christmas gospel presentation

How to Share the Gospel at Holiday Gatherings

Philip crouse | november 20, 2023.

Some of my fondest memories are of times spent with my family during the holidays. Growing up, our extended family would gather every Thanksgiving and Christmas at my grandma’s house to play Monopoly, watch football, and of course, share a huge meal. This year, we will gather again, but now I know that the holidays provide much more than a time to commune and enjoy a meal with family. More than ever, the holidays provide a great opportunity to share the gospel.

When I was younger, I didn’t give the salvation of my relatives much thought. In fact, I assumed they were all believers because they were family and really nice. Plus, my aunts, uncles, and cousins dropped in at church at least a few times a year, so surely they were Christians. Now I realize how foolish I was, and I grieve to think about all the opportunities I missed to tell my family about my Savior.

Over the next month, most of us will gather with our family for Thanksgiving and Christmas. These holiday gatherings might be the only time we see some of our relatives the entire year. While sharing Jesus with our family can be challenging, holiday gatherings might just provide us with the perfect opportunity to share the gospel with them.

Here are four practical ways we can effectively share the gospel with our family during holiday get-togethers:

Don’t Stop Praying

When it comes to sharing the gospel, we must begin with prayer, continue in prayer, and end with prayer. We must see prayer as an essential part of faithfully and effectively sharing the gospel during the holidays. Before we ever gather for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, we must plead with God to grant us opportunities to talk about Jesus and boldness to take advantage of those opportunities. Throughout our time together, we must continue in prayer, pleading with the Spirit to open up hearts and minds. And even on the drive back home, we should ask God to continue working in our loved ones’ hearts.

Prayer is essential because God alone saves. Moreover, we have an enemy who loves to distract and discourage us from telling others about Jesus. You need to be in prayer because sharing the gospel is much more than imparting information or arguing someone to your viewpoint. No matter how well you can share the gospel, your words alone can’t save your family, but God can! So don’t stop praying!

Ask Questions and Listen Well

Asking good questions is an invaluable way to move toward gospel conversations. But good questions are not enough; we also must be good listeners. Asking good questions and listening well helps your family know that you genuinely care about them. Furthermore, if they know you care, hopefully, they will listen when you share.

Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings are the only time I see some of my relatives. It means I have a lot of catching up to do if I want to know what’s been happening in their lives. Because I care about them, I ask about their careers, health, kids, and hobbies. When I ask good questions and listen intently to their answers, it helps me to understand where they are spiritually and how I can apply the good news of Jesus to the ups and downs of their life. Maybe everything is going well for them, so I encourage them to see God as a loving God who loves to bless. Or maybe their lives are falling apart, and I invite them to bring their burdens and struggles to Jesus, who can give them the rest they seek. This Thanksgiving and Christmas, take the time to ask good questions and listen well.

Share the Gospel in Conversations, Not Presentations

Years ago, my wife and I went looking at cars, and we had two drastically different experiences. At the first dealership, we were bombarded by a salesman presenting information to us, and it was overwhelming. But the second dealership was different. The saleswoman asked questions, inquired about our family, and allowed us to dictate the process. While she shared the necessary information with us, she did so through natural conversation and not in a rigid presentation. This experience caused me to step back and consider whether I was sharing the good news of Jesus in the best way possible.

As we gather with friends and family who know us well, there is a level of comfort and intimacy not typically found at work or the coffee shop. More often than not, sharing the gospel with family members within a normal conversation connects better than delivering a monologue. Telling our family members about Jesus requires sharing gospel truths, but how we share those truths matters. Reflecting on my own holiday experiences, sharing Jesus within conversations has been more natural and effective than sharing Jesus like a lecture I would deliver for a college class. This holiday season, take advantage of those conversations you have with Aunt Gertrude and Cousin Mike, telling them all about the goodness of the Lord.

Trust the Holy Spirit

Many of us hesitate to share Jesus with our family, especially at holiday gatherings. We fear sharing our faith might mess up our relationship or make Thanksgiving or Christmas awkward. We are also afraid we might force a gospel conversation a family member doesn’t want to have that turns them away from Jesus. Despite all the fears that prevent us from sharing the gospel, we should find confidence to share Jesus this holiday season because we can trust the Holy Spirit to work.

The Holy Spirit not only empowers us to be bold, but also leads us in wisdom as we seek to tell our family about Jesus. As we spend time with our family over the holidays, we can trust the Holy Spirit to open up doors to point them to Jesus. Moreover, even after the parties are over, we can trust the Holy Spirit to continue working. Praise God that even if you do not share the gospel as clearly or comprehensively as you want, you can still trust the Holy Spirit to use your conversations for good. In the end, our hope for our family’s salvation does not rest in our ability to share the gospel; our hope rests in the good news of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit’s power to change lives.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are almost here. Soon we will gather with our families to reflect on the many reasons we have to be grateful, to share a meal, and to give out presents. But this holiday season, let’s tell our families about Jesus so they can finally understand what Thanksgiving and Christmas are really about!

Philip Crouse

Philip Crouse Jr. (PhD, SEBTS) lives in North Carolina with his wife and four children. He currently pastors Germanton Baptist Church in Germanton, NC. He also teaches as an adjunct professor at Carolina University. Philip enjoys reading and writing on pastoral ministry and the intersection of missiology and preaching.

@CrousePhilip

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Tips for preachers using powerpoint or apple keynote [click the + to open], tips for preachers using powerpoint or keynote…, 1. use more slides (powerpoints are  not  like overhead transparencies).

Back in the days when we used overhead transparencies, we tried to cram as much text onto the slide as possible (since each slide cost between 50c to $1). Powerpoint slides are much cheaper! Therefore consider putting just one verse of Scripture per slide, not 27. Use one Powerpoint slide to emphasize one point of the presentation. Consider using multiple slides to give the appearance of animating your presentation.

2. Avoid WordART

Powerpoint comes with a graphics/text editor called “WordART”. It’s ugly. Don’t use it. Instead, use a dedicated graphics program like Photoshop to create your text as a jpg file and import into your Powerpoint presentation.

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Powerpoint slide backgrounds should be subtle and consistent. Don’t use a different background for each slide. This is visually confusing. Backgrounds are supposed to be backgrounds!

