Use the Christmas Season to Point People to Jesus
Everyone seems to be into the whole Christmas thing. Lifestyle, beliefs, age, maturity—it doesn’t seem to matter. Most people enjoy Christmas. And that means we Christians have a massive opportunity.
Because people are already thinking about Christmas, they are far more willing to come to Christmas events, sing Christmas songs, and talk about Christmas themes—all of which can open the door to point people to Jesus.
And when we point people to Jesus, we aren’t merely reminding them that he came to earth as a baby. The “nativity set” is not the whole story. Christmas is about God himself coming to earth in human flesh for a very specific purpose. In Matthew 1:21 an angel tells Joseph that Mary…
“will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Jesus came not to start Christmas, and not even just to live as a good example; Jesus came to save sinners. Which means people need to understand the reality of their sin problem—and even more, the solution to that problem. They need to hear not only about Jesus’ birth, but about his life, his death, and his resurrection. Which means we need to speak up.
So how can you maximize this season? How can you use December to invest in the non-Christians in your life? How can you start more conversations about Jesus? If there are neighbors, family members, friends, classmates—anyone who might be more open to “religious” things during Christmas—how could we not use this season to nudge them closer to the most important, life-changing, eternity-altering truth there is?!
Here are a few simple ideas to get you started:
Build relationships with neighbors by hosting a Christmas get-together.
Invite someone to a Christmas church service, event, or activity.
Speak of Jesus in your Christmas cards.
Get to know new people in your neighborhood by delivering homemade treats.
Use random Christmas activities to interact with people you don’t normally talk to.
Don’t hide the family traditions that help you focus on Jesus—bring these ideas into everyday conversations.
Doing these things won’t automatically lead to gospel conversations, but they will help you move another step (or two or three steps) closer to really knowing the people in your sphere of influence, showing them you love them, and sharing with them the most important part of who you are—your relationship with God.
So get at it… get at something… anything that helps you move forward in pointing people to Jesus.
This really isn’t a hard task; it’s simply one that requires intentionality. And in all probability, your efforts toward people will be seen as a kind gesture—even if the invite (or the cookies) are declined. What might feel intrusive in other seasons rarely feels that way at Christmas.
So don’t waste the opportunity. Maximize it, and pray that God uses your efforts!
