Sermon Central
-
Silent Night Holy Night
Contributed by Jm Raja Lawrence on Dec 20, 2023 (message contributor)
"Silent Night" is one of the most beloved Christmas carols, known for its serene and tranquil melody. The story behind the song begins in the small Austrian village of Oberndorf bei Salzburg in 1818. The lyrics were written by Joseph Mohr, a young priest, and the music was composed by Franz Xaver Gruber, a schoolteacher and organist.
Legend has it that the church's organ broke down just before Christmas Eve, leaving the village without music for the Christmas Mass. In response to the predicament, Mohr, who had penned the lyrics two years earlier, approached Gruber and asked him to create a simple melody that could be played on the guitar. Gruber composed the music, and on December 24, 1818, "Stille Nacht" (Silent Night) was performed for the first time at the St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf.
The song's simplicity and heartfelt message resonated with people, and it began to spread across the region. A few years later, the Strasser family, a group of traveling folk singers, heard the song and included it in their repertoire. The Strassers performed "Silent Night" in concerts throughout Europe, helping to popularize the carol.
Over the years, "Silent Night" was translated into various languages, and its fame continued to grow. The song's serene and contemplative nature made it a fitting choice for Christmas celebrations worldwide. Today, "Silent Night" is recognized as one of the most beautiful and enduring Christmas carols, cherished for its message of peace and tranquility. It has been translated into hundreds of languages and has been recorded by countless artists, becoming a timeless classic that is synonymous with the holiday season.
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
A Wealthy Businessman, Who Was Well Known For ... PRO
Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on May 8, 2005
A wealthy businessman, who was well known for being ruthless and unethical, told Mark Twain that before he died, he wanted to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He said that when he got there he wanted to climb to the top of Mount Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments, and there read ...read more
-
A Little Boy Was Standing By His Father Watching ...
Contributed by Kent Kessler on Dec 27, 2006
A little boy was standing by his father watching him trying to put a floppy disk into his computer. The father was having trouble getting the disk to go in all of the way. The little boy said to his father, “Maybe it has a penny in it?” Sure enough, when the father fished around inside where the ...read more
-
Don't Think That There Is Any Better Answer To ...
Contributed by David Smith on Apr 21, 2005
don’t think that there is any better answer to that question than the one given by the great painter Renoir. In old age the great French painter, suffered from arthritis, which twisted and cramped his hand. Henri Matise, his artist friend, watched sadly while Renoir, grasping a brush with only his ...read more
-
In Our Basement We Have A Piece Of Paper Stapled ... PRO
Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on May 8, 2005
In our basement we have a piece of paper stapled to a door frame. About twice a year I bring all the grandkids to the basement and they stand against the door frame to measure how tall they are and how much they have grown. The paper is covered with lines, beside which are their names and dates. ...read more
-
25 Years Ago A Baby Was Born In A Hospital. He ... PRO
Contributed by Ed Wood on Jun 23, 2005
25 years ago a baby was born in a hospital. He weighed only a few pounds. He had to be pampered and coddled to enable him to live. Now he is 6’2" tall and weighs 200 pounds. There is a vast difference in the baby and the man. Yet the life he now has is the same life he had 25 years ago. Our ...read more
Related Sermons
-
"'the' Birthday Celebration
Contributed by Maria Saunders on Dec 22, 2016
It’s poor etiquette to attend a party and don’t bring the host/honoree a gift. We should feel privileged to receive an invitation to attend. Therefore, it’s extremely important that we bring the right gifts to the honoree.
-
The Sunday After Christmas Sermon Series
Contributed by Dean Courtier on Aug 20, 2015
How did Christmas 2014 feel to you? Maybe your Christmas wasn’t all you expected. Now that Christmas is over, maybe the excitement has passed and life is already returning to some kind of normal. Whatever normal might be in your life!
-
Lessons Learned From Wise Men
Contributed by Kevin L. Jones on Dec 5, 2013
Some important lessons can be learned form
-
Christmas
Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Dec 15, 2016
The celebration of the birth of Jesus by Christians.
-
A Light In The Darkness
Contributed by Danny Janes on Dec 10, 2012
Good sermon for first Sunday of Advent -- lighting of Prophet Candle. The theme of light vs. darkness is woven throughout the Bible. This is what the coming of the Light marked in our world.