4. Use Pictures and Photos 

Text-only is harsh. Pictures and photos soften a presentation and generally make it warmer. Really good Powerpointers can communicate their message cleverly by using pictures or photos as 80% of their presentation. -Andrew Corbett

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Free Power-Point Sermon: Our Present Jesus – Christmas Sermon

Free PowerPoint Sermon: Our Present Jesus – Christmas Sermon

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More free powerpoint sermons, more christmas sermons, watch our service here, ————————————————–, our present jesus – christmas sermon — presentation transcript.

1. Our Present Jesus 2. Note: Any videos in this presentation will only play online. After you download the slideshow, you will need to also download the videos from YouTube & add them back into your PowerPoint. 3. Next Slide  Video: Christmas in a Nutshell

4. Present is one of those words that has two different meanings: 5. First Meaning: 6. It means a 7. gift from one person to another. 8. Present is one of those words that has two different meanings: 9. Second Meaning: 10. It means that a person is here in the room. 11. Like a roll call at school. When your name is called, you answer, “present.” 12. First: Let’s look at Our Present Jesus – The Gift 13. Did you know that Christmas really is about giving presents? 14. The true meaning of Christmas is that God freely gives wonderful presents to people, starting with giving His only Son, Jesus. 15. Jesus is our Heavenly Father’s Gift to People: 16. ‘For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ John 3:16 17. “We should thank God because of the very great gift that he has given to us. His gift is so great that no words could ever describe it!” 18. 2 Corinthians 9:15 19. With Jesus, God Gave Us Salvation… 20. A New Life 21. Forgiveness 22. Heaven 23. Relationship 24. Clean Heart 25. Holy Spirit 26. Assurance 27. “And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn..” Luke 2:7 28. Jesus Was Wrapped Up Like a Present 29. Swaddling is an age-old practice of wrapping infants in bands of cloth so that movement of the limbs is tightly restricted. 30. He was swaddled with more than cloth, He was swaddled with humanity. 31. “All of God lives in Christ’s body.” Colossians 2:9 32. “So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us.“ John 1:14 33. “But he gave up his place with God and made himself nothing. He was born to be a man and became like a servant.” Philippians 2:7 34. Many children rip off the wrapping to reveal the gift within. 35. The BODY of Jesus needed to be torn to reveal the gift of salvation for all. 36. “But he was wounded for the wrong we did; he was crushed for the evil we did… and we are healed because of his wounds.” Isaiah 53:5 37. Look for Our Present **Jesus** at the foot of a tree… 38. No, not this tree… 39. This Tree 40. When we humble ourselves, kneel at the foot of the cross and ask forgiveness for our sins, we can receive our gift. 41. Jesus will never get broken or wear out! 42. “Don’t store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. 43. Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them.” 44. Mat. 6:19-20 45. A Gift Must Be Received 46. “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12 47. Remember our second meaning of present? 48. Second Meaning: 49. It means that a person is here in the room. 50. Like a roll call at school. When your name is called, you answer, “present.” 51. Jesus is a Gift from God, but he is also ‘Our Present Jesus’ because He is right here with us. 52. “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:18 53. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 54. Next Slide  Song: Mary Did You Know?

Great report… Thanks for sharing this. Eternity is changing because of what God is doing through you!!! I love it.

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In several scriptures, the Lord urges believers to be merciful as He is merciful. He reminds us that is is not our job to pronounce judgement on mankind–it’s His. Most of us try to live this way, but sometimes, although we refrain from bringing out a guillotine, we can’t resist a little snip with our scissors. The biblical story of David’s experience with Saul brings this truth to life.

Free Thanksgiving Bingo Game

Learn 27 different thanksgiving scripture verses as you play this “Thanksgiving Bingo” game with your family or small group. Can be played over Zoom if each player downloads the game and chooses a numbered card (or cards). Download this free printable.

Video & PPT: Lesson #7 – God’s Timetable, pt. 1 – The Alpha & the Omega (The Scope of the Story)

God’s amazing plan to restore creation & save mankind begins in Genesis with “The Alpha” (who is Jesus) & ends in Revelation with “The Omega” (also Jesus). The very angels in Heaven & creation itself have an ardent personal interest in His plan… So do we!

Video Lesson: Wheat & Chairs

Living things grow and mature. When a believer is born-again, he starts his Christian experience as a baby feeding on milk. Then he grows into a toddler learning to walk, then an adult having babies himself, etc. To illustrate this, Jesus explained the four stages of wheat growth.

Free PowerPoint Sermon: Wheat & Chairs

Video & ppt lesson #6 – times & seasons.

We have learned that God uses time to both perfect the saints and draw us nearer to Him. In this lesson we learn why God divides time into various periods and seasons.

Video/PPT Lesson #5 – Time for Change

The best description for this lesson comes from the lyrics of a kid’s song: “He’s still working on me. To make me what I ought to be. It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars. The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and patient He must be. Cause He’s still workin on me!”

Video Lesson: You Owe Me

When Moses brought Pharaoh God’s message requiring him to set the children of Israel free, his immediate response was arrogant and defiant. He felt strongly that God had no authority over the affairs of his life. He jeered: “Who is the Lord?” “Why should I obey Him?” “Why should I let Israel go?” Pharaoh was no different than any of us. We are all slow to give the Lord His proper place in our lives. In this message, we learn what that place is: We owe Him; we need Him and we belong to Him!

Testimony: My Journey

Harold’s Personal Testimony.

Sermon Hidden Things

A sermon on Christian transparency, based on the story of Achan (in Joshua) and his attempt to retain and conceal the booty he had taken from the Lord’s battle. Although we have been delivered from the world and its values, have we reserved a bit of this bounty and hidden it in our own tent (and at what cost)?

Video Sermon: Quarantine – Endure or Engage

Times of change and difficulty are often God’s opportunity to work in our lives. Let us not waste this season of atypical confinement with our loved ones. These, potentially uncomfortable circumstances have the power to strengthen both us as believers and our families if we choose to gratefully embrace them. This sermon was preached online for “Light On a Hill Church” during a “shelter in place” government mandate, Grapeland, TX 2020 (Palm Sunday).

Free PowerPoint Sermon: 5 Truths from 7 Sayings

The 7 sayings of Christ on the cross teach us 5 important lessons on living the Christian life and fulfilling our calling.

