Point to Jesus this Christmas
We were thrilled to have over 150 people join us for our Point to Jesus webinar, helping people think through ways to reach out with the gospel at Christmas. If you missed it, or want to listen again, here’s the video. and you’ll find links to our recommended resources below.
Who are we pointing to Jesus?
Our three main groups for pointing to Jesus are those at the core of our churches, those who are part of the congregation (perhaps attending services sporadically or tied in through our various groups) and then the further community (Those who wouldn’t normally enter our church building, or engage with our events and meetings).
Idea’s for Reaching Children
We’ll consider all three groups for children at once, and think about opportunities for pointing them to Jesus.
Advent Trails – By navigating around a housing estate or perhaps your church grounds, people follow clues or signs and end up at a place where they can collect a small prize, including a resource which explains the real meaning of Christmas.
Live Nativities – Indoor, or outdoor, these can be a great opportunity to help bring the real meaning of Christmas to life, as volunteers act out key parts of the Nativity story. If you’ve got the space for, and access to, live animals can be a great addition to this.
School PTA’s – Many local schools will be running fundraising events in the run up to Christmas, many offering stalls for local businesses and organisations. Could your church run a stall? Why not run a free bookstall, or a game where everyone is a winner, taking away a gospel leaflet or tract, or a book, along with an invite to your services or weekly clubs. If they don’t allow outside groups to their fairs perhaps you could donate some books for prizes?
School Assemblies – Schools are often happy for church leaders to take an assembly in school, and an assembly about the real meaning of Christmas will also meet the RE curriculum too. You may need to have a DBS done, so make sure to ask ahead so they can sort that.
Christmas Parties – Children who are already established in your church and its clubs (Toddler Groups, Sunday School, Primary and Secondary groups) may be looking forward to an in person party after missing out last year. A party bag with a wrapped book always goes down well, and of course some sweets or chocolate. Our guest Caroline Taylor also suggested having a book table for the children to select their own gift, which is especially useful for the upper ages.
Resources for Children
Advent is something that even non–church families are taking part in more and more. We have advent calendars with a verse and picture behind each door (you can have a bowl of sweets next to it if you really want a sweet treat each day!), advent candles with a different name of Jesus each day, or family devotions with craft–along ornaments for your tree.
Children’s books to giveaway for all ages, and at 50 for £50, or 20 for £30, you can mix and match for all your outreach opportunities.
Activity books are perfect for the slightly older kids, or for families.
Why not get some A3 posters for your advent trails, or even just as a way to show your neighbours you’re thinking about the real reason for the season. Just 49p while sticks last!
Ideas for the Adults in your Church
Advent Book Club – Why not start an advent book club? We have a huge range of Advent devotional books, why not start a WhatsApp group, or arrange a weekly catch up after your service to chat through what you’ve been thinking about?
Fellowship Meal – How about a fellowship meal, or a meal to bring together people who join in with your normal clubs? Food is a key theme in Jesus’ ministry, and it can be in ours too.
Craft Event – Some churches have found these to be really popular, especially if you have any crafty people in your congregation who could teach wreath making, Christmas cake/pudding making or Christmas card making. You could use this as a springboard to invite people to the carol service, and give away an evangelistic book to everyone attending.
Carol Services – Often something that churches are going to be doing anyway can be used as a great opportunity to invite along our friends and family who don’t go to church. Make sure to give a warm welcome, and refreshments are always welcome. A wrapped book, including your churches details, to take home is a lovely extra touch, and will make sure people remember the service long after Christmas.
If you’re planning a carol service we have a free resource pack for one of our new Christmas books, The Four Emotions of Christmas. Free to download powerpoint slides, invites, poster and social media templates will tie your event together nicely.
We have a wide range of evangelistic books for giving away to adults, all of which have a clear gospel explanation.
Fellowship Meal – How about a fellowship meal, or a meal to bring together people who join in with your normal clubs? Food is a key theme in Jesus’ ministry, and it can be in ours too.
Craft Event – Some churches have found these to be really popular, especially if you have any crafty people in your congregation who could teach wreath making, Christmas cake/pudding making or Christmas card making. You could use this as a springboard to invite people to the carol service, and give away an evangelistic book to everyone attending.
But don’t forget your regular church members! We can be blessing them by giving them short books which point them back to Jesus. Here are some which encourage them as they seek to share Jesus with others.
Or perhaps a book which encourages them in their Christian life? We’re highlighting books which you can buy from as little as £1 a copy, but perhaps you could arrange a gift swap amongst your congregation, a secret blessing, where each person hand selects a book for another member of the congregation?
Reaching our Communities
There will be people in our communities who have never stepped inside your building, and may never have even encountered one of your church, so let’s not forget to reach out widely with the gospel this Christmas.
Light Switch Ons – If your local town or city has a light switch on how could you bless people at that event? Could you give out hot drinks or mince pies along with a tract and invitation to your services and church clubs? Is it an opportunity to build relationships within your town by sending a group to help co–ordinate or marshall?
Scratch Nativity – Many people in your local area may never had been in a nativity, and so why not invite families along to watch, or even join in, your nativity service? Everyone who takes part could be given a thank you gift.
If you’re holding a Nativity and want some resources then GoChatter Videos have a range of options, you can get customised videos and social media graphics for your church events. This year that includes a Nativity themed service with a Read–along video, customisable online invites perfect for targeted social media adverts.
We loved Roger Carswells idea of sending christmas cards and tracts to local nursing homes, and his use of a literature table or giveaway box at your events would be really useful too, and at this price it makes sense to get a little of everything.
For under a £1 you can send a card and tract (including the second class stamp!) to a relative or friend further afield.
Could you put together gift bags for homeless, NHS workers, School teachers, Lorry Drivers etc including the gospel?
This giveaway box is incredible value and contains a bit of everything!
We also recommend giving out Gospels, New Testaments, and even Bibles.
Importantly, remember to be thinking ahead for follow up. Can you invite an individual to study the Word One to One? Or run a group either in person, or online? Christianity Explored is also great.
The Life Magazine is a perfect for giving away to your friends and neighbours. Combining general interest articles alongside evangelistic articles and testimonies, it’s a great way to reach out. Why not bake the recipe from the magazine and give out alongside the magazine. They are also perfect for handing out at events, or more broadly door to door, and we even had the capability to post out to a whole Royal mail postcode.
If you have friends or family who have expressed views of agnosticism, atheism, have asked hard questions, or who would simply enjoy reading some mini testimonies, then perhaps pray and give them a book as an extra gift or stocking filler, with the view that you’d be happy to talk to them about things if they have any questions.
This may be obvious, but also highly recommend giving out Gospels, New Testaments, and even Bibles. The Word of God is incredibly powerful, and people are often keen to take these after events too.
Importantly, remember to be thinking ahead for follow up. Can you invite an individual to study the Word One to One? Or run a group either in person, or online? Christianity Explored is also great.
We hope that this has given you some new (or even old!) ideas, and has really encouraged you as you seek to point others to Jesus this Christmas!
