Before Christmas by Bill Crowder is a small, but powerful book. It’s written in a style that’s easy to follow; not overly deep, but very thorough. I gained new insights and appreciated all that there is to reflect upon. Whether you’re a seasoned Christian, a new believer, or even a seeker, Before Christmas is a great resource for personal study leading up to Christmas, or any time of the year for that matter.

This Christmas backstory focuses on all that leads up to the manger, from before Creation and throughout the Old Testament, making the Christmas celebration even more rich in meaning. The six chapters focus on Jesus in these specific ways …
His Character as God
His Relationship with the Father
His Preparation for the Cross
His Role as Creator
His Appearances in the Old Testament
His Announced Arrival

The extent of Christ’s activity in the Old Testament wasn’t something I learned of until more in depth study as an adult, so this chapter was especially appealing to me. The author’s illustrations are helpful in leading into each topic, and references to original Greek words aid in understanding. Focusing on all that Jesus left or gave up to come to us was also meaningful …

This sacrifice did not begin on the cross or even at Bethlehem. Christ began that sacrifice by willingly giving up what was His so He could take hold of us.

I highly recommend Before Christmas for personal reading or study.

I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

“Before Christmas” closely examines the backstory of the Christmas holiday, with the reason and purpose for both this book and Christmas being Jesus Christ, Son of God, and His leaving Heaven to come to this earth and be the Redeemer of mankind. This book encourages us to think about the sacrifices God made in sending Jesus to be our Savior, what this reveals about His truest identity and how He feels about us, as well as what exactly this means for us.

What I read from this book has helped renew my appreciation for who Jesus is and what He has done and continues to do for us all. He “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Jesus is the absolute embodiment of love and selflessness.

With just six chapters, this is a fairly short and profound book that I highly recommend reading in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

An enlightening read about what Jesus left to become the baby in the manger. I enjoyed this book especially the idea that "the Sony of God became the Son of man so that sons of men could become the sons of God ", which bears thinking about.
Recommended as your Advent read.
I was given this book by Netgalley and the publisher. This is my voluntary and impartial review.

What is your mind-set as you approach the holiday season and life in general? Reading this book will encourage you to embrace the mind-set of Christ and develop a servant’s heart. It will also inform and remind you of just how much Jesus gave up when He chose to be born on earth.

This book will also provide you with a deeper understanding of the relationship between God the Father and God the Son. It is a stunning and loving relationship which has always been a part of eternity past and will always be a part of eternity in the future.

I especially enjoyed the discussion about creation. As we ponder, appreciate and investigate our world and universe, we should do this with breathless awe. All the diversity, beauty and complexity surrounding us is directly due to the creativity and power of our savior, sustainer and creator...Jesus.

I encourage you to read, reflect and ponder the words of this book as you learn about the backstory of the Christ story. Get to know and appreciate what Christ did, how He spent His time and what was important to Him, all before that first Christmas.

I thoroughly enjoyed this well written book. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Discovery House through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

A refreshing perspective given by author. This is great to read before Christmas but also a good read anytime of year.

I chose to read this book because I am familiar with Bill Crowder’s writing in Our Daily Bread, and because it was about Christmas. I found this book to be a well-written treatise about Jesus and who He is, well before He was placed in a manger.

This book was not long, but was packed with truth. Crowder proved his points with Scripture, and enhanced his chapters with stories and examples. It was a great tool for learning or reviewing good theology about Jesus. And when one has the truth of Jesus, that leads to praising Him, so it’s a win!

I especially liked that not only were passages of Scripture quoted as needed, but the truth of great hymns of the faith were included, as well. Then favorite Christmas carols were also cited for the great truths found there.

This book bull of the truths of Jesus, who He is and what He has done, was a great encouragement for me. I recommend it for those who want to deepen their knowledge of Christ and their celebration of Him at Christmas, or any time throughout the year.

I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher, Discovery House, through Celebrate Lit, for review purposes. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC! What a beautiful reminder of what the Christmas season is about.

I am usually wary of books that involve the subject of Christmas. However the fact that this book is published by Discovery House along with the author being Bill Crowder made me willing to give this book a read. I am so glad I did!

As we approach another Christmas season, this book is a wonderful choice for anyone who wants their focus to be about the real meaning of Christmas. The author has an excellent writing style and lays things out in an easy-to understand manner which may be used by individuals and with families. It also makes a great gift for friends and family who want the same experience.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book provided by the publisher and Net Galley. However, the thoughts expressed are totally my own.

It took me a while to get into this book. I think it was mainly because I was expecting a typical Advent book that leads up to Christmas. This book was so much different. This book reintroduces you to Christ and shows you Christ in the Old Testament, in the prophecies, as Creator, the whole backstory behind the Christmas Story. So even though it wasn't what I expected, it was a great book that renewed my appreciation for Jesus and who He really is. There are just six chapters, but it was packed full of information. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I believe every Christian would benefit from reading it.

**I received this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Before Christmas is recommended as a Christmas/ Advent study by Bill Crowder. It focuses not just on Christmas, but on Christ throughout the Bible including how old testament scripture foretold his coming . I would not recommend this book as a family devotional for families with younger children. If you love research/ history this would be a good book for you. I appreciate how Crowder included Biblical references and how explained the hymns that he used in the chapters. Although the study is presented as an Advent study I think that it could be enjoyed anything of the year.

