The Christmas season is an incredible time for followers of Christ. We are celebrating His birth and His love for us as He left heaven to bring light into a dark world, hope when there was no hope, and the power of His blood that would make eternity with Him possible. Many church leaders find themselves basking in the eternal significance of the season and miss some very practical facts concerning those they lead. There are four vital awarenesses that I believe every pastor might want to consider.
People are very busy.
If we’re not careful, we forget that church members have lives outside of church life. They are expected to attend office Christmas parties, set aside a significant amount of time to celebrate with their own families, attend their small group or Sunday School Christmas celebration, shop for the Christmas gifts they’ll give those on their list, send Christmas cards, house guests passing through town, etc…, etc…, etc… It may be wise to carefully plan church activities and, when possible, merge celebrations of committees, teams, ministries, and the entire church body.
This is not the time to preach on Christ losing His place in Christmas.
When church leaders jump on this precarious bandwagon while the rest of the world is celebrating, the church looks like a legalistic, negative, pessimistic group of cynical people who take the joy out of the most joyous of all seasons. Celebrate with the rest of the world during this season. In so doing, the good news will gain a hearing, and the church will keep her reputation as the place to experience peace and joy.
Don’t Miss
Depression is a major problem for many.
While most of us will spend many hours celebrating, there are many who find this season to be weeks of darkness. Maybe they’ve lost a family member or friend in the past year, or they long to be with family but can’t make the trip. It’s possible that they are lacking the finances to give their family what they deserve, or someone was forced into a divorce. It’s possible there are single individuals who long to be married but are not. Whatever the circumstances, it’s important to be sensitive, to meet the needs of those we can, and to be available to lend a listening ear when possible.
Unbelievers are more apt to attend church during this season than any other.
It has been proven that those who are not yet followers of Christ are more apt to attend church gatherings during this season than any other time. Plan worship experiences that are joyous, celebratory, and that make Jesus known. Sing songs that everyone knows rather than sticking to your church’s short list of in-house favorites. You can’t go wrong with Christmas carols. Use humor in your sermons and make sure the people in your church make guests feel very welcome. But most importantly, teach the Gospel. After all, it’s not just the good news; it’s the greatest news of all.