ALL ABOUT US

We love to work with believers who have a burden to be trained in the harvesting of God’s ripened fields.

Free PowerPoint Sermon: Please Don’t “X” My Name

His name is Jesus. He is not “Xmas.” He is not merely, “The Spirit of Christmas.” Nor is He, “my thoughts & prayers” or, “my faith.” He is the Lord of Lords & King of Kings…and His name is JESUS! Let us glorify & magnify His name this Christmas & every day!

Free PowerPoint Sermon: My Wabi-Sabi World – A Message of Thanksgiving Love

It’s relatively easy to be thankful for financial windfalls, awards, achievements, etc., but what of the things & persons in our lives who are flawed, unimpressive, even annoying? Can we embrace them? Can we love them? Are we thankful for them?

Free PowerPoint Training: SonshineTent Worker’s Training

This is the PowerPoint we use to train SonShineTent workers. It covers the importance of outdoor preaching, how to teach kids and the duties of the workers at the “Hospitality Table.”

Inspiring Article: Homeless Church – A Challenge to Us All

There are many people that Harold and I have been privileged to know, but no couple has challenged our Christian walk more than Evan and April Prosser…

Free PowerPoint Sermon: Best Wedding Ever . . (5 part series)

This 5 part series covers everything you ever wanted to know about the Marriage Supper of the Lamb–the true Royal Wedding. Lessons include: 1) The Bride & Her Dress 2) The Kinsman Redeemer 3) The Bride Reflects the Groom 4) Best Banquet Ever 5) Some Unworthy Guests

TRENDING THIS WEEK

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Effective Church Communications

The Effective Church Communication ministry from Yvon Prehn provides inspiration, training, and resources to help your church create communications that fully fulfill the Great Commission. It focuses on Bible-based and timeless principles and strategies that work no matter what digital or print channel you use to create your communications. The site has links to many free TEMPLATES and other resources, plus links to free TRAINING VIDEOS, and a RESOURCE LIBRARY for church communicators. 

The Effective Church Communication ministry from Yvon Prehn provides inspiration, training, and resources to help your church create communications that fully fulfill the Great Commission. It focuses on Bible-based and timeless principles and strategies that work no matter what digital or print channel you use to create your communications. The site has links to many free TEMPLATES and other resources, plus links to free TRAINING VIDEOS , and a RESOURCE LIBRARY for church communicators.

A free template of the christmas story and short gospel presentation based on “hark the herald angels sing”.

11 December, 2021 By Yvon Prehn 1 Comment

This has been one of our most popular communications for Christmas—it's an upbeat, but thought-provoking presentation of the good news about Jesus for Christmas based on the popular hymn, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing!" and I wanted to share it with you this year.

When I first created the piece it was a full-size sheet and in a 3-panel brochure format, but after sending that out ( CLICK HERE for original article and for 8 1/2 x 11-inch size flyers and for brochure size) I got a request to create a bulletin insert-size piece. What a great idea! And I was happy to do that. The images are below and below them a ZIP file for everyone to download ready-to-print PDFs, the editable MS Publisher file, and images of the pieces.

I wrote it and created the communications and you have my permission to share or use it in any way you want.

Be creative in how you use it

Of course, you can print them up and use them at Christmas outreach events or as a bulletin insert.

You can also copy the text or the entire communication and share it on social media for your church or personally.

It's also useful to make copies for your congregation to put into their Christmas letters. Either with the templates here or the ones in the link above (where there is a full-page version), you have my permission to upload any of the PDFs to your church websites for your people to download to print at home and share with their friends and family. I've printed them out for my Sunday School classes and people have greatly appreciated it.

Encourage your congregation to put them into their Christmas cards or enclose with gifts (remembering Jesus is the greatest gift of all!).

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Follow up for Christmas visitors: content for social media, flyers, bulletin insert, newsletter articles

27 December, 2019 By Yvon Prehn Leave a Comment

Many people will came to your church for Christmas Eve or other Christmas-related services because they want to make a family member happy, to keep peace in an extended family, or for many other reasons that have nothing to do with seeking God and who never come at any other time of year.

However, our Lord who stooped to become a baby still seeks them and a communication piece like this may help make a ongoing connection with your visitors and Jesus.

This piece is an extended version of the Christmas follow-up postcard s mentioned earlier that reminded people that we don't only celebrate Christmas because of the Baby Jesus, but because of what he grew up to be—our Savior.

This extended piece can be used in many ways: as flyer or bulletin insert, as a print piece inside a visitor letter, as text or graphics or both for social media or your online or print newsletter, it is designed for people to get them to think about Jesus beyond an inspiring service.

On the back you can add some links to online resources to help them explore what it means to be a Christian. You could also add events from your church schedule, your website information about your church, a personal message, or contact information.

PLEASE take the time and effort to make up a communication like this!

Many churches are hesitant to preach challenging evangelistic sermons at Christmas services and while that is understandable, we don't want to miss the opportunity to share Jesus and to give people the resources to explore more about Him on their own. A communication like this isn't intrusive or pushy, but it gently challenges and gives people the resources to check into more about Jesus and the Christian faith. I've suggested some sources, but please add your own or any ways visitors can engage with your church or enter into a dialog or have their questions answered.

Additional designs and editable files

Below is the text of the insert and following that are added designs available in the ZIP file at the end of the article. The ZIP file has:

• Ready-to-print PDFs of all the designs
• Editable MS Publisher files
• Hi-res images of each design
• MS Word file of the text for the front of the flyer and recommended resources.

The best way to get visitors to attend Christmas church events–the practical tools to do it

6 December, 2010 By Yvon Prehn Leave a Comment

What would you say is the answer to the challenge of getting unchurched visitors to come to your Christmas events? Is it to purchase a national outreach campaign of postcards? Is it to spend lots of money on advertisements in the local newspaper? Is it to create colorful website banners for the holidays?

Though all of those methods may bring in a few visitors, the most effective way to get visitors to attend hasn’t changed from the days when Jesus walked on this earth—it is a friend telling a friend:

The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. (Jn. 1:41-42).

Below is a Bulletin insert for everyone and following that is a selection of materials for ECC Members. Click here for information about ECC Membership.

