Last Christmas I Got A …

“So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” – John 1:14.

Christmas is a hectic time that typically adds additional preparation tasks to a already busy schedule. Setting out decorations and replacing dysfunctional light strands, getting serious about all of the gift shopping, and maybe now gift returns. Advertisers, Amazon, and retail shops are thinking about Christmas a little earlier every year. The question is when should the church start thinking about Christmas? No matter how early we begin thinking about Christmas, we tend to forget once the decorations come down and the calendar has turned to January. But why should it be strange to be thinking about the Christmas story other than at Christmas?

If I asked a group of people what they received for Christmas last year, I wonder how many could quickly come up with an answer. If you can remember what you got last Christmas, it is a good sign and an indication that what you received was something that you really wanted. It was something that was either useful or fun and and made a difference in your life. For those of us who can’t remember, it is an indication that you received something you did not want. And chances are, the gifts you don’t remember are no longer in your possession.

The Christmas story is about the most wonderful gift that any of us could ever receive and the truth is that Christmas is for life and not just for Christmas. The birth of Jesus Christ, which is what we celebrate at Christmas, has meaning all year round, because Christ is for life, not just for Christmas. The fact that God came down to earth in the Lord Jesus Christ changed everything forever. Jesus being born in Bethlehem proves to us that rather than being a distant creator who now has little or nothing to do with ordinary people like us, God is right here with us through the ups and downs, the highs and lows of life.

That is what Christmas is all about. Sometimes we can forget just how powerful this holiday really is. Whatever the case, as we reflect on Jesus’ birth story, observing the Father’s wisdom, I pray you’ll come to realize just how great and mighty our God is.

Discussion Questions:

1. What if our church decided to “skip Christmas?” What impact would that have on people or on you?
2. What’s the one thing you wish you could change about Christmas?
3. What can we do to keep the Christmas story in our hearts all year long?