As we reflect on God’s love, especially in the season of Christmas, sometimes it’s hard to know precisely how to devote yourself to doing what is good. What is the scale of the good you should do? Who needs your help? What kind of help do they even need? Are you qualified to offer it?
It’s a daunting question for many. But good works don’t have to be that complicated.
At Bay Area Christian Church, where I serve as executive minister, we embrace the theme of “God and Good,” imitating Jesus who made God known and went around doing good in the community, regardless of a person’s faith. United by this mission, we focus on an array of local ministries and “Doing Good” projects year-round.
From serving unhoused individuals to vulnerable children to the lonesome and elderly, once you start seeking needs to meet in your community, they’ll start showing up everywhere you look.
Often, the best way to start is by surveying your own church community, to see if there are unmet needs. For example, we have a myriad of programs for the congregants in our community with special needs, or with children who have special needs. All of them are the result of organic response to felt need.
We have built sensory rooms and increased accessibility all over campus. We’ve developed alternative faith curricula and host community-wide holiday events that specifically accommodate people with special needs. We run community sports and activity programs where kids with and without disabilities can play alongside each other.
But you don’t need to organize a large-scale project or host an event for hundreds of people to make an impact this season. You can change the life of one neighbor, one family member, or one friend who has yet to experience the goodness of Christmas, which is ultimately, the goodness of Jesus.
Look up and down your street, too. Maybe there’s someone who needs help with home repairs this season. Maybe there’s someone who would be delighted and encouraged by a simple gift of homemade food or cookies. It’s entirely possible that someone on your street has never experienced the simple joy and charm of Christmas carolers at their door.
In 2 Corinthians 2:15, Paul writes, “For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” The ultimate goodness of the Christmas season is found in the message of the gospel. As we intentionally seek to do good for others as an expression of God’s love for us, our actions will draw them closer to Jesus.
You won’t know who has needs until you start looking to meet them. So this Christmas, watch your favorite movies—and go do some good.