An encouragement to your people to invite their friends

Nothing works better than a personal invitation, but for that to take place, your people have to be motivated to invite their friends to the events your church is hosting this Christmas season. We’d like to think that people will naturally want to invite their friends, but with all the demands of the holidays, it’s easy to forget that an invitation to a church event is not just one more option on the calendar.

If your church event is (and I am assuming it is) more than simply an entertaining Christmas tradition and is one that clearly communicates the gospel, you need to remind your people that inviting friends to your events could literally change their eternity. In an upbeat way, the bulletin insert here will remind them of this truth and encourage them to invite their friends.

This PDF is a free download for everyone. Click here or on the image to download it.

Additional options and outreach reminder materials for Effective Church Communication Members.

If you are an Effective Church Communication Member, by clicking the link below the following description, you can download a ZIP file that has:

***Another design of the Bulletin Insert.

***PDFs of both designs, ready to print.

***MS Publisher files of this design so you can modify them it you want to. I did not include a file of the clip art one that is editable because when I checked again, I was not sure of the source of the clipart. But this template could be modified with clipart if you chose to use it.

***MS Word file of the text of the bulletin insert with permission to use it in any publication or website use you’d like.

***PNG-image files of each of the flyers for you to use in bulletins, websites, handouts, PowerPoint presentations where you encourage your people.

Becoming and ECC Member will save you hours work because you don’t have to create all of these items—simply download, modify and use! Lots more are coming for the Christmas season and all through the year, so join now so you don’t miss out!

For more information on how to become an ECC Member, Click here.

[mepr-show if="rule: 23971"]

Click here to download the ZIP file that contains all of the materials above. Save it to your desktop and then just click to open and use all the materials.

[/mepr-show]

• Jesus Film App
• Statement Of Faith

How to Share the Gospel on Christmas

The Christmas season is the time of year when non-Christians are most open to topics of faith. It’s when they’re most open to discussing spiritual beliefs, hearing about Jesus, and hearing about your personal relationship with God. It’s when they’re most open to considering their own beliefs. And it’s when they’re most open to engaging with Christian content or attending a church service.

For that reason, it’s also a major opportunity. Against the backdrop of Mariah Carey songs, decorated trees, and cheesy Christmas-themed romances on Netflix, you have an opportunity to talk about what the holiday is really about, to add some depth and meaning to the nativity scenes and Christmas carols.

But sometimes we can use some help. Just because “O Holy Night” is playing in the office elevator doesn’t mean we feel comfortable launching into a Gospel conversation. Maybe when your aunt asks for you to pass the gravy, you would rather share something of eternal significance with her, but you’re not sure how to get started.

Sometimes you need an icebreaker question, a visual aid, or something you can share on social media. We asked leaders in the global Indigitous network about the resources they’re using to share the Gospel and put Jesus back in the center of the Christmas story. Here are some of their suggestions.

Conversation Icebreakers

GodTools  is an app that helps you have conversations about Jesus with the people you care about. It has a number of great tools, from Lessons to Gospel presentations, and more. You can use any of those to share about Jesus during Christmas, but there is one new feature that has been added specifically to help with conversations during this season.

The Openers tool helps you start conversations by providing powerful, fun, and interesting questions. These can be used for one-on-one conversations or group conversations around the dinner table. 

The GodTools team just launched a new Holiday category in the Openers tool that has 15 different icebreaker questions. “This new category has questions specifically written to help you get into more conversations about what matters most with the people you most care about during this holiday season,” says Justin, the GodTools product leader. “Whether you’re just making conversation with your family or looking for a good, timely conversation starter question, use this category’s question to help spark your next spiritual conversation.”

Books, Poems, and More

The  Bible Society  has compiled a number of its best resources for sharing the Gospel with children and families on  one page . There are a couple children’s booklets that are also in video form as well as a shareable poem that could be used to prompt conversations. Want to put on a nativity play? There’s a script for that. 

Sharing With Short Films

People love to talk about movies and videos. It’s something we do naturally, whether we’re talking about the recent MCU superhero movie, discussing our appreciation of artistic cinema, or laughing at goofy TikToks. That’s why the  Jesus Film app  is such a powerful tool for starting conversations about Jesus.

If you want to show the life of Christ, the app has the full-length  JESUS  film both in its entirety and broken up into small segments. You can share the shorter clips to give a glimpse into specific parts of His story, such as the 3-minute clip of the birth of Jesus. “We will be using the short  JESUS  film in segments for this Christmas,” says Comfort, an Indigitous leader in Ghana.

In addition to that film, the Jesus Film app also has 59 short films in 491 languages. Ranging from one minute to twelve minutes long, these short films are designed to spark conversations around important topics. Each video comes with a set of questions that you can ask to get the conversations going.

Olivier, an Indigitous leader in Côte d’Ivoire, is using two short films during the Christmas season,  Marea  and  L’histoire de Jésus Pour les Enfants. 

Boi, an Indigitous leader in Thailand, is taking a similar approach by sharing short clips from the movie  The Life of Jesus.

Social Media Assets

There’s an old adage that “a picture is worth a thousand words.” So don’t overlook a good image as a conversation starter. Whether they’re shared broadly on social media, sent to a friend over text, or shown to someone on your own phone, a good image can be a great way to spark a conversation around Jesus this Christmas.

Life.Church  has a page  of Christmas-themed images that you can use.

Senay, an Indigitous leader in Ethiopia, is using a number of artistic designs, each with a different emotion associated with Christmas.  

Travis, an Indigitous leader in East Asia, created a  website  to wish people a Merry Christmas, show parts of the life of Jesus through a film clip, and explain the Gospel through the birth of Christ.

Find Your Best Way

No single resource is the best way to share Jesus or start a spiritual conversation this Christmas. What works best depends on the person with whom you want to share. And it also depends on you. Depending on your personality and your relationship with that person, choose the best approach and try it! People will get a lot of gifts this Christmas, many of which will be quickly forgotten, but if you have a conversation that the Holy Spirit uses to bring someone to a relationship with God, that’s something that will have an eternal impact.

Catch a story, grab an idea, and then try something new.

