7 Ways to Experience Christ This Holiday Season
For families of faith, the holiday season is a special time of worship as we reflect on blessings from the Lord and the hope His arrival as a baby in a manger signifies. But it is also a unique opportunity to live out our calling to share that hope with others.
The Pew Research Center has found that as many as 81% of non-churched Americans celebrate Christmas. While Thanksgiving is a national holiday, the concept of gratitude is a Biblical one–yet many of our neighbors have no understanding that our human desire to give thanks stems from our natural response to praise our Creator.
Here are some ways your family can not only experience Christ this holiday season, but share your experience of Him with others:
1. Invite the Nations to Your Table
The Greater-Atlanta area is home to over forty-thousand people who were born outside the U.S. With over 55 colleges and universities, and several international organizations headquartered in our community, it’s quite possible you might know someone who has never celebrated Thanksgiving. Consider inviting them to join your family’s holiday dinner or your Friendsgiving celebration. One way we can “make disciples of all nations” is by sharing the gospel with the nations as they come here.
2. Share Your Blessings with Others by Giving Back
Singing hymns of praise isn’t the only way to express gratitude for all the Lord has done for you. Serving others in His name out of the abundance He has given you is also worship. Through Mt. Bethel Church’s Missions Partners, you can find ways to answer the call to be ON MISSION 365, including during the holidays. These opportunities include participating in MUST Ministries’ Annual “Gobble Jog” or helping with their holiday toy shop providing Christmas gifts for children in foster care and from low-income families through our Angel Tree project, serving with Kidz2Leaders Hope4Christmas, or by making a year-end donation to our Missions fund–which helps support all nineteen of our partners as well as other missions’ projects throughout the year.
3. Share Encouragement from the Advent Story
Our team has produced an Advent Devotional to help focus your heart on the true meaning of Christmas—Jesus. You can download the full digital version here or subscribe to receive a mobile notification from our app each day, starting December 1! (in the Mt. Bethel Church app on your phone, click your account, find “Notifications” under “App Settings” and make sure the box for “Advent Devotional 2024” is checked). Share what you find insightful from each day’s devotional with your friends and family on social media!
4. Walk Through Bethlehem
Invite your unchurched friends to experience the true Christmas story-come-to-life through our annual Bethlehem Walk. Complete with actors portraying the story of Jesus’ birth, a petting zoo, crafts, and hot chocolate, this event is fun for the whole family!
5. Use Christmas Gifts and Cards to Start Gospel Conversations
Whether it’s by baking cookies for your coworkers, decorating nativity themed ornaments for your friends, or writing a thoughtful Christmas message in a holiday card for a widow in your community, be intentional through acts of kindness to share the message of hope our Savior’s birth brings.
6. Celebrate with Music
Music is a significant part of worship and the holiday season, and our music ministry has produced a couple of resources to help make your holiday special. Bring your family to our Christmas Worship Celebration for a night of wonderful music that will focus your heart on the true reason for the season–Jesus. You can also add our music ministry’s worship album, “Brilliance,” featuring both classics and original songs, to your holiday playlist on Apple, Spotify or Amazon!
7. Worship with the Body of Christ on Christmas Eve
There’s something special about gathering with other believers to reflect on the hope our Savior brings. You are invited to join Mt. Bethel Church on December 24 for one of our Christmas Eve services. Make it extra special by inviting an unchurched friend or family member to join you!