Year after year millions of us set aside time to revisit the Peanuts Christmas special. Year after year, we see Charlie Brown pick the scraggly tree, watch Snoopy transform his doghouse with lights, and enjoy the goofy dancing of the Peanuts gang.

And, year after year without fail, we listen as Linus calls for the spotlight and recites the story of the angels and the shepherds from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2.

In my last post, we saw a statistic from LifeWay Research that pointed to how over half of Americans plan to attend a Christmas Eve worship service, with many more willing to if invited. This week we revisit an older statistic from LifeWay Research that suggests that even though most Americans attend Christmas Eve services, the actual Christmas story does not seem to stick.

When I was studying for my MDiv, my evangelism professor and mentor, Rev. Dr. James C. Logan, used to state with some frustration that those of us in the church often treat the Bible like Aesop’s Fables. We want to dazzle people with how we can derive a “moral” to the story rather than trusting the power of the biblical narrative itself.

There is a reason that the Charlie Brown Christmas has stood the test of time, even in an increasingly secular and pluralistic culture. The story is just that good. And, part of that story is reciting the biblical narrative of Luke with no embellishment, explanation, or gimmicks.

The message to those of us who are leading Christmas services is clear: Whatever else you do, make sure to set aside time just to tell the Christmas story. Let the beauty, simplicity, and majesty of the narrative wash over and sit with the congregation. And, let everything else you do, from carols to a sermon to prayers and lighting candles, be something that draws attention back to the story–just like all of the Charlie Brown story leads up to the climax of Linus reciting from the Gospel of Luke.

And so, by way of practicing what I preach, let me share the story here from Luke 2:1-20 (in the King James Version, of course!). Merry Christmas, everyone.

2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

² (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

³ And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

⁵ To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

⁶ And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

¹⁵ And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

¹⁶ And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

¹⁷ And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

¹⁸ And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.