Attention Word Slingers readers: Beginning December 11, 2019, all posts will be available at BaptistMessenger.com. Thank you for reading Word Slingers!

While Christmas Day will always (and should) be the main event, Christmas Eve has become quite the icing to an already beautiful cake.  It is a time filled with anticipation, joy, celebration, and often close friends and family.

Christmas Eve is a great time for dads to lead out in their homes.  Men need to point their families to Christ as the center of the season.  But what should you do beyond reading a Christmas story or a prayer before a figgy-pudding meal?

Perhaps you are a man wondering how to lead out this Christmas.  Perhaps you are a single mom, grandparent, or hold a place of leadership in a circle of influence.  If so, I want to offer the following Christmas Eve idea.  This is something our church is embracing this year as families gather to celebrate Christ.

Feel free to use this with your family on Christmas Eve.  It is just a quick guide, so feel free to get creative.  Grab the cocoa, the blankets, and make this a special family event.

 

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: A CHRISTMAS EVE REFLECTION

Why do we like Christmas lights?

We don’t just put out lights themselves, but we put them up on and in things.

We put lights around houses, trees and use them to spell words of celebration.

They make the ordinary extraordinary.  They draw attention to things we see every day (houses, trees, etc.) but tell us at this time, there is something more to celebrate.

Luke 2:1-20 is perhaps the most familiar Christmas story in the whole Bible.  Let’s read it.  As we read each passage, we are going to stop and identify two things together: Christmas Lights and Christmas Stars.

Christmas Lights are things that stand out to us in the verses. They are words or phrases in the text that highlight the verses.  Christmas Stars are things we see in the passage that direct us to action.  Just as the wise men followed the star to Jesus, Christmas Stars are things that when we see them, urge us to walk forward into something new for God’s glory.

LUKE 2:1-20 – Have someone read these sections. Pause between each one and discuss the questions.  Have those with you read from your own Bible if possible.

 

JESUS IS BORN – LUKE 2:1-7

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius (Kwy-re-nee-us) was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

  • What is a Christmas Light in this passage?
  • What is a Christmas Star in this passage?

 

GOOD NEWS! GREAT JOY! – LUKE 2:8-14

“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, 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. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’”

  • What is a Christmas Light in this passage?
  • What is a Christmas Star in this passage?

 

JUST AS THEY HAD BEEN TOLD – LUKE 2:15-20

“When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”

  • What is a Christmas Light in this passage?
  • What is a Christmas Star in this passage?

 

ADVENT

Many churches light Advent Candles in the weeks leading up to Christmas representing Hope, Joy, Peace, Love and Christ.  Looking at Luke 2:1-20, where do you see Hope? Joy? Peace? Love? Christ (the Savior)

PRAYER – Home leader, lead your family and loved ones in prayer.

 

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

Light a Christmas Candle in your home.  Ask why we light candles at Christmas. Ask what other events we celebrate with candles (Birthdays!). It is significant we light candles as markers of important people, events, or celebrations.  A Christmas candle represents the most important person, the most important event, and the greatest celebration!

Encourage your family to see every Christmas or candle light this year as a testimony to God’s faithfulness that we celebrate year after year.  Place the lit candle in your home somewhere where it will be safe and visible throughout the Christmas season.

This might be a great time to go out and look at Christmas lights in your city or neighborhood and remember this verse:

For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations!” (Psalm 100:5)

Merry Christmas to you and yours as we celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ this Christmas!