10 Things to Do with Your Family this Christmas Season
Over two millennia ago, the Lord Jesus Christ disrupted the very firmaments of heaven and earth as God incarnate; when he came to earth in human flesh and dwelt among us. This event was so extraordinary that the entire world separates history into two time periods: the time before his birth — before Christ (BC) — and the time after his birth — in the year of our Lord (Anno Domini, AD). This glorious and miraculous event was the eager anticipation and hope of the elect since before man was banished from Eden. Both angels and men admiringly worshiped at its occurrence. And it has been celebrated by the Christian Church since the time of the Apostles. Let us not forget that our faith is firmly rooted in the person of Jesus Christ — he is the very cornerstone of our salvation. Without him we have no hope of redemption.
As we prepare to celebrate the glorious incarnation of Christ this December, we’ve compiled a list of ten ways you can make Christmas more meaningful for your family this year. We’ll be posting a new article each day leading up to Christmas Eve. We hope you’ll consider and enjoy them.
1. Read the Gospel Story (see below) 2. Listen to Christmas Music 3. Bring In a Christmas Tree 4. Put Candles In the Window 5. Decorate Your Home for Christmas 6. Praise God with Song and Carols 7. Share the Good News 8. Reach Out to Help Those In Need 9. Eat, Drink and Be Merry 10. Give Gifts to Neighbors & Family
1. Read the Gospel Story
The best place to begin with Christmas is to start with the Scriptures. In the first verses of Psalm 78 the psalmist proclaims:
Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.
Let the “glorious deeds of the Lord” be your focus. Contemplate the “wonders that he has done” in giving us the gift of eternal life. Help your family understand the “dark sayings of old … that we have heard and known.” But don’t just read the second chapter of Luke — give your family a complete narrative of salvation.
Start with the proto-evangelium (the first Gospel) in Genesis 3:15 — with the promise that Christ will crush the serpent under his foot. Read through the covenant promises of God who will comfort his people and pardon their iniquity (Isaiah 40:1–5). Rejoice in the the story of Jesus’ advent (Zechariah 9:9–10, Luke 2). Observe his ministry and calling to repentance (Matthew 11:28–30). Consider how he was despised and rejected by men in his death (Isaiah 53:3–6). Exalt in the victorious resurrection of the King of Glory (Psalm 24:7–10), his ascension on high (Psalm 68:18), his Kingdom advance (Romans 10:18), and his final victory (Revelation 19:6). Then worship God who is worthy of all blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever (Revelation 5:12–13)!
Keep the Word of God preeminent this season by continually being stirred up in remembrance of the Gospel — that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
Here are several family activities to consider:
- Have your children see how many prophecies in the Old Testament they can find relating to Christ’s birth, life, and resurrection — and their fulfillment in the New Testament.
- Chart the genealogies listed in Matthew 1 (Joseph’s) and Luke 1 (Mary’s) and read the stories of Jesus’ ancestors in the Old Testament.
- Find additional Scriptural texts that proclaim the promise and fulfillment of the gospel of the kingdom in this article, Behold Your King, inspired by the text of Handel’s Messiah.