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Explaining the Gospel through Holidays – Part 2: Christmas

• By admin
• November 18, 2021
• No Comments

On Halloween, we focused on the prophesy of the Seed— the coming Conqueror , who would defeat our adversary, the devil (Gen. 3:14-15).  This coming Savior was to be a male child (seed), born of a woman.  He would conquer (crush the head of) the devil (the Serpent) who tempted the first couple.  If you haven’t yet read part 1 of this series , I suggest doing so before continuing.  

The Arrival of Christ

Today, however, we are way beyond the dim lights of prophecy.  The promised Seed has arrived!  This amazing prophecy we celebrated at Halloween (Gen. 3:14-15) has been fulfilled in the histories we celebrate at Christmas and Easter.

Christmas is the is the second holiday of my year-long Gospel presentation. 

• The Fall and the Promise of Christ – Halloween
• The Arrival of Christ – Christmas
• The Cross of Christ
• The Return of Christ

If you want to know what Christmas is all about, look no further than Linus van Pelt— the wisest animated character of all time .  In response to a frustrated Charlie Brown, he proclaimed:

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night, and, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid, and the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.   . That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

The wait is over.  The long awaited Seed, Messiah, Savior has arrived.  

Missing Christmas

That said, Christmas is lost on many, including many Christians.  Its symbols and themes are familiar and nice, but not particularly meaningful.  For many they are confusing, even distracting.  Where is Jesus in all this?!

I thought the same way for many years as a new Christian.  Christmas was always fun, especially celebrating with my kids, but no big deal.  Its symbols had little meaning to me.  That all changed, however, after a little digging and research.  If you are where I was, I recommend taking a closer look at some of these symbols and traditions.  You may be missing a blessing in plain sight.  

Using Christmas Symbols

I find a treasure trove of opportunity in Christmas symbols.  Most are packed with traditional theological meaning which merely needs to be learned and shared.  Others, admittedly, lack traditional meaning, but are full of potential, as I’ll explain.  Bottom line, Jesus is everywhere during Christmas season.  

Christmas Lights

Theological significance of lights.

During Halloween, we saw significance in the dim lights which represented the prophecy of the coming Seed (Gen. 3:14-15).  Christmas, by contrast, is about bright lights.  They represent the historical arrival of the Seed—Jesus — the light of the world . 

John 8:12  Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Jesus is the bright light who shines in the darkness.  

John 1:4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. ……9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

Angels as Lights

These lights also symbolize the brilliant Angels who announced Christ’s birth to the shepherds (Luke 2:8-20).  No modern light-show could possibly rival this one.  As the classic song goes,

Said the night wind to the little lamb: “Do you see what I see? Way up in the sky, little lamb Do you see what I see? A star, a star, dancing in the night With a tail as big as a kite With a tail as big as a kite”

Lights also represent the followers of Jesus, who become children of light.

John 12:35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. …. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.”…

Those of us who believe are commanded to shine brightly in a dark world. 

Matt. 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

History of Christmas Lights

Some believe this tradition can be traced back to the reformer Martin Luther (See: ‘The First Christmas Tree Lights’ ).  The tradition using modern electric bulbs, on the other hand, is generally traced to Edward Johnson, a friend and business partner of Thomas Edison ( See: Here’s How Christmas Lights Came to Be ).

Regardless, everyone loves Christmas lights.  Don’t miss the opportunity they provide.  Remind your kids of their meaning every year.  Do it until they start reminding you!  

Winter Solstice

No one knows the exact calendar date Jesus was born.  Virtually all Christians understand it was NOT on December 25th.  This is merely the day we set aside to celebrate it.  That said, I’m thankful for this date as it provides some great usable symbolism. 

The Darkest Season

During Halloween, we used the Fall Equinox (when the nights first overtook the days) to explain the origin of spiritual darkness.  Likewise, use the Winter Solstice to explain the depth that darkness had reached, when Christ arrived.  

John 1:5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

The Coldest Season

Winter is also the coldest season of the year, which can represent the coldness of human nature and the cold reception Christ received when he entered the world.

John 1:10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

Use this valuable symbol to teach your kids important theological concepts like human depravity, the sin nature, and our desperate need for a Savior.  

Christmas Colors

Christmas colors are the first things that comes to my mind when thinking about Christmas symbolism. Red and green dominate, with splashes of gold and backgrounds of white. These colors are prominently displayed in lights and decorations, everywhere. 

Red & Green

Jesus dying for our transgressions was clearly prophesied hundreds of years before he was born (Is. 53).  The Magi, who visited Christ as a child, offered him myrrh, which was an embalming oil.  From the very beginning, Jesus was the “….Lamb slain from the foundation of the world….” (Rev. 13:8).

It is through this death, that we have everlasting eternal life.  

John 11:25  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

This life is symbolized by the color green, which is the color of vegetation.  Educate your kids about these colors every Christmas season. 

Rev. 21:21 …. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.

Think, also, of the gift of gold the Magi gave to Jesus.  (Gold Frankincense & Myrrh).  Gold was a gift for kings, symbolizing Christ, our king.  

Is. 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.

White as snow white as snow, though my sins were as scarlet Lord I know, Lord I know, That I’m clean and forgiven Through the power of your blood, through the wonder of your love, through faith in you I know that I can be white as snow

The coldness of snow, like the coldness of Winter, can also remind us of our cold dead nature.  Christ came that we might be saved from this fallen state and purified unto eternal life. 

Don’t allow the symbolism of snow to go unnoticed.  Use it to explain the washing of regeneration.  

Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

Theological Symbolism

Snowmen, like snow and winter, can remind us of the cold dead spiritual state of the natural man.  In addition, they can symbolize those who have been made pure—white as snow—by the blood of Christ.

Snowmen can also symbolize the life Christ gives to the dead.  Just as snowmen, in popular stories, come alive, so we, once spiritually dead, have been made alive in Christ.

John 5:24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

Use snowmen to explain our positional purity in Christ—those of us who have placed our hope in him.

1John 3:3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Cold Climate Animals

Cold climate animals, like Winter itself, can remind us of the spiritually cold world Christ entered. They also can teach about the merciful provisions of our Creator, who equipped them to survive in harsh climates. Bears and penguins are great examples.  (See: Bears across the world … Bears are some of God’s most amazing creatures! , also: Penguins—Perplexing and Proficient! )

Likewise, God gives us his Holy Spirit who equips us to persevere in a spiritually cold/fallen world.  He has equipped us to bear the corruption of our environment.  He “…will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able…” (1Cor. 10:13).  God’s grace abounds, even in a fallen world. 

