections

• R.C. Sproul’s Perspective

  “This book brings refreshing and profitable insight in the meaning, purpose, and significance of Christmas. It is a valuable book for all of us to have and read as we contemplate this glorious moment of human history.” (19:37)

• R.C. Sproul on the Book’s Lyrical Power

  • Sproul lauds the book as “liturgical, lyrical, inspirational,” suggesting it can be read devotionally, one page at a time, to meditate on the Incarnation. (22:19)
  • He reads Chrysostom on the Incarnation:

    “...the ancient of days has become an infant... He who sits upon the sublime and heavenly throne now lies in a manger...” (23:15 – 24:30)

  • The paradoxes and beauty of Christ’s humility are emphasized.

Practical Uses for the Book

• Dr. Nichols encourages readers to use the book as a tool to walk through the Christmas story and the gospel, or simply to reflect on rich quotes and expanded carols. Milton’s poetry cited as an example:

  “This is the month, and this the happy morn, Wherein the Son of Heaven’s eternal King, of wedded maid and virgin mother born, Our great redemption from above did bring... and with his Father work for us a perpetual peace.” — John Milton, On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity (20:14)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Christology and Wonder

  “It is the one doctrine that we cannot get wrong, and that’s Christology... Marvel at who Christ is and what he has done.” — Dr. Nichols (12:36)

• On True Peace

  "We ultimately need peace because we are at war with God." — Dr. Nichols (07:16)

• Spurgeon:

  “Infant, but infinite.” (11:04)

• Nathan W. Bingham:

  “Growing up as an unbeliever, I didn’t know who Grace was and why she was so amazing... I actually know the savior that they’re singing of.” (17:28)

• R.C. Sproul (via Chrysostom):

  “He who sits upon the sublime and heavenly throne now lies in a manger...” (23:15)

• Dr. Nichols (on using the book):

  “There is a story here to walk through—the whole Christmas story and walk through the gospel... Quotes from the usual suspects... and some lesser knowns... gospel-filled reflections on Christmas.” (20:14)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | | --------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:42 | Deepening understanding of Christology | | 02:59 | Dr. Nichols shares the book's origins and structure | | 06:34 | Addressing the sadness and need for peace at Christmastime | | 08:41 | Tracing the "seed" promise through biblical history | | 10:44 | The paradox: "this infant created his own manger..." | | 11:04 | Spurgeon quote: "infant, but infinite." | | 12:36 | Christians called to meditate and marvel at Christ’s incarnation | | 14:14 | Book dedication to Dr. Nichols’s children | | 15:03 | Explanation of Lessons & Carols and Advent Sundays traditions | | 16:57 | Family Christmas traditions (Nichols and Bingham share) | | 17:28 | The evangelistic power of Christmas carols | | 19:09 | “Go Tell It on the Mountain” is a Christmas hymn | | 19:37 | R.C. Sproul’s endorsement of Peace | | 22:19 | R.C. Sproul on the devotional and lyrical value of the book | | 23:15 | Chrysostom excerpt read by Sproul | | 20:14 | Dr. Nichols encourages practical use of the book |

Conclusion

This episode offers listeners a call to intentional reflection on the Incarnation. Through Dr. Nichols's insights and references to Scripture, church history, and classic Christian writings, believers are encouraged to pause, marvel, and meditate on the foundational truths of Christ's birth and its profound meaning for individual and family life. The book Classic Readings for Christmas: Peace serves as a resource for deep, intergenerational engagement with “the whole story” of Christmas, pointing ultimately to the peace found in Christ alone.