The great 17th-century Dutch artist Rembrandt is an unusual Christian hero, yet, by universal agreement, he is one of the truly great Christian artists.

What encourages me about Rembrandt? It is not simply his artistic brilliance; it is that in his artistry I find things that, as an evangelist, I admire.

The story of how a middle-class lady was able to reform the appalling conditions under which prisoners were treated in Britain and in many other countries, is a classic example of the way God can use unlikely people to extraordinary effect.

As a young man Lewis found himself increasingly unhappy with his atheism. With a vivid imagination enriched by extensive reading, he found himself longing for something more satisfying than anything atheism could offer.

As an evangelist, what I most appreciate about Lewis is the superb way in which he communicated Christian truth. Somehow, he was able to hold together a number of virtues.

Considering the vast gulf between the original bishop and the modern Santa Claus I have found myself wondering what the man himself would think of it all were he to reappear at Christmas time.

Joseph; was a man who, at least on the surface, finds himself in a supporting role.

Let me suggest three characteristics of Joseph for you to consider.

In thinking about heroes, I have come to realise that there are two sorts. There are ‘heroes in the spotlight’, men and women who receive all the attention; and there are ‘heroes in the shadows’, those who are overlooked. The difference is clearly seen in two of the central figures of the Christmas story: Mary and Joseph.

Let’s look at Mary the mother of Jesus as someone who is very much a hero in the spotlight.

Born in 1685, Bach was part of a remarkable German musical dynasty. His world was shaped by the theology of Martin Luther and three quarters of his music was composed for the church. He believed that music was for ‘the glory of God and for the refreshment of the soul’.

Born into slavery, Isabella was to be a slave for thirty years. She suffered bitterly: her brothers and sisters were sold off in her infancy, she grew up without education and remained illiterate. She was to be bought and sold four times by a succession of owners, some of whom abused her physically and sexually.

She spent the remainder of her life fighting for justice, becoming a remarkable speaker and preacher and an increasingly well-known figure.

Born into English aristocracy in 1801, he endured a cold, loveless childhood but found comfort in the love and care of a family housekeeper who shared her Christian faith with him. In his mid-20s Lord Shaftesbury was elected as a Conservative member of Parliament and with this was a very public commitment to Christ that motivated everything he did.

Having grown up as an outsider Shi Meiyu became one of the first Chinese women to graduate as a Western-trained doctor, becoming a respected surgeon and championing a range of social causes, lifting many women out of their subordinate status.