This is my message preached last weekend. I realised while going for an evening walk earlier that this might be helpful so here is an excerpt.
Celebrating Christmas Meaningfully
My favourite time
of the year is Christmas. I love the cooler weather, log cakes and family time. Many of you love Christmas season too.
There is a risk though that in the midst of
all the marketing, Christ becomes an afterthought and frequently gets left away
in the manger.
In one of his Letters To An American Lady, C. S. Lewis
wrote, “ My brother heard a woman on a bus say, as the bus passed a church with
a Crib outside it, “Oh Lord! They bring religion into everything. Look--they’re
dragging it even into Christmas now!’
That letter was
written over forty years ago and since that time things have not gotten much better. For
many, Christmas is another holiday. Even those of us who know the real
meaning of Christmas have to fight against the tendency to get caught up in the
busyness and frenzy. What do diamond earrings and flat screen TVs have anything
to do with the birth of Christ?
Christmas can feel like
two months of frantic running all over the place, followed by two hours of feasting
and two minutes of tearing up wrapping paper. So I remember
telling myself, “this Christmas will be different.” It hasn’t quite worked out.
Thankfully last Christmas was special. Here's the background. Every year I
join Dinah’s family here as they celebrate Christmas. Her family is big. Many are Christians.
Our Christmas
celebration last year was memorable. It started when my wife said she was tired
of celebrating Christmas with the same eating, small talk and carol singing.
She asked God for an idea to do Christmas differently and tastefully, without
too much of a shock factor.
She got a download to pair everyone for prayer after dinner. So prior to the party, she and our daughter wrote down
each person’s names on pieces of papers. Then they began pairing a mature
believer with a younger believer. My son and I gave input.
On the eve of Christmas, we
arrived with bags of gifts and food for dinner. We said grace
and began eating. After dinner, the norm
was to chat informally until 11:30 pm when we would sing carols. At about 10:30 pm Dinah called everyone
together. She explained the idea and people warmed up to the plan.
My daughter came
up and read the pairs. People began to pair up as their names were read
out. Pairs began sharing. There was spiritual conversation and then praying. There were tears. The
atmosphere changed. To our surprise, the younger ones found this especially
meaningful.
The family Christmas photo last
year was the most radiant photo ever. It was not people trying to smile after
overeating. It was a picture of people who were touched. What a blessing!
Today let's look at how we can celebrate Christmas meaningfully. Before that let's look at two Scriptures on Christmas.
“For to us a
child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his
shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
“Today in the
town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke
2:11
Christmas is a momentous point in redemptive history. Christmas is God
with us. Christmas is God becoming man so that he might give His life as a
ransom for many. Christmas means unto us a Saviour is born!
We can redeem the
season. Here are 7 ways
to celebrate Christmas. Some will speak to you more than others.
1.
Give God one very special gift just from you to Him
Let this gift be
something personal that no one else needs to know about, and let it be a
sacrifice. David said that he would not offer a sacrifice to God that cost him
nothing.
"… I will
not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing…" II Sam. 24:24
Maybe your gift
to God will be to forgive someone you've needed to forgive for a long time. You
may discover that you've given a gift back to yourself.
Lewis B. Smedes
wrote in his book, Forgive and Forget,
"When you release the wrongdoer from the wrong, you cut a malignant tumor
out of your inner life. You set a prisoner free, but you discover that the real
prisoner was yourself."
Perhaps your gift
will be to commit to spending time with God daily. Or maybe there is something
God has asked you to give up. Make this your most important gift of the season.
This is His birthday.
2.
Set aside silent nights to read the Christmas story in Luke 1:5-56, 2:1-20
The best way to
keep Christ in Christmas is to go to the source - Scripture - and learn
about Christ: his birth, life, death, and teachings. Encountering the life of Christ, especially on a daily basis, will bring Christ into your life,
especially at Christmas time.
If the story is
too familiar, read it in a different translation, such as the King James Version
if you are used to the New International Version (NIV).
Take time to read
a passage from the Bible that tells of Christ's coming, and to ask Him to draw
you closer to Himself as Christmas approaches. This is your silent night (or
morning).
You can keep a Christmas
journal expressing your thoughts about what happens throughout the season with
your family and friends. Include your reactions to the news, sermons, Christmas
events, parties, and gifts, as well as your reflections about Jesus.
3. Plan
a project of goodwill this Christmas
Agape is the pure
love of Christ and it means to love others unconditionally. Loving others is one of
the ultimate ways to keep Christ in Christmas because that is what Christmas is
all about. Through the Atonement, Christ served each of us on a level we cannot
fully understand, but which we can emulate by serving others.
