Some of the Christmas carols contain phenomenal truths. Yet they can easily be sung mindlessly – familiar tunes, familiar lyrics and some unfamiliar words mixed in. As we preach or lead services in this Christmas season, let’s not miss the opportunity to highlight the glorious truths contained in the songs we sing. Perhaps a passing comment in a message, reference to a carol to illustrate a point in a sermon, or even brief explanation outside of the sermon.
Consider, for one example, the second verse of Hark the Herald Angels:
Christ by highest heav’n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King!”
How could anyone sing those words without stirred hearts? But for many, the stirring is mere nostalgia at Christmas past. Let’s make sure people in our churches don’t miss the stirring reality reflected here!
Biblical Preaching 
I would suggest doing it without implying that we sing the carols mindlessly. I made that comment last Christmas and was literally accosted & yelled at in the Fellowship Hall by a couple of older women who asked “How dare” I say that people might sing those “precious songs” without thinking about the words! Even trying to assure them that I was sure that it did not refer to them, did not assuage them. Teach the lesson, but be subtle about why there is the need to teach it!