Christmas is approaching and churches, in keeping with tradition, will roll-out the red carpet, plan an amazing service and make certain the gospel is presented. Why? Because we as the Church know that people, believers or not, try to make it to a Christmas service, which gives church members a way to invite friends and family and know that they will hear about Christ.
Christmas services are an obvious way for us to encourage the families we serve to be missional during Christmas — invite a friend to church!
What about the not-so-obvious? I want to give you three practical ideas for encouraging those in your ministry to be mission-minded during the Christmas season.
1. Open your home.
Invite neighbors, families from your children’s schools, people you work with — really anyone who needs to be around a family that lives the gospel. Intentionally pray over these invitations to your home and involve your children in your hospitality efforts, such as decorating, baking, and preparing meals. Model how to show others the love of Jesus. Your children are watching!
2. Serve the poor and needy.
Find opportunities to serve as a family in environments that allow your hearts for Christ to shine. This could be a soup kitchen, a nursing home, a shelter — anywhere there is need. Make this not only a tradition during the holidays, but a regular rhythm in your lives.
3. Pray for opportunities.
As 2013 is closing and the start of a new year is looming around the corner, pray as a family that God would open the door for many opportunities to share the gospel with those who do not know Him. Actively pray for people you know and for those you do not know yet. Engage your children in these prayers and before you know it, God will ignite in them a heart for the lost, poor and needy.
Please share other ideas you may have for encouraging families to be missional during Christmas!
Jana Magruder serves as the Director of Kids Ministry Publishing. Jana, her husband, and their three kids moved to Nashville from Austin, Texas where she served as the director of children’s ministry at the west campus of Austin Stone Community Church. Jana brings a wealth of experience and passion for kids, kids ministry, and the local church.
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