Practically, we can drop off a new toy at
the Boys Brigade Share-A-Gift (formerly Sharity gift box). We can find someone with
a genuine need, involve your family and see how you can bless someone this Christmas. For example, replace a broken down washing machine.
Invite a low-income
family to your home for Christmas lunch then give their children Christmas
gifts. If your budget permits, give the parents gifts as well. It’s like
welcoming Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus into your home.
Andrew and Grace
home is a shelter for teen girls who are juvenile delinquents that are beyond
parental control or are victims of sexual and/or physical abuse. This is their homepage www.aghome.org.sg
Bring gifts to
the babies and mothers there. This way you are like the Magi who offered
gifts to the baby Jesus in Bethlehem.
Mother Teresa
said, "It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you…. Yes,
it is Christmas every time you smile at your brother and offer him your
hand."
4.
Give a surprise gift of service to each member of your family
Jesus taught us
to serve by washing the disciples feet. He also taught us that it is "more
blessed to give than to receive" Acts 20:35
The idea of
giving an unexpected gift of service to members of your family is to
demonstrate Christ-like love and service. You might consider giving a back rub
to your spouse or running an errand for your brother. There was one year when I cleaned
out the store room for my parents.
Make it personal
and meaningful then watch the blessings multiply.
5.
Set aside a time of family devotions on Christmas Eve or morning
Before any gifts are
unwrapped or holiday meals consumed, say a prayer of thanks for His blessings
and love. And above all else, thank Him for the gift of Christmas!
Read a few Bible verses aloud and discuss as a
family the true meaning of Christmas. Here are some themes and corresponding Scriptures.
The Birth of
Jesus - Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-14
The Visit of the Magi and Shepherds - Matthew 2:1-12, Luke 2:15-20
Immanuel - Isaiah
7:14, Matthew 1:23
The Birth of
Jesus Foretold - Isaiah 40:1-11, Luke 1:26-38
Dedicate the
occasion to Jesus.
6.
Join a Christmas worship service together with your family
If you are alone
this Christmas or don't have family living near you, invite a friend or a
neighbour to join you.
We have two very powerful tools in our hands - the Bible
and the mobile phone. One is the way God speaks to us. The other is how we
speak with our friends and family.
Text a friend: “Christmas
is coming and I thought of you. I was wondering if you would like to join me to
a Christmas-Eve service at church.”
7.
Write a Christmas letter to a missionary
For a church planter,
receiving a letter feels like opening a priceless gift on Christmas morning, no
matter what day it is. Many missionaries are unable to travel home for the
Christmas holidays, so it can be a very lonely time. Write a special Christmas
letter to a missionary of your choice, thanking them for giving their life in
service to the Lord. It will mean more than you can imagine!
In summary, a great way to ensure Christ is the centre of Christmas is
to put Him first. Today we have looked at 7 ways to celebrate Christmas meaningfully. Some of the ideas need more lead time than others. We can put some into practice tomorrow. I do hope
that Christmas will be meaningful for you.
Christmas
celebrates the good news that God demonstrated His love for humankind by giving
us his only Son, Jesus at the very first Christmas. Although Jesus never did anything wrong, He
willingly paid the penalty for our sins when He was crucified and buried. Then, Jesus confirmed that He was God by
conquering death as He resurrected from the grave. Now, He is our advocate in Heaven at the
right-hand side of God preparing for His future return.
Because of these
actions, we can receive forgiveness from our sins, restore an intimacy with our
Creator, discover our life purpose on earth, and reserve an eternal home in
Heaven. This is why we celebrate CHRISTmas!
The number one
way to keep Christ in your Christmas celebrations is to have him present in
your daily life. If you're not sure what it means to become a follower of
Christ, we'd love to speak with you. We'll be here at the front after the closing prayer later.
If you’ve made Christ
the centre of your life, keeping Christ in Christmas is more about the way you
live your life. Keeping Christ in Christmas means daily revealing the character,
love and spirit of Christ that dwells in you, by allowing these traits to shine
through your actions. Christ came to give Himself to others. Choose to build
and nourish those you love in new ways.
So have
a worshipful Christmas this year. Celebrate Jesus. Then go shopping.
As for me, I’m
going to try and live simpler. I’m going
to prepare my heart to seek the true gift of Christmas – the peace of Jesus. Amen.
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Ministry moments included speaking at the combined regional VFC service. It was great getting to know their leaders. Dinah and I also coached a group of new marriage mentors (see pic). We joined the Canada missions meeting at our church. Then I shared a devotion with the Focus on the Family staff.
