By Denise George
Special to The Alabama Baptist
Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is coming. Almost overnight, Christian families are overwhelmed with advertisements for the latest and greatest toys and gadgets, stuck in traffic jams between honking cars with frustrated drivers, made to wait in long department store checkout lines, bombarded with costumed department store-hired Santa Clauses shouting “Happy Holidays” and swept up into a whirlwind of senseless holiday happenings that have little or nothing to do with the Christian celebration of Christmas — the coming of Christ.
How, in the midst of loud, frantic and meaningless activity, can Christian parents wisely use this season to teach their children about Christ and biblical truths?
Here are some practical suggestions:
1. Schedule an interruption-free quiet time each day when family members can sit down together, read Scripture, pray and participate in special Christmas activities and projects.
During these times, read the Christmas story in Matthew 1:18–25 and Luke 2:1–14. Talk with your children about the biblical meaning of Christmas — the
remembrance and celebration of the coming of Christ into the world. Explain to them why Christians celebrate December days in anticipation of His Advent (arrival).
2. Make a family Advent wreath: Place four purple (or blue) candles in a Styrofoam wreath with one white candle in the middle.
During your family devotional times, light one candle each week during the month of Advent. On Christmas morning light the white candle which represents Christ. Discuss and read Bible verses that show the meaning/symbolism of each Advent candle: hope, peace, joy, love.
Advent Scripture suggestions:
Hope: Jeremiah 29:11; 2 Corinthians 4:16–18; 1 Peter 1:3; Romans 8:24–25. Peace: John 16:33; Matthew 5:9; Matthew 11:28–30; John 14:27; John 20:19. Joy: Psalm 5:11–12; Psalm 47:1; Philippians 1:3–5; Romans 15:13. Love: 1 Corinthians 13:4–8; John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Romans 8:37–39; 1 John 3:1; Ephesians 4:2; 1 John 4:7.
3. Display a nativity scene in your family room.
In the weeks before Christmas allow children to place figures representing Mary, Joseph, shepherds, wise men and animals in the nativity. On Christmas morning let the youngest member of the family set the baby Jesus figure in the manger. As each figure is added explain its role and significance.
4. Buy some inexpensive supplies and encourage children to make biblically inspired decorations to hang on the Christmas tree.
As a family talk about the meaning of each before adding it to the tree.
Ideas for decorations:
The cross — a symbol of Christ’s crucifixion: Matthew 16:24; John 19:17; John 19:19.
Angels — God’s messengers: Luke 1:30–31; Luke 2:15–16; Luke 2:10–11.
Stars — God’s creation/a sign: Matthew 2:10; Matthew 2:1–12.
Candy cane — representing a shepherd’s hook: Luke 2:15–20.
5. Encourage your children to make creative Christmas cards throughout the season using construction paper, crayons, markers, etc.
Send the individually designed cards to family members, friends, neighbors, church staff and members, Sunday School teachers and classmates, military service members away from home and their families and others.
Through family devotional times, purposeful activities, carefully selected meaningful events, Scripture study, edifying reading material and creative prayer, families can prepare their hearts for Christmas and teach their children about biblical hope, peace, joy and love as they anticipate the coming of the Christmas child.
6. Teach children about the joy of giving by making or purchasing small useful gifts for sick people in hospitals, church members confined to their homes, nursing home residents, etc.
Plan special outings to visit hospitals, nursing homes and homebound church members. Do be sure to call ahead and make an appointment though.
7. As a family talk about giving and receiving fewer, less expensive Christmas gifts.
Plan together how to give the saved money to those who desperately need it.
8. As a family consider sponsoring a third-world child through an organization like Compassion International.
This enables your children to send and receive letters from the sponsored child throughout the year. Study together the child’s heritage, the country where he lives, his faith and his family and friends. Send the child a special Christmas gift (www.compassion.com).
9. Donate money and time and involve your children in hands-on work at local programs that feed hungry people in your community, church and state.
10. Explain to your children the differences in how Christians celebrate Christmas and how secular society celebrates the holidays.
Plan some new Christmas traditions for your family that teach and encourage a biblical celebration of the birth of the Savior.
11. Read together Matthew 28:18–20 and teach your children about the Great Commission.
Contribute to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions through your church. Help support local missionaries through the North American Mission Board as they evangelize, disciple and tell people about the Lord Jesus Christ.
12. Decline purposeless holiday party invitations and choose instead to spend time together as a family.
Read spiritually informative books. Take brief walks through your neighborhood, pausing to pray for the families who live in each house. Attach a world map to the wall, pinpointing countries, people and missionaries who need special prayer. Pray sentence prayers around the family table before mealtime, allowing each member to voice a brief prayer. Take turns reading Scriptures in various translations. Using construction paper and popsicle sticks, make puppets of biblical characters included in the nativity and let your children entertain the family with Christmas story puppet plays. Sing favorite traditional Christmas carols and make up praise songs to sing to God. Invite special family members and friends to join you in some of your family devotions, including their names in your family prayer times. Watch morally/spiritually edifying Christmas movies together, complete with popcorn and hot chocolate. Write down prayers that express your family’s thanksgiving and gratitude to God for His Son, Jesus, who came into the world to reconcile us to Himself.
13. Have family members reaffirm their unconditional love for each other by writing a letter to each person.
List the person’s qualities you like and appreciate. Describe special times spent together and the good memories each brought. Write a prayer to God for the person, listing your loved one’s special needs and asking for God’s blessings on his/her life. You may download, print and personalize a free, specially designed PDF Christmas card for your children by emailing cdwg@aol.com. Put “Children’s Christmas card download” in the subject line.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Denise George (www.denisegeorge.org) is the author of 30 books and is married to Timothy George, founding dean of Beeson Divinity School at Samford University in Birmingham.
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