I received a complimentary copy for this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

“We are so thrilled by the baby in the manger that we don’t pause to remember who that baby is.  We forget that the eternal Son of God left the Father’s presence, which He has known and enjoyed since before time began, in order to become—amazingly—that baby in the manger.  This should take our breath away!  It should cause us to ponder the glory He left and to contemplate the darkness into which He came.” (quote from the introduction to the book)

This quote sets the theme for this book. The author reminds us that Christmas is so much more than just the one day we set aside to celebrate the birthday of Christ, but that we should be swept away by His glory and majesty. In these six chapters, the author reminds us of Jesus’ character as God; His relationship with the Father; His Preparation for the Cross; His Role as Creator; His Appearances in the Old Testament; and His Announced Arrival.

This book is easily readable, and although it’s a shorter book (152 pages), it’s already had a great impact on my thoughts for the Christmas season. I love all things Christmas, but this book has increased my sense of awe for all Christ as done for me. I also have a new appreciation for the Christmas hymn “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne” and all that it conveys to us in those verses. This book is keeper and one that I’ll read again at the Christmas season.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

An expanding, new look and understanding of who Jesus Christ really is, and what you expect him to look like. One way to say this he is the eternal one, the Alpha and the Omega there is none before or after him. Understanding why he came sheds more light on why we celebrate his birth. This book gives a deep spiritual look at the birth and purpose of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ presence in this world.

What I find most interesting about Bill Crowder’s “Before Christmas” is the interspersing of insights regarding God and the Christmas story. Rather than concentrating solely on the story of Jesus’ birth, Crowder expands the focus to encompass the backstory as well, mirroring how Jesus’ life on earth is recounted in the Gospels but is nevertheless the mainstay of the entire Bible, both the Old and New Testament. As Crowder explains in his introduction, “That is why the Christmas backstory is so important. It adds eternal value to the coming of Jesus by unveiling His truest identity.” Speaking for myself, I have to admit that too often the account of Jesus’ birth becomes rote. That is what I consider to be the value of this short but thought-provoking book.

Using the nested story technique characterized in the Bible, Crowder demonstrates how the Christmas story is one of many concentric rings of God’s story from before creation. The more I learn how interconnected every Biblical event is, the more awestruck I become at our Creator. Fresh appreciation and understanding dawns. For instance, although God knew even before creating the first man and woman that they would rebel and cause the Fall, He still chose to give us free will because only then could we be made in His image. And his foreknowledge also means that He knew that Jesus, God in the flesh, would have to die on the cross to make us right with Him again. He loves us that much! And, Crowder asserts, “that redemptive mission would also be the perfect expression of the mutual love between the Father and the Son.” Furthermore, Jesus’ deity is established immediately by the angel Gabriel when he tells Mary that Jesus will be “the Son of the Most High” because in the Jewish tradition, a son took on the qualities of his father. Even though as Christians we know that Jesus was, is, and always will be God, learning how each and every part of the Bible reinforces itself as God’s Word is incredibly affirming and fascinating.

While this is a small, short book, “Before Christmas” should be savored. Each chapter contains concise information taken from Scripture, with a deeper look into the cultural and personal implications thereof. While this is obviously a read well-suited for the Advent season, it can just as easily be explored at any time. Crowder writes in an easily understood manner, using lists to highlight his points and to make this a quick and straightforward reference for anyone looking to dig deeper into Jesus’ story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through CelebrateLit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

Before Christmas reflects mainly on before Jesus was born. The author talks about different songs and different verses. Also about his time going to Bible school.

I liked chapter 4 “His role as Creator”. It talks about how God created us. To create a relationship with God. That he created the universe.

There is a lot of of information in this little book. I love all the Bible verses and quotes from songs. It makes a great bible study book.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit. This book review is my own opinion.

This little book packs a lot of thorough and thoughtful insights into it. Backed by Scripture and wholesome truths. Snippets of Christmas hymns within the chapters. Written in an easy going and easy to read style.

This is a nice read to get prepared for the Christmas season. It make’s a nice study for personal, family, or a small group.

Before Christmas, The Story of Jesus from the Beginning of Time to the Manger by author Bill Crowder is a perfect advent book. This small God glorifying book will help any reader strengthen his Walk with Jesus. It was a delightful find.

Filled with scripture the author has done research in both the Old and New Testaments. He goes back to when God made the Earth and talks about Jesus and the Holy Spirit. New Testament references go through Revelation.

There are six chapters in this book. Beginning with “His Character as God” and concluding with “His Announced Arrival” all six chapters examine a part of Jesus to help us learn more. The author has included some reflections and stories of his own along with the scripture.

This is a well planned, organized, and nicely written book. It was easy to read and understand. I will keep it on hand for future reference.

I highly recommend this. A church library would benefit from a few copies. This would make a great group study, especially during advent. It gets a 5 out of 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest thoughts.

This brief book is filled with insights about Christ’s first coming. Have you ever considered all that transpired before the Savior came to earth that first Christmas? The author shares from Scripture and anecdotal illustrations to explore the backstory and preparation for His birth as a human baby. I like the way he includes lyrics from Christmas hymns in each chapter and draws from the truths they express. The text’s six chapters focus on Jesus’s character as God, His relationship with the Father, His preparation for the Cross, His role as Creator, His Old Testament appearances, and the announcement of His arrival. The eternal perspective makes this grand event even more meaningful. I suggest using this as a personal, family, or group study during Advent or, really, at any time of year. I think it will enrich the experience of celebrating the Nativity. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

Lovely festive read. It was a heart warming romance. It was a wonderful book to read. It was well written and flowed well.