Being Intentional at Christmas

Weekly Update – December 19th, 2024 

Christmas is almost here.  Some will have family come into town this weekend, others will connect with family next week and in the days that follow.  Either way, many of us will have some sort of contact with friends and family members as we get together to share a meal, celebrate the holiday and remember the birth of Christ.  The question that should come to mind is, “How can we make the most of the time?”  It is easy to sit back and have surface level conversations or avoid anything that could be potentially uncomfortable.  This year, why not be intentional instead.  Let me suggest two ways to make the most of your time with your friends and family members this Christmas.

First, come to the Christmas Eve service.  Studies show that more unchurched people will come to a Christmas Eve service – even more than will go to an Easter service.  There are many reasons for this.  One is that most people, believer or unbeliever will be familiar with the songs and readings of the service.  Most Christmas Eve services are rooted in tradition, so even for those who don’t regularly go to church, a Christmas Eve service typically does not tend to make them feel out of place.  Plus, many unbelievers, more so than ever, are looking for a sense of hope during this time of year.  Invite your friends and family members to come to our Christmas Eve service.  Not only will we sing Christmas carols, but the full message of Christ will be proclaimed.  It is at 6:00 pm and it will only last about a half hour.

Second, ask good questions.  This suggestion might be a little bit harder as it requires more thinking.  Even still, with a lot of thinking involved, questions to draw others out in deep conversations are not always easy to come up with.  What I have listed below are 10 good conversation questions put together by Don Whitney that will help aid in forming intentional conversation around a Christmas activity:     

1. What’s the best thing that’s happened to you since last Christmas?
2. When was your best Christmas ever? Why?
3. What’s the most meaningful Christmas gift you’ve ever received?
4. What was the most appreciated Christmas gift you’ve ever given?
5. What was your favorite Christmas tradition as a child?
6. What is your favorite Christmas tradition now?
7. What do you do to try to keep Christ in Christmas?
8. Why do you think people started celebrating the birth of Jesus?
9. Do you think the birth of Jesus deserves such a worldwide celebration?
10. Why do you think Jesus came to earth?

These questions are helpful conversational aids with close friends and family members or the casual acquaintance at a Christmas party.  Either way they are only meant to be starting points.  Pray, be perceptive and seek to point the conversation towards Christ through the responses that come.

When Jesus came to earth, he was born into a poor family.  As he grew, he was raised in a normal town called Nazareth.  Then in his ministry, he traveled only within Israel. Despite what seems to be a limited scope of influence, by God’s grace, he was intentional with every opportunity.  As a result, people’s lives were changed.  Jesus made the most of every situation and every conversation.  I want to encourage you to the same this Christmas season.  Be intentional.  Make the most of the time.  Don’t miss an opportunity. 

Serving Him with You,
Pastor Michael Nelson