Giving Gospel Books at Christmas
Amid the festive lights, reindeers, and mince pies, the message of Jesus can sometimes feel lost in the noise.
In your conversations in the weeks leading up to Christmas, you listen, waiting for your non-Christian friends and family to ask the question: ‘So what is Christmas really about?’, ready to share a gospel 101. But Christmas Day comes and goes with the question never arriving.
Your friends may have happily come along to your wreath making night, but inviting them to a carol service might feel like a bigger ask.
What can be done about this?
In the season of giving, let’s gift the gospel!
Why Give Books?
Books open the conversation for you; you’re not waiting for questions to be asked, you’re letting the book ask those questions for you. It’s a meaningful way of blessing your friends and family members, as this gift will last them long after the decorations are packed away and the new year diets have commenced.
A book can also meet them where they’re at – for a child, a brightly illustrated story of the nativity may engage their heart; for a teen a fictional book with an allegorical story; for a skeptic, a compelling biography showing the power of a changed life; for a seeker, an introduction to the gospel could open their eyes to the truth of the claims of Jesus.
Top 5 Ways to Give Gospel Books
When you’re looking for them, there are more opportunities to give away books than you might think.
1. Star gift
For a close friend or family member choose a meaningful, handpicked book, which will point them to Jesus.
You know them best, choose something which speaks into their interests or background. Biographies are a great way of highighting how Jesus transforms lives and may ignite an interest in faith previously untapped. For those who you have had spiritual conversations with previously you can be a little more direct.
Adults
Historian - War Biographies, Nine Day Queen of England, Historic Women Series
Musician - Our Hymn Writers and their Hymns
Scientists - Can Science Explain Everything?
Novel Readers - The Greatest Story Ever Told
Troubled past - Last on God's List, A Cause Worth Living For
True Crime - There Came a Day
Seekers - All You Want for Christmas , The Case for Christmas (US different URL)
Teens
Some teens love to read fiction books, and so an allegorical book sharing a Christian worldview is a great conversation starter. Also check out the biographies listed above.
Readers: The Smoke Charmers Tale, Anasius Trilogy, Callenlas Chronicles
Seekers The Greatest Story Ever Told, The Case for Christmas (US different URL),
Children
Whether your own children, or those children that God has placed in your lives, Christmas is a great opportunity to gift them a book with eternal value. Books with a Biblical worldview can shape their thinking and help them to ask questions about true good and evil.
Readers: Green Ember Series,(US different URL) Dream Keeper Saga, Patricia St John series (US different URL), The Chronicles of Narnia (US different URL)
Scientists: Big Bible Science, Indescribable Activity Book for Kids
Historians : Ten Boys/Girls Biographies
Read Along: The Forgotten King,
2. Gift Bundle
Wrap a selection of thoughtful gifts, including a small book, for friends, neighbours, or colleagues, and pop into a gift bag before hand delivering. These gift bundles also work well for teachers, teaching assistants, school crossing patrol, (school bus drivers), your regular barista, hairdresser or window cleaner.
Extra gift bag ideas include: Drinks sachet or hot chocolate kit, home made treats (don't panic, shop bought are also well received!), a tea light, and a Christmas card with a bible verse and personal greeting.
Here are our low cost gospel books which work well for this.
3. Nativity Gift
Gift nativity story books to children at your nativity service, live nativity, or advent trail. This not only presents an opportunity for the children to have the true Christmas story reinforced, but also for their parents too.
Here are our low cost Christmas children's books.
4. Treat Station
If you have frequent deliveries to your home or workplace why not bless the drivers with some snacks and a gift wrapped book? Snacks don't have to be expensive, but for a busy driver will show the love of Jesus at a stressful time of year
Here are our low cost gospel books which work well for this, Special Delivery being a great option.
5. Service Gift
Put a book in every seat at your carol service, or have some members of the congregation stood at the door handing out gift wrapped books to visitors.
Imagine the evangelistic reach you could have, if every member of your congregation prayerfully gave away just one book this Christmas.
Here are our low cost gospel books which work well for this.
What next?
Sharing a book is not the end of the story! Before you pass out books, you can pray, ‘Lord, please show me who to give these to this Christmas. Help me to be bold in giving this away.’ Afterward, you can pray, ‘Lord, open their hearts to the message of your Son. Give me opportunities to speak about this book with them.’ And then, be willing to open the conversation.
Ask open questions and be prepared for them to return with questions of their own. Maybe start with, ‘Have you had a chance to read that book? What did you think?’
It’s helpful to have read (or at least skim–read/read a Goodreads review) the book beforehand so you can engage in meaningful discussion. (Read our blog post on this topic). Then be prepared for God to work. Our books, conversations, and answers do not bring people to faith – only God alone can do that.
“Okay,” you say, “I love books, but my friend just isn’t a reader, what about them?”
We always suggest shorter evangelistic books which won’t intimidate those who don’t usually read, but if you’re sure they wouldn’t even read that then we recommend a notebook, calendar or poster with words of Scripture which will point them to Jesus instead.
