By David L. Chancey
Special to The Alabama Baptist
Christmas time is here … almost. What are you doing to lead your church or small group/Bible study to maximize the Christmas season? Will we have just another Christmas, or are we intentionally and strategically planning for gospel impact?
We cannot assume everyone knows what Christmas is about. Several years ago a study conducted by Lifeway Research revealed 91% of Americans celebrate Christmas, including atheists, agnostics, individuals claiming other religions and people designating no religious preference. Many celebrate the season, but not necessarily the Savior. They have yet to meet Jesus.
Do you see Christmas as a gospel opportunity?
Here are some ways to maximize the season:
*People are more open to invitations to worship at Christmas than any other time of year except Easter. Study after study shows that if we invite, many will attend. Another Lifeway Research study presented respondents with nine “life moments” and asked, “Have you ever been more open to consider matters of faith during any of the following times in your life?”
Of the nine options, “During the Christmas holiday season” received the highest response. When the gospel is presented and participants have a chance to respond, many will receive Jesus.
*Christmas is a time to celebrate the truth that the Father sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. Joyfully sing carols, play the music enthusiastically, tell the story of Jesus clearly and simply. Every Sunday is a celebration, but worship rises to a different dynamic during the Christmas season. Prayerfully plan meaningful worship experiences.
*Christmas presents a platform to share good news in a bad news world. People are fatigued by wars, politics, hurricanes and other tragedies. Let’s remind them the gospel is good news.
*Christmas gives opportunities to share encouragement and comfort. Not everyone is excited about this season. Some are facing their first Christmas without a loved one; some have had a hard year; some are dealing with serious illness.
God’s timing
Remember, the first Christmas was tough for many. Many families lost their child as King Herod ordered the slaying of every male under age two when he heard about the newborn King.
*Christmas reminds us of God’s perfect plan and perfect timing. We need reminding that God’s ways are not our ways and His ways are often mysterious. Joseph did not understand what was happening with Mary, but he obeyed anyway (Matt. 1:20, 24).
Also, God’s timing is always perfect (Gal. 4:4–7).
*Christmas can be a time to build corporate unity. The church needs the spiritual enrichment, focus and unity Christmas worship brings. Complete any church business, such as adopting the budget or electing deacons, before Thanksgiving so you can focus solely on the Advent season.
*Christmas gives a timely opportunity to teach and reinforce basic theology: The virgin birth, the incarnation, God’s faithfulness to keep His promises, God’s sovereignty, God’s presence (God with us), man’s condition that necessitated Jesus’ coming, God’s Gift (John 3:16), the cross and the empty tomb, Jesus’ coming again.
How can we intentionally make Christmas impactful?
Here are 25 ideas to help maximize Christmas.
*Put a prayer foundation into place. Kick off “30 Days of Prayer for Christmas 2024” in November or 30 days before the first Sunday of Advent. Or begin December 1 and intensely pray for 25 days.
*Encourage “Christmas in the Cul-de-sac” or “Christmas on My Street.” Our worship leader and his wife invite all their neighbors over one afternoon for Christmas goodies, hot cocoa, fellowship and an invitation to church. They read the Christmas story together and talk about it.
“This has led to many interesting gospel conversations and seeds planted,” noted Mark Karki, worship leader at McDonough Road Baptist Church Fayetteville, Georgia.
*Host a Christmas “Thank You” gathering. One Atlanta pastor and his wife listed everyone they could think of who served them in any way during the year and invited them for a meal. Then they presented the gospel.
*Produce an “invite card” promoting upcoming Christmas events, including the Christmas Eve schedule, and pointing people to your website. Print enough to mail to prospects and for members to hand out. Send a PDF file of the card to church members so they, in turn, can send it to everyone they know.
*Use social media to promote your Christmas schedule. Facebook ads are relatively inexpensive. Keep info posted on various forums up-to-date and post something several times a week.
*Leverage your Christmas music. Most people love the sounds of Christmas, so build special musical presentations into your calendar. One year we presented a musical on Friday night and had a nice catered dinner afterward. Some years we brought in guest artists. Share the gospel on every occasion.
*Showcase your children. Whether it’s a children’s musical or a Sunday morning musical segment or a children’s Sunday, featuring your children brings the potential of increasing attendance.
