As Christmas approaches, yet another year will pass where many (even walking distance from our houses) will have never touched a Bible or even heard the gospel. How can we practically be intentional with evangelism this season? How does the joy of the Incarnation shape the everyday of our Christmas season? And how can we rest in the slowing down of this time of the year without slowing down from passionately reaching our community with the hope of the gospel?
1. Intentionally Reaching Neighbors
What if we were to go to every house on our street and give a Bible or gospel tract to every one of our neighbors (or even place it at their doors)? For many people in our neighborhoods, this may be another Christmas of them never having opened a Bible and never having heard the gospel. A creative way we can reach neighbors with the gospel is to put together gift bags, with some chocolate or baked goods, putting in a Bible or gospel tracts. Imagine if a street has 20 houses, doing something like this even with one street in a neighborhood, could potentially reach 20 houses with the gospel. What if, rather than prioritizing the comfort and convenience of this season, we pray for a burden for the lost to govern our interactions this week leading up to Christmas?
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” -Matthew 5:14
2. Gospel-Centered Conversation
What if we were to keep Bibles and tracts in our cars, offering them to the worker who makes our coffee as we rush through a drive-thru or the cashier at the grocery store? Although Gospel-Centered conversation is never to be confined to a particular season, this time of the year presents many doors of opportunity for conversation to share our hope. In a world drowning in the pursuit of happiness, let’s pursue meaningful conversation on the source of our joy. What if we were intentional in every conversation this season, to share the gospel (not to merely allude to it, but fully share it), and to always speak about Jesus Christ as the reason for our joy? Rather than falling victim to the commercialization of this season, what if we pursue intentionality in every opportunity?
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” -Romans 1:16
3. Intentionality with Our Time
What if we were to be sacrificial with our time to share the hope of the gospel with those who are hurting? Homeless shelters, nursing homes, and hospitals are all places we can reach during this season, sharing the source of our joy with many. What if we gave a day or two this season to visit some of these community centers, intentionally spending time with people there?
Many in our community will also spend Christmas alone, without family. What if we saw this season as an opportunity to be intentional in our hospitality, reaching out to friends who may not have family with them, inviting them to our homes to spend time with our family?
As we reflect on the selfless, sacrificial, humble act of the Incarnation, of God taking on flesh for us, let our hearts be drawn to be sacrificial and selfless with our time and energy this season.
4. Gospel-Centered Rest
It is easy to believe that rest and passion for evangelism cannot co-exist and that rest is the enjoying of a time of passivity as a break from everything. This is the farthest from the truth. Gospel-centered rest slows our hearts down to fuel us to serve with greater passion. We can enjoy the slowing down of this time of the year without slowing down from reaching our community with hope. To slow down by resting in reflection on the gospel, to meditate on the joy of the Incarnation, and to sit in the silence of the peace of this season, is filling our hearts so that we can pour into those around us with greater passion. Even in the rest of sitting down with a warm cup of coffee, our Bible, and a newly opened Advent devotional, our hearts are strengthened by the gospel, and our passion for reaching the lost with the gospel increases. For the greater the remembrance of the Incarnation and the joy it brings us, the greater our desire for the lost to experience this joy. Gospel-centered rest fuels Gospel-centered passion.
As lights are lit, let’s pray that our hearts be lit with greater passion to share the greatest gift we’ve ever received with many. As we put up decor, let our minds be lifted in remembrance of the hope of the Incarnation. As gifts are exchanged, let us never hesitate to share the reason for our joy with everyone.
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”
-Isaiah 9:2,6-7