CHRISTMAS TREES

The star at the top of the tree can represent the hovering Eastern Star that announced Christ’s arrival to the Magi, or the angel who announced his birth to the shepherds.  The Christmas tree can also represent Jesus, himself, while the lights and ornaments on it can represent his followers. 

Centuries ago, Christmas ornaments were actual fruits that were brought in and hung on evergreen trees.  They’ve since been replaced by synthetic ornaments, but carry the same meaning.  Christmas trees, therefore, represent Christ, who established his Church and bore much fruit. 

1Cor. 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep……. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits , afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.

In early German traditions, the Christmas Tree represented the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden . They were known as Paradise Trees.  Followers of Jesus will see this tree, once again, in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 22:2, 14). Jesus specifically told us we will eat from this tree, again.

Rev. 2:7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Teach your kids about the rich symbolism of the Christmas tree.  It is the Gospel! 

Santa Claus

Yeah, I guess I did. Many see a stumbling block in Santa. I see an opportunity.

Nicholas of Myra

Nicholas of Myra is the historical figure behind the Santa Claus symbol. He was a famous (or should I say, legendary) Christian, known for his kindness and charity.  

The real Santa (per legend) was a devout follower of Christ.  Many believe he was present at the Council of Nicaea where he affirmed the deity of Christ and other essential doctrines.  Legend has it, he was quite the zealot—even manhandling heretics and running them out of town (see: Bishop Nicholas Loses His Cool ).  He was more famous, however, for his kindness and charity, especially toward the poor.  

Using the Santa Symbol

There will always be debate regarding the precise historicity of Nicholas and his deeds, but don’t get caught up in this. Nicholas serves as a wonderful symbol to teach your kids about the transforming power of the Gospel. The kindness and charity he exhibited were not natural, just as they are not natural to any of us. They were fruits of the Spirit who indwelled him.

Gal. 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Once your kids grow older and debunk the North Pole version of Santa, introduce them to the historical Nicholas.  Keep the Santa symbol alive.  Let them know he was a redeemed sinner, transformed by the Holy Spirit.  We who are in Christ can and will do the deeds of Nicholas, and beyond. 

Phil. 2:13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Research Nicholas

I recommend reading up on Nicholas of Myra, and sharing some of his stories.  The articles below provide a good introduction. 

Saint Nicholas of Myra, Bishop and Wonder-Worker The Life and the Legend of the Saint Who Became Santa Claus

Who Was St. Nicholas? Biblical Archaeology Society

Also read up on the transformation from Nicholas of Myra to the modern Santa Claus.

The Modern Santa Claus

On the lighter side, check out Kirk Cameron’s Saving Christmas . Find it streaming this next Christmas season, or consider buying the DVD. It’s hilarious and you’ll find the segment on Nicholas a blessing—just as Kirk’s cynical brother-in-law did. 

Christmas Stockings

For us, filling Christmas stockings is a symbol of charity enabled by our changed hearts. It is a symbol of the work of the Holy Spirit. 

Eph. 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Christmas Gifts

Gifts are the main focus of Christmas for most kids, so don’t neglect their symbolism. The Christmas tradition of gift giving is largely influenced by the legends of Nicholas (the gift-giver of Myra).  All Christians should be charitable gift-givers. 

Our main focus, however, is Christ. He is the pearl of great price—the greatest gift of all. He is our gift from the Father (John 3:16). And he, himself, offers us the free gift of eternal life. 

Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus, also, gives us the gift of the Spirit, who empowers us to live the Christian life and abound in charity and good works. 

2Cor. 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Gifts should point us also to the God the Father who is the ultimate gift-giver. 

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

We’ll discuss gifts further in the Christmas Traditions section. 

Christmas Folklore

Christians have mixed feelings about what to do with this folklore.  I, myself, see an opportunity.  

The North Pole

Santa’s North Pole home was invented by artist Thomas Nast.  It is not in the Night Before Christmas poem, but Nast made the connection later in an illustration called “Santa Clausville, N.P.” (short for North Pole).  It seemed reasonable that if Santa was always dressed in winter clothes and hung with reindeer, the North Pole would make for an ideal abode.  See: How the North Pole became part of Santa’s story

Being this symbol is here to stay, I suggest letting it represent heaven.  Once your kids debunk the fictional story, let them know the real Nicholas is far more North than they realize.  He has passed from death to life and is now in paradise with Christ.  

Luke 23:43  And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

This is the fate of everyone in Christ.  

Immortality

The modern Santa is magical and immortal.  This could be used to symbolize the glorified state Christians will attain at the end of the age.  

Phil. 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

Once your kids debunk the magical attributes of Santa, turn them, too, into symbols. Use them to explain the new bodies all Christians will receive.  We don’t know what they’ll be like (1John 3:2), but we know they will exceed by far anything a poet or artist could come up with.  

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer has indeed gone down in history.  Kids love this story.  I know I did. 

I, therefore, recommend giving this magical reindeer some usable theological symbolism.  Rudolph used to hide his light, before finally allowing it to shine and accomplish great things.  How much more should we, having a much greater light—the Gospel?

Luke 8:16 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.

Rudolph’s light saved Christmas.  Ours, the light of the Gospel, saves souls.  

Candy Canes

John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

When turned upside down, they becomes the letter J which stands for Jesus.

Candy canes are rocklike, reminding us of the the rock of our salvation (Psa. 62:6).  They are striped to remind us of the stripes (wounds) Jesus underwent to heal us (Is. 53:5, 1Pet. 2:24)—red stripes representing his blood, white stripes, the purity it brings (I John 1:7). The peppermint flavor of candy canes represents biblical spices associated with sacrifice and embalming (like hyssop and those brought by the Magi).  The brittleness of candy canes represents the fragile, breakable, human body Christ took on, which was broken for us (I Cor. 11:24).  And the gifting of candy canes, represents the gift of Christ that is offered to all.  

The story of the candy cane is a great way to share the Gospel with your kids and anyone else willing to listen.  For more information, see: Teach About Jesus with The Legend Of The Candy Cane . 

