“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” — which means, “God with us.” (Matt. 1:23)

Yes, GOD with us.

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.  (Heb. 1:3)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. (Jn. 1:1-5)

God WITH us.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  (Jn. 1:14)

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! (Phil. 2:6-8)

God with US.

The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.  He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet TO ALL WHO RECEIVED HIM, TO THOSE WHO BELIEVED IN HIS NAME, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (Jn. 1:9-13)

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matt. 28:20)

Prepare for people to visit your church who rarely attend church and do not have have a personal relationship with the Lord.  They could be unsaved family or friends of regular attendees.  They could be people who respond to an advertisement to a special program at your church.  Make sure the Gospel message is clearly presented.  Extend a warm welcome and invitation to return.  Develop some form of follow-up that is unobtrusive yet shows you care.

Christmas Outreach Ideas and Resources

Prepare to serve one another.  As you approach the holidays, both Thanksgiving and Christmas, remember that there are those in your midst who can’t be with family and are lonely.  1 Peter 4:9 says we should offer hospitality to one another.  Make sure these people aren’t left alone.  Others who have lost loved ones frequently find the holidays to be a depressing time.  1 Thessalonians 4:18 says we should comfort one another.  Some people may be unemployed or in financial distress and need a helping hand.  Galatians 5:13 says we should serve one another, part of which may be helping to supply their needs.  Finally, there are those who are suffering extraordinary stress at this time due to overtaxed schedules, increased demands at work, or any variety of reasons.  James 5:16 says we should pray for one another.  Let’s not get so self-absorbed over the holidays that we forget to show the love of Christ to others.  Build margins of time into your schedule so you can be available. 

Helps for People Who Hurt During the Holidays

Prepare your children for understanding the real meaning behind the holidays.  Getting gifts quickly tops their list of why they like the holidays.  Help them focus their attention on Jesus who came to give, not to take.  Help them see Jesus who came to serve and not to be served.  Realize, however, that a few well-spoken words during the season will have minimal impact if they are not backed up throughout the year.

Ideas and Resources for Teaching Children about Thanksgiving

Ideas and Resources for Teaching Children about Christmas

Prepare to show appreciation to those who labor among you.  The holidays can be especially busy for people in ministry.  This can therefore be a good time of the year to encourage them, to let teachers, leaders, and other workers know they are valued.  Remember, however, that they need affirmation and appreciation throughout the year as well.

Helps for People in Ministry During the Holidays

The Effects on The Heart

How easy it is in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season to neglect or become distracted in our walk with the Lord. We can get so consumed with meal planning and preparation, decorating, parties, shopping, church activities, and the like that it preoccupies our thought life, builds anxieties within us, leads to stress, and pulls us from normal routines. 

Prepare your heart. Before you get in the throes of it all, make a plan for how you will keep on track.  Commit now to keeping Him first, to making time for Him regardless of how busy you get.  Take time to read Matthew 6:33-34.  What will you do to nurture your walk with God?

Article:  We Need Jesus’ Help at Christmas

Prepare your people.  Hebrews 10:24 exhorts us to spur one another on to love and good deeds.  The holidays are no exception for exercising the “one another” passages of Scripture.  You could help by using a curriculum over the holidays intended to keep us focused.  Click on the titles below to read more about two published by Ministry Tools Resource Center for adult classes.

Curriculum:  Christmas Reminders
Curriculum:  May Jesus Help Our Christmas

Prepare yourself as a teacher or ministry leader.  Be ready for the effects of the holidays on people.  Remember that people need you to be there for them, not just physically but relationally as well.  During the holidays it is easy to get distracted and self-absorbed and neglect important relationships.  Remember the effects of  holidays on attendance, giving, and other areas.  Be prepared for it but don’t get discouraged.  Make the most of the season.

Article:  Holidays and the Church
Worksheet:  Intruders in the Classroom: Holidays & Other Special Events

But, wasn’t it the hope of Christmas that gave us a reason to sing … that put a new song in our hearts and not just on our lips? 

Singing That is Ceaseless

People of the Old Testament times looked forward to the coming Messiah.  Though Jesus still hadn’t come, they still found plenty of reasons to sing.  The psalmist spoke of a new song because of all the marvelous deeds, goodness, and salvation of the Lord and so wrote of ceaseless praise.

“. . . that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” (Ps. 90:14)

We look back at His coming, what we call Christmas.  The theme of ceaseless singing continues.

“Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Eph. 5:19-20)

We read of angels singing in the end times about how the Lamb is worthy to exercise judgment (Rev. 5:9-14; 15:1-4).

Singing That is Comely

Singing is a means of praising God, of exalting Him, of expressing our joy and thanksgiving to Him. Because it points to the Lord, it is a beautiful thing.  — “How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him” (Ps. 147:1). 

Though the calendar date is no longer Christmas, we still sing “Gloria, in Excelsis Deo” … Glory to God in the Highest!  Praising God through singing is not only becoming, it is beneficial.  It is good.

Do you need to continue with the Christmas carols to sing praise to Him?  Of course not.  But, let’s remember to keep singing about Him and not get caught up in the despair and hopelessness around us.  The Lord has come!  The Lord will come again!

This post forms the basis for one of the sessions in the Christmas Reminders Curriculum for adult classes.

Gift-giving and receiving has long been a part of the Christmas tradition.  The very first Christmas gift, came in the form of a baby who was wrapped in swaddling clothes.  Try as we might to describe this gift, we will never fully be able to explain it.

This was a gift motivated by a love so wide, long, high, and deep that we will never fully understand, let alone describe, it. (Eph. 3:18)

This was a gift given once for all, a gift that keeps on giving and is for all who will receive it, difficult to understand and describe its all-sufficiency.  (Heb. 7:26-28; 10:10)

This was a gift given sacrificially for undeserving people, at a cost only One person could ever pay, something beyond our normal life experiences.  (Rom. 5:6-11)

This was a gift given without strings attached, a gift that can only be received through faith because it was given by grace, something our works-oriented brains have a difficult time wrapping around.  (Jn. 1:12-13; Eph. 2:8-9)

How do you respond to such an indescribable gift?  We can start with expressions of gratitude.
         Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Cor. 9:15)

This post forms the basis for one of the sessions in the Christmas Reminders Curriculum for adult classes.

Church Parties.   Work Parties.   Family Parties.
Many of us will do a lot of celebrating over the holiday season.  We’ll sing Christmas songs together, eat too much food, give presents, and be merry.  Even if you don’t have money to buy expensive gifts and fancy foods, you can still have some semblance of celebration.  It’s Christmas, the day we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus!  Without Christmas there would be no Easter.  Without Easter (the death and resurrection of Jesus to pay the price for our salvation), we would have no reason for rejoicing.  (1 Cor. 15:14-19)

Enjoy time with family and friends but remember the greatest reason to party.  You see, it isn’t what you have or what you’ve done that brings the greatest joy … not even ministry accomplishments. 

Remember Jesus’ words to the disciples after a very successful ministry effort — “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven”  (Lk. 10:20).  Belonging to Him is the greatest reason to party.

In addition to your own salvation through Jesus, seeing others come to be found in Him is cause for great rejoicing. 

Jesus told parables of a lost sheep and a lost coin being found which He likened to the salvation of people, saying “there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Lk. 15:7, 10).  Angels in heaven understand the greatest reason to party.

The father in the parable of the lost son had a party when his son returned home.  His brother did not share the same sentiment.  The father defended his stance saying, “But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Lk. 15:32).

Christmas made it possible for our salvation and the salvation of the world.  

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. (1 Tim. 1:15)  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.  (1 Jn. 2:2)

Are you compelled by the greatest reason to party?

This post forms the basis for one of the sessions in the Christmas Reminders Curriculum for adult classes.

  with boughs of holly.”

Many of us will deck the halls, trim the tree, and hang the stockings with care.  Most of us rarely think about the customs behind the various Christmas decorations.  We just feel more festive with lights, bells, candles, and evergreens.  There is something about decking the halls that draws us into the holiday.

I can’t help but think about our own lives as Christians.  When people look at us, do they see the light of Jesus?  Do our lives pull them in, giving them a sense of anticipation and hope … wanting to also experience the joy of the Lord? 

Titus 2:9-10, speaking to slaves of that day, says:

Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.  —- Or, as the King James Version says, “that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.”

You might not be a slave, but many of you have jobs.  Do you highlight or underscore the doctrine of God by the way you act and react in the workplace?  Does being a Christian look honorable on you?  Does your life pull people in to the Gospel or repel them?

Let’s remember what most needs to be adorned this Christmas.  Let’s “make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.”  That Savior came to earth 2000 years ago.  Is it obvious by the way you celebrate Christmas?  Is it obvious by the way you live the rest of the year?

This post forms the basis for one of the sessions in the Christmas Reminders Curriculum for adult classes.