By Dr. Ted Traylor
October 7, 2008
It seems we hardly get the presents opened before the retailers are advertising pre-Christmas sales for the next year. One of the greatest challenges facing Christians today is how to keep Christ, the main thing, the main thing.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to stay focused on Christ during this season of the year. But just as any of us who are willing to battle the commercialism of the season know, if we commit to the challenge, we can help others to focus on the greatest gift of all and develop a spirit of evangelism.
Though the list could be endless, I want to share with you some simple things that adults can do with the involvement of kids to emphasize the deeper spiritual meaning of Christmas.
• Invite unchurched friends and family to a Christmas Eve service that you will be attending.
• Give gifts to those who serve you personally, such as the mail carrier and include an invitation to attend your church during the Christmas season.
• Read the story of Christ’s crucifixion using an age-appropriate storybook or Bible to emphasize the reason why Christ was born.
• Be sure to use the nativity and Christmas specific decorations over secular decorations. When others visit or drive by your home they will see your faith on display.
• Send Christmas cards to missionaries and share with you how you can pray specifically for the people groups where they are ministering.
• Collect all your spare change for the month of December and make a Christmas missions offering.
• Say “Merry Christmas” to those you meet. It is still legal.
• Cut a branch from your Christmas tree and shape it into a cross to use at Easter as a reminder of the reason for Christ’s coming.
• If you hang Christmas stockings, hang one for Jesus and personal hygiene items that could be used by a charitable organization.
• Give crosses as gifts to your friends. Remind them that the cross is the reason we can celebrate Christmas.
• Bake goodies and include a Christian tract that shares the story of salvation.
Whatever we do we should remember not only Christ’s birth but His life, death and what He wants to do in us.
It is essential for us to daily live out a love toward others empowered by the love of the One who gave His life for us. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
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Dr. Ted Traylor is the Senior Pastor at Olive Baptist Church, in Pensacola.