Rev. 22:12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

Some wreaths are made from thorny plants which can represent the suffering Jesus endured, and the crown of thorns he wore.  Explain this prominent symbol to your kids.  

They can also symbolize branches of the Vine—the true Vine, Jesus Christ. True Christians remain in the Vine forever.

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Poinsettias

According to folklore, they were once all green until the top leaves were miraculously turned red. This happened when two young poor kids gave them to a Church as a Christmas gift. You can read a detailed version of the story here: The Poinsettia – Christmas Flower .

For us, it’s all about the colors.  They remind us of the blood of Christ (red) and the life it brings (green).  

Gingerbread

Gingerbread, traditionally, does not have strong theological symbolism (as far as I’ve researched).  It has, however, become a favorite Christmastime treat.  You can read about its history here: Christmas Tradition of Gingerbread . 

Nonetheless, we allow Gingerbread to remind us of Jesus—the bread of God.

John 6:33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

John 6:35  Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Gingerbread men and houses, therefore can symbolize people and households who follow Christ.  Their multiple shapes and sizes can represent followers from every tribe, tongue, and color.  Don’t miss the wonderful teaching opportunity these tasty treats provide.  

Using Christmas Traditions

I also find great opportunity in the many traditions of Christmas.  No other holiday boasts more cherished events and activities.  Don’t let them go to waste.  They too can help explain the Gospel if you let them. 

Gift Opening

The anticipation of Christmas day can be overwhelming for kids.  They look at those gifts under the tree day after day, as the calendar winds down.  While not particularly fun, this tradition of waiting can be theologically instructive. 

Men had been waiting for the coming Seed since God first prophesied about him in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:15).  Just as wrapped gifts offer subtle clues about their contents, so messianic prophecies offered clues about who the Messiah would be, and what he would do. 

When your kids talk about the difficulty of the wait, I recommend reading to them the account of Simeon, who knew messianic prophecy and waited a life-time to see his Messiah.  

Luke 2:25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 29 “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation 31 Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, 32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”

We, also, will wait a life-time to see our Lord face to face.  Not easy, but it will be well worth the wait.  

Christmas Music

There are a couple of secular radio stations in my area who switch to Christmas music 24/7 in November and December.  During this time, they play the classics: Silent Night, Joy to the World, Carol of the Bells, Little Drummer Boy, etc.  The secular hits are blessings as well, as they repeat that politically incorrect word— Christmas!

I marvel how this happens in an increasingly antagonistic and politically correct society.  It’s one of many reasons I’m thankful Christmas is mainstream, and not just a religious holiday.  What other time of year do we hear the name of Christ proclaimed and exalted in public venues?

I recommend creating your own Christmas music list to meditate on during the season.  Here are some of my favorites.  

• “Do You Hear” Whitney Houston
• “Little Drummer Boy” Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
• “Please Come Home For Christmas” Eagles
• “O Holy Night” Céline Dion
• “White Christmas” The Drifters
• “Joy to the World” Train
• “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” Carrie Underwood
• “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” Tony Bennett
• “Deck the Halls” Mannheim Steamroller
• “Carol of the Bells” Mannheim Steamroller
• “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” Ray Charles
• “That Christmasy Feeling” Johnny Cash
• “The First Noel” Rascal Flatts
• “Silent Night” Martina McBride
• “Blue Christmas” Elvis Presley & Martina McBride
• “Jingle Bells” Frank Sinatra
• “Drummer Boy” Idina Menzel, Jennifer Nettles
• “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” Dan + Shay
• “A Holly Jolly Christmas” Lady Antebellum
• “What Child Is This?” Carrie Underwood
• “Let It Be Christmas” Alan Jackson
• “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” Rascal Flatts

Concerts, Shows and Events

Christmas concerts and events are available in abundance during Christmas season.  Many churches put together high-end productions with talented choirs and orchestras.  Others put on Nativity plays and winter festivals.  One pastor friend of mine puts on a “Town of Bethlehem” simulation that’s quite the hit in his town.

Tickets for these events are normally free, as they are opportunities to share the Gospel.  Use these events to stimulate conversations and sharing opportunities.  

Christmas Light Drive

In our town, there are several brilliantly decorated houses to visit in December.  One cul-de-sac in particular, has become legendary, with all the residents participating in a big way.  People drive and walk its sidewalks, every December, turning it into a month-long block party.  

I can’t think of a better time to talk to your family about the theological significance of lights and other symbols.  

Christmas Treat Talk

Christmas treat talks are a personal tradition I’ve come up with.  In short, it’s a time to eat traditional Christmas treats with my kids and talk about Christmas symbols.  We usually have it on Christmas Eve or the day before.

In these, we briefly review points from our last candy talk on Halloween—the Fall, Curse, and promised Seed .  Everything goes back to Genesis!   Before going forward, I need to remind them there was a real nightmare before Christmas—one Tim Burton and Hollywood know nothing of.  ( See the previous article in this series .)

Then, while snacking on gingerbread, peppermint bark and other seasonal favorites, we talk about the long awaited arrival of Christ.  Allow your kids to drive the discussion. Let them pick the symbols they want to discuss and listen to their questions carefully.  And don’t feel the need to cover every symbol.  I recommend letting them choose a few, and change it up every year.  The more your kids set the tempo, the more they’ll enjoy and retain the information.  

Christmas Dinner

Second only to Thanksgiving, Christmas dinner is a feast to remember.  Like Thanksgiving, it normally features a turkey or ham, and numerous side-dishes and desserts. 

Feasting, in and of itself, is signifiant for Christians.  Jesus will dine, one day, with those who open their hearts to him.

Rev. 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

This, in part, likely refers to the marriage supper of the Lamb. 

Rev. 19:9  Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

For more on this see: What is the marriage supper of the Lamb?

Think of this future feast during Christmas dinner.  Make it as good as humanly possible, but, let your family know a better feast is coming. 

For us, Christmas season spans from Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving), to New Years Day.  Most seem to agree with this, keeping their decorations up and lights on until New Years Day or later.  The two holidays are often mentioned in tandem in songs and greetings—Merry Christmas and Happy New year.  This makes sense, considering their proximity. 

