Seven Ideas for Keeping Christ Central at Christmas

I love the food that we eat at Christmas. I love hanging out with family, playing games and just having good conversation. I enjoy exchanging gifts. Christmas lights bring a smile to my face.

Yet, I find that these Christmas trappings can sometimes distract me from the most important part of Christmas. Jesus, God’s Son and the One who would become the Savior of the world, was born in a stable in Bethlehem. Jesus Christ is the reason for celebrating Christmas.

Here are seven ideas for keeping Christ central during the Christmas season:

1. Read one of the Gospels or a Christmas Devotional

I am currently reading the Gospel of Luke as I go through the Christmas season. Some years, I have read a Christmas devotional. Focusing on Christ during my devotional times in December helps me to prepare my heart and mind for the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

2. Celebrate Advent in Your Home

Early on in our marriage, one of our family members made us an advent wreath. Each year, we anticipate celebrating Jesus’ birth by lighting the advent candles on the four Sunday evenings before Christmas and on Christmas Eve. Our kids love this time of singing Christmas carols and putting our focus back on Christ.

3. Join the Advent Conspiracy

A couple years ago, our church encouraged people to join the advent conspiracy. The four tenets of the conspiracy are to worship fully, spend less, give more, and love all. As a family, we decided to be more generous with those in need and to give less to those who already have so much (like us). We send out Christmas shoeboxes through Samaritan’s Purse and purchase animals, water filters, mosquito nets, and other items that help people who are struggling. We also look for people and causes closer to home that we can support a bit more at Christmas.

4. Recognize the Spiritual Significance of some Christmas Trappings

Our lead pastor at South Langley Church recently preached a sermon entitled, “Christmas Lights.” The message: Jesus is the Light of the World and we have the opportunity to reflect him to the world around us. Many Christmas symbols have a powerful spiritual meaning that can point us to Christ. Check out the Christmas Testimony website for a description of some of these symbols.

5. Take in a Christmas Eve Service

Attending a Christmas Eve church service can go a long way in helping us focus on Christ just before we move into what can be an overly indulgent time of eating and receiving gifts.

6. Read the Christmas Story

We have always tried to read the Christmas story on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. If you have younger kids present, you may even want to act it out. This helps frame the gift-giving in light of the most incredible Gift-giver and the gift of His Son.

7. Serve Others

I know of people who will feed the homeless at Christmas. We will sometimes have people over for our Christmas meal who don’t have family in the area. Other times, we have blessed our neighbors by giving them a plate of Christmas baking. Serving others takes our eyes off ourselves.

These are just a few of the ways that we have found helpful for keeping our eyes on Jesus while still enjoying many of the good trappings of the Christmas season.

I would love to hear what you do to keep Christ central at Christmas (please leave a comment below).