Dr. David J. Peter joins this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast to discuss the 2025 Advent series, Every Heart Prepare, which he authored in partnership with CPH. 

Order your church’s Advent materials at cph.org/advent.

Show Notes

We do so much to prepare for Christmas. One way we prepare is by decorating our homes, yards, and churches with evergreens, lights, the crèche, and presents. This season, reflect upon these common Christmas decorations and how they help us see Christ and prepare for His coming with this Advent and Christmas series.

Dr. David J. Peter discusses Every Heart Prepare, the all-inclusive Advent preaching and worship series that features sermons and sermon notes, Bible studies, children’s messages, a children’s Christmas service, and more. He talks about what first inspired him to write about common Christmas decorations and how they relate to Advent, advice he would give pastors for using these materials in their congregations, and what part of this series was most meaningful to him.

Dr. Peter is also the author of Organizing for Ministry and Mission: Options for Church Structure (CPH, 2023). 

Questions

• What first inspired you to connect common Christmas decorations with themes of Advent preparation?
• Why should pastors use this series for their congregation?
• What advice would you give pastors on adapting or customizing these materials for their specific congregational setting?
• The evergreen tree has long symbolized eternal life. How does your sermon connect that symbol to Christ’s coming?
• Light is such a powerful biblical image. How does the “Lights” sermon draw people into the message of Jesus as the Light of the World?
• The crèche—often a quiet, simple decoration—has deep theological meaning. How do you help congregations rediscover its significance?
• On Christmas, the focus turns to wrapped presents. How do you use the imagery of gifts to reveal the meaning of God’s greatest gift, Jesus Christ?
• What part of this series was most meaningful for you personally, and why?

About the Guest

Dr. David J. Peter has served as a professor of practical theology and the dean of faculty at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, where he has regularly led courses for practicing pastors. His areas of expertise include pastoral ministry and researching congregational dynamics. Dr. Peter has also gained many insights from students about the realities of administration and leadership in congregations throughout his years of preaching and instructing. Before joining the Seminary, Dr. Peter served as a visiting instructor of theology at Concordia University in Nebraska, Seward from 1987 to 1988. He also served as associate pastor at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Peoria, Illinois, from 1988 to 1995 and then as senior pastor from 1995 to 1998. Dr. Peter received his Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Concordia Seminary, his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln., and a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.