My daughter asked me the other day if New Years could also be used symbolically, in any way, to point us to Christ.  What a great question!  The answer is absolutely , in fact, it wouldn’t really be that symbolic.  Our modern calendar is already based on the birth of Christ.  All history is now BC, before Christ, or AD anno Domini (in the year of the Lord), all history during the earthly life of Christ and afterward. 

Every year, Christmas ushers in a new year, which can remind us of this new era Jesus ushered in.  The year we celebrate tells us approximately how long ago Christ was born.  I say approximately, as there is no consensus on the precise date.  The BC/AD system was not implemented until the 8th century and the implementors likely were off a few years.  For more on this see: What is the meaning of BC and AD (B.C. and A.D.)?  

How fitting, though.  Jesus is the primary reference point of all history, just as he should be.  He is the creator of history.  He impacted history and our calendar like no one else could.  Remind your kids of this magnificent truth every New Years Eve as the timer counts down. 

Concerns and Objections

Commercialism & materialism.

Commercialism has ruined Christmas!

There are many things wrong with this objection.  First , there is nothing, in and of itself, wrong with commercialism or capitalism.  Neither gift giving nor receiving are condemned in Scripture.  Investing in gifts and decorations is a good thing, especially if it honors Jesus.  Think of the poor woman the disciples rebuked when she anointed Christ with a costly bottle of perfume. Jesus rebuked them and praised her gift ( Matt. 26:7-13 ). 

Instead, we should be thankful for a free capitalistic society which allows us to invest in this great holiday. Would we rather be restricted under communism?  For a more in-depth look at this topic, see: What does the Bible say about capitalism?   

Second , commercialism creates more opportunity for the Gospel, not less. It costs money to decorate towns which, in turn, promotes the season.  Americans love Christmas, and many churches take full advantage (as they should). They offer productions, musicals and snow festivals which anyone can attend.  These are great opportunities to expose people to the Gospel. 

Third , Christmas commercialism saves many businesses, and through this, blesses many families. Black Friday is specifically known to move companies from red (debt) to black (profit) for the year. How is this a bad thing? Do we really want to end this? 

The commercialism/materialism charge is a non-starter.  Don’t let it steal your joy.  

Christmas has become secular. The message of Jesus’ birth is lost!

Hopefully the information above has mollified this concern. The message of the Nativity is everywhere on Christmas, for those willing to see it. 

It is certainly true that many Americans choose not to focus on Jesus during Christmas.  They don’t look at Christmas symbols the same way I do, and that is their choice.  I see no reason to worry about this so long as I’m free to celebrate and decorate how I choose.  I definitely don’t want my society compelling religiosity.  Instead, I enjoy the freedom which allows me to look and pray for opportunities to share what Christmas means to me.  

But Christmas is pagan!  It’s a revived pagan festival!

Christmas, perhaps more than any other holiday, is inundated with charges of paganism.  The answer to these charges is the liberty Paul outlined for us in Romans 14.  We Christians need not worry what ancient pagans did, and what symbols they used.  If you use them to glorify God, it is acceptable worship.  

That said, most of the charges against Christmas and its symbols are erroneous.  They are riddled with fallacious history and bad logic.  For an in-depth study, I recommend this small online book by JP Holding: Christmas is Pagan and Other Myths . To my knowledge, it’s only available in a kindle edition. Whether you’re struggling with doubts or fielding objections, you’ll find this book a blessing.

In short, there is very little evidence Christmas evolved out of pagan traditions.  There is a rumor that Church officials chose December 25th to christianize a formerly pagan tradition.  It’s possible, I suppose, but even if true, this would not be a problem, so long as we’re not engaging in actual paganism.  

That said, there is little evidence supporting this rumor.  Ancient pagan holidays were celebrated all year long.  Had a different day been chosen, critics would have found a different pagan connection.  The mere proximity of an ancient holiday is not proof it influenced a modern one. 

Christmas is not a biblical holiday.  There are many holidays in the Bible, but nothing about celebrating the Nativity.  

This is true, in fact no holidays are commanded throughout the entire New Testament.  Paul, instead, gives us liberty to set aside sacred days in accordance with our conscience.  

Rom. 14:5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it.

That should be crystal clear to all.  Celebrating Christmas is not compelled, but it is also not prohibited.  

Romans 14 was written on the heels of Romans 13 which is about living in Gentile nations under Gentile governments. It’s not surprising, therefore, that Paul then addressed sacred days and holidays, as they exist in every nation.  Christians would have wondered what to do with them, and Paul tells us very clearly we have liberty in accordance with our conscience. 

This was not the case, by the way, for Israel which was a stand alone nation. God established Israel with laws and traditions, including holidays.  There are 7 of them .  He did not, however, do this for the Church, apart from communion on the first day of the week. The rest was left up to us.  

Celebrating the Nativity, annually, is perfectly acceptable to God, so long as it’s done with a clear conscience.  

Rom. 14:18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

It does not matter if a celebration is outlined or commanded in the Bible.  You are free to observe or ignore any sacred day. If you enjoy Christmas, celebrate it to the fullest.  Conversely, if it violates your conscience in any way, don’t celebrate it.  “….for whatever is not from faith is sin…” (Rom. 14:23). 

Final Thought

I’ve always told my kids, if you want Christmas to remain magical, you have to give it theological significance.  If it is reduced to confusing decorations and year-end gifts, the magic will fade.  It’ll become mundane, even burdensome.  

If, on the other hand, it points you to Jesus and the Gospel, the magic will remain and multiply.  I hope this article contributes to that end. 

Next, we’ll take a closer look at Easter and its confusing symbols.  

Previous Article

Explaining the Gospel through Holidays – Part 1: Halloween The Fall and the Promise of Christ

Next Articles

Explaining the Gospel through Holidays – Part 3: Easter The Cross of Christ

Explaining the Gospel through Holidays – Part 4: Independence Day The Return of Christ

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The Message Of Christmas PowerPoint

By Hein van Wyk

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John 3:16 brings the message of Christmas and the message of the gospel in one verse and the theme of this Christmas PowerPoint for your Church. That God so loved the world He gave His only Son is the story told not only at Christmas, but all year long. This sermon presentation template features a John 3:16 slide as well as several customizable slides for information you want to relay to your congregation.

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