With just one week to go until Christmas, Richard and Brad kick off this holiday-themed episode of Sermons on the Side with playful banter about the countdown to Christmas, the excitement building in their homes, and the different Christmas Eve and Christmas Day traditions their families are looking forward to this year. 

But as is often the case, a Sermon on the Side comes from an unexpected place. 

While battling a major head cold, Richard shares a rather gross - but relatable - story involving sinus treatments, neti pots, and the realization that this is not how his nose is supposed to work. What began as a joking comment to his wife, Rhonda, sparked a deeper reflection that carried him straight to the nativity story. 

At some point in Mary and Joseph’s journey - despite angelic visits, divine promises, and deep faith - they had to look at their circumstances and think, it's not supposed posed to be this way. A pregnant virgin, a long journey, no room at the inn, and a Savior born in a manger - none of it fit the picture they likely imagined. 

In this episode, Richard and Brad reflect on how so much of life feels like it shouldn’t be this way - especially during the holidays. Yet the heart of Christmas is this: God enters the mess. Like baby Jesus stepping into our broken world, God inserts Himself into our “it's not supposed to be this way” moments and completely changes everything. 

As we move through the final seven days of Advent, this episode serves as an invitation to stop resisting the tension, accept the reality of our circumstances, and allow Jesus to come into our world - right where we are. 

Because Christmas reminds us that even when things aren’t supposed to be this way…God still comes to us.

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