*Use students and young adults in worship. When you feature youth testimonies or a young adult trio, and they invite their unsaved friends, someone may receive Christ.
*Make every event evangelistic and present the gospel. If the women have a cookie swap or there’s a “men’s night out,” incorporate sharing the gospel.
*Utilize youth and children in a Nativity scene. Diana Davis, author of, “Fresh Ideas: 1,000 Ways to Grow a Thriving and Evangelistic Church,” wrote a great piece entitled, “The Littlest Nativity Scene Can Be the Biggest Outreach” filled with ideas. Using live animals always attracts. One year we had a camel and people driving by saw it, turned around and stopped to get a picture with the camel.
*Host a free hot cocoa and prayer drive-through. Put up a sign, “Free hot cocoa! May we pray for you?” Give a Bible to each driver and listen for openings to share the gospel. Give every person an invite card and personal invitation to worship the next Sunday.
*Assemble goody bags and deliver them to homes and neighborhoods near the church. Include the Christmas invite card.
*Go Christmas caroling in nearby neighborhoods and apartment complexes. Hand out invitations to upcoming events and watch for divine appointments.
*Have a Sunday afternoon, off-site, outside worship service in a city square or park. Take the Christmas message outside the walls of the church. Plan great music, have a brief message, share a testimony of “what Christmas means to me” and enlist trained people to interact with attendees.
*Bring dinner to your nearby firehouse or 911 center. Stay and eat with the crew if possible. Enjoy fellowship as you express appreciation for their service. Share the gospel or, at minimum, an invitation to worship.
*Host “the ultimate Christmas party” for students, with giveaways, a band, lots of treats, games and a brief message and gospel presentation. Promote this as a high-energy, evangelistic event and challenge the youth to bring friends who don’t know Christ. Be prepared to do immediate follow-up on decisions.
*Make your children’s Christmas party special. Use games, inflatables, a photo booth and lots of food and treats. Share the gospel with the appropriate ages and prepare for immediate follow-up.
*Take breakfast or lunch to the faculty and staff of a nearby school. Bless them with a Christmas gift bag or stocking including the invite card. If the school allows, serve the meal, interacting with each person as he or she comes through the line. Plant gospel seeds and listen for opportunities for gospel conversations.
*Bless a family or two in need. Working with the counselor or principal of a nearby school, provide Christmas for a family that cannot do so without assistance. One year, at the request of a school, one of our Sunday School classes provided two bicycles for a family. If possible, deliver the gifts in person and say, “We’re giving these gifts because God gave us the greatest Gift, His Son Jesus.”
*Pay off some students’ lunch accounts. If the school office is willing, write a letter inviting the student to church and have the office send it to let the family know the church helped.
*Host Christmas movie night. Invite friends and neighbors to take a break and enjoy a movie at your campus. Show a well-done video clip before the movie begins, including a brief gospel presentation. Afterward, give people a chance to pray and receive Jesus. Prepare a response card to record decisions and do follow-up. Then give out door prizes.
*Host a gingerbread house-making event and promote it in the community. Offer refreshments and present prizes. Invite all participants to attend church.
*Present a workshop on dealing with loss at Christmastime. Have a trained Christian counselor join the pastor to talk through the grief process and how to manage feelings of loss that intensify during the holidays. Plant gospel seeds.
*Preach a Christmas sermon series. Don’t miss this opportunity to proclaim the most wonderful news one can hear. Give strong evangelistic invitations.
*Pull out all the stops for conducting a powerful Christmas Eve service or services. Diana Davis wrote an article about how to make the Christmas service one of the most impactful moments of the church year. Do a search for “To Eve … or Not to Eve.” Take what you’ve done previously to another level. Prepare and execute the service(s) with guests and unchurched people in mind. Strive for excellence.
EDITOR’S NOTE — David L. Chancey retired this year after 38 years in pastoral ministry, more than 24 of those as pastor of McDonough Road Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Georgia. He continues preaching as God opens doors and is a frequent contributor to several publications, including The Alabama Baptist. He is the author of “The Most Wonderful News You Can Hear: Proclaiming Glad Tidings at Christmas.” Read more of his writing at davidchancey.com.
Share with others: