Christmas student ministry has opportunities galore! During the season, youth leaders can deepen students’ love for Christ and for lost people. Yet we often miss out.
We know Christmas is about celebrating the coming of Christ for our salvation. But sometimes we assume students already grasp that truth.
Use these insights to maximize the opportunities of Christmas student ministry.
Christmas Student Ministry Insights
1. Walk through the Christmas narrative.
First and most importantly… Students need more than holiday cheer. They need the truth of God’s Word. Walking through the Christmas story roots their faith in Scripture. It also shows them the bigger picture of God’s redemptive plan.
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Start in Genesis 3:15, with God’s first promise of a Redeemer.
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Trace the story into the Gospels (Matthew 1–2, Luke 1–2) to see the fulfillment in Christ’s birth.
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Highlight God’s character. God is faithful to his promises, gracious to his people, and brings hope to those in darkness.
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Encourage application. The same God who fulfilled his promise in Bethlehem is still faithful in our disappointments today.
Practical ideas:
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Provide an Advent guide for students and families.
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Teach a short Christmas series. (Try The First Days of Jesus by Andreas Köstenberger and Alexander Stewart.)
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Plan a student-led Christmas service. Include Scripture reading, testimonies, and worship.
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Create a December Bible reading plan for small groups to go through together.
2. Create opportunities to gather.
Next up: Christmas is naturally a season of gatherings—office parties, team dinners, family traditions. Why not leverage that in your Christmas student ministry? Gathering provides a natural way for students to invite unbelieving friends to experience community and hear the gospel.
Practical ideas:
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Host a Christmas party! Make it fun, memorable, and easy to invite friends. Our ministry runs a Progressive Aggressive Dinner. We pair the meal with team challenges like a photo scavenger hunt. Fun + intentional gospel moments = impact!
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Serve together. Pack Operation Christmas Child boxes. Buy gifts for an Angel Tree. Serve at a soup kitchen.
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Point to worship. Use gatherings to invite students and guests to a Christmas worship service led by students.
