Praise was offered for the album's production qualities, as well as the change in direction for MercyMe and the band's take on the traditional songs.

Minor criticism was directed at lead vocalist Bart Millard's vocals, as well as at individual songs.

Although MercyMe had started as a rock band, they become associated with the adult contemporary genre after their single "I Can Only Imagine" became successful.

[1] MercyMe began recording the album over Christmas 2004, and put the "finishing touches" on it over the following summer.

The band brought in rock producer Brown Bannister, who had previously recorded albums for artists like Amy Grant and Steven Curtis Chapman, to produce both The Christmas Sessions and their next studio album, which would also utilize a rock sound.

[6] "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" utilizes a "multilayered arrangement... that sounds as if it were tailored for a Super Bowl halftime show".

[7] The song, along with "Little Drummer Boy", begins with a rock-oriented opening before transitioning into a power ballad form.

Anderson offered a small amount of criticism concerning Millard's vocal delivery, saying he "can be a bit mannered", as well as criticizing the country sound of "Silent Night" as "ill-advised", but he praised the band's version of "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day".

[9] Kelefa Sanneh of The New York Times praised the album as a whole, calling it "one of the year's most enjoyable holiday CDs".

[16] It has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), signifying the equivalent of 500,000 albums sold.