Christmas is all about good news—and about sharing that good news with strangers and neighbors.
On the first Christmas morning, an angel of the Lord appeared to a group of shepherds who were simply minding their own business just outside of Bethlehem. The angel said to them:
“… I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10b-11 ESV
After hearing this, the shepherds went to see the baby for themselves.
Of course, we know that this baby King grew up to be the man, Jesus, who lived a perfect, sinless life and ultimately suffered and died at the hands of sinful men—which was actually a sacrificial death for the sins of all humanity and the fulfillment of the good news of great joy spoken of three decades earlier.
This baby King turned sacrificial Savior died, was buried, and walked out of the grave three days later!
Before ascending to the right hand of the Father, he left this commandment:
“Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation.” Mark 16:15
This invitation and expectation was for us to bring good news of great joy to all the people, just as the angel did for the shepherds on that first Christmas night. And what better, more appropriate time to share this news than around Christmas?
Here are a few simple ideas that can help you and your students spread the Gospel this Christmas season.
1. Go Christmas caroling.
Take your youth group outside of the church walls and into the nearby neighborhoods. Be sure to bring lots of joy, song lyrics, and the Gospel! After you knock on a door, sing a festive tune or two, say Merry Christmas, and have a person in your group ask the homeowner how you can be praying for them before marching on to the next house. Look for an opportunity to share the real reason for the season. It may be the first time they’ve ever heard the Gospel!
2. Ring the Salvation Army bell.
An excellent group activity you can do during the holidays is to volunteer to ring the Salvation Army bell at your local grocery store. They are always looking for volunteers, and they’re a great global organization! In addition to ringing the bell, volunteering with the Salvation Army puts you in a perfect position to start some great conversations. Not everyone will want to stop and talk, but many people will! Be prepared to ask if there’s anything you can be praying for them about, and always be looking for an opportunity to share the Gospel in the process.
3. Spend an evening writing Christmas cards.
You don’t actually have to leave your church walls to share the Gospel! Gather your group together to craft Christmas cards that include a handwritten note inside of them. Each student could bring the name and address of a family member, friend, co-worker, or fellow student who doesn’t know Jesus, and you can spend your youth group time writing meaningful, handwritten letters that include the powerful truth of the Gospel, and the reason we celebrate Christmas!
4. Lead a Christmas-party mission trip.
Throwing a Christmas Party for your own group is super-fun, but what about bringing that party to another, possibly less fortunate group? Some of my best moments of youth pastoring were when I took my group on a Christmas mission trip to a different town with some of the highest rates of poverty in the nation. We invited the whole town, fed everyone, threw a party, gave gifts, and shared the Gospel (from “the stage” and in one-on-one conversations). If you think about it, isn’t that exactly what Jesus did for us?
