Christmas Focus
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25
We called it “Keeping Christ in Christmas.” Several women decided to take a class at Christmas and talk about how they were planning to “keep Christ” in their Christmas.
There were single and married women, moms and Mom-moms, widows and daughters. Each one was asked to tell how they and their families keep Christ in Christmas, or how their parents did it when they were young.
Most shared some version of the same ideas. Many read the biblical accounts of Christ’s birth from Luke 2 before opening gifts on Christmas morning. Some said they sang Christmas carols as a form of family worship.
Many talked of all the time they spend and/or spent as kids and young mothers, participating in church programs. There were musical services and ministry opportunities the church offered to serve the shut ins. Some delivered baked goods to the nursing homes or hospitals. Others joined in whatever outreach the church might be doing to reach others with the truth of what God did for us in sending His Son (Matthew 1:21).
The dominate theme involved the local assembly of believers. Without the opportunities presented by the body of Christ most of the testimonies would have stopped at a few minutes spent worshiping Christ on Christmas morning. (Not that there is anything wrong with that!)
Everyone seemed to take part in and enjoy the worship services on Christmas Eve. They enjoy caroling and gathering food and gifts through opportunities the church presented. They reported that the children started participating in Christmas programs while they were pretty young, walking through the Christmas story. It etched the importance of the birth of Christ on their hearts at young ages.
I like Advent devotions that remind me of the details of the birth of our Savior, helping my focus to be on Him. But, it hadn’t occurred to me how important the whole body of Christ is to keeping me focused. God said that we should not forsake the gathering of believers (Hebrews 10:24-25). Isn’t this part of the reason why? So we will remind each other and point each other to Christ all the time, not just at Christmas.
The culture we live in has taken such a liking to our “Holy-day” that it is very easy to get caught up in many things “culturally Christmassy.” These have nothing to do with the birth of Christ. In the church, we expect it to be about Christ’s birth.
So, if you are not in a congregation of believers who are pointing you to Christ then it may be time to find one or for you to be the light for those around you.
If you are in an assembly but feel like Christ is absent from your Christmas celebrations, maybe you want to try to sit down with some faithful believers and ask what they do to celebrate the first coming of Jesus Christ.
They may help you focus on Christ as these ladies helped me.
I’m always glad for the pastor’s teaching during Advent. I’m already focusing on the Lord in my own devotions and Bible study, and I’m already gearing up culturally with the tree, decorations, and presents. But singing the songs with the congregation and hearing an Advent focus from the pulpit is always a blessing to me each year. It’s not the only reason I go to church though! We go to church weekly because of the Biblical instruction that we not forsake the assembling together of Christ’s body and that we meet from week to week as the first believers did as detailed in Acts 2. We attempt to follow in Jesus’ steps as laid down by the apostles after his ascension with how they met together and the ordinances of baptism and communion. This is a good admonition. Going to church is a great blessing!
Thanks, Melinda, I love my church family all year but it especially sweet at Christmas. Thanks for commenting!
Beth, that sounds like such a wonderful, supportive group! I’m sure you were able to learn from each other, and I think it’s a great idea. I’m the small groups coordinator for my church, so I’m going to think about how to incorporate an idea like this into our program! It’s sad that keeping Christ in Christmas is a challenge, but it’s a reality, today.
Brianna, It is a great group of women and we have learned a lot from each other. Hope you find it helpful for your small groups.
Dear Beth!
I enjoy reading about how you teach different groups of women, Beth!
It’s important that we focus on what Christmas is really about.
With love!
Edna Davidsen
Thanks, Edna, I hope you have a Merry Christmas!
Beth