Rediscovering Christmas: The Gift of Community

by Mike Fisk / December 7, 2023

Ah, December! In my house – much to my son's chagrin, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra have an exclusive monopoly over our Spotify queue. Their warm velvety voices set the backdrop for all our Christmas activities. But in the middle of this familiar soundtrack, as I listen to Frankie sing the line, “faithful friends who are dear to us, will be near to us once more,” I'm reminded of the importance of community, how we often lose touch with each other among the holiday hubbub, and how we often lose sight of the story at the heart of Christmas, the Gospel.

Seeing Beyond the Manger

As we unpack our nativity sets from the attic and remember the story of the baby in the manger, it's easy to get so wrapped up in little 6lb 8oz baby Jesus, all bundled up in a food trough, surrounded by barnyard animals, that we lose sight of the bigger picture. This little baby is the center of the biggest, most wonderful story ever told. It's a story of our redemption through divine intervention, where God joins us in our messy world to bring us salvation and hope.

Cutting Through Our Celebrations

Christmas morning is magical – the excitement of tearing open presents, the joy of watching our kid’s eyes light up as they discover all their new toys. This joy that we see and feel is a mirror of the unparalleled joy that filled the world when the coming Messiah finally came to earth. This year, as we open up our gifts together, let’s keep in our minds, and the minds of our kids, the ultimate gift – God sending His Son who transformed the course of history and our lives.

The Gift of Community

The Christmas season can often focus on our own families and traditions, which sometimes leads us to drift away from our spiritual community. This Christmas, I encourage you – make the effort to stay connected with your church family. Whether it's a quick check-in call, an encouraging text, or getting involved in a Life Group, these connections help all of us on our journey towards Christlikeness.

Living the Message

The story of Christmas is more than an excuse to eat cookies, watch holiday classics, and enjoy giving gifts; it's a time to refocus on our own personal discipleship, and remember the gospel. Jesus came to reconcile us with God! Remembering this – seeing the love of Christ displayed in the cross, should draw us closer to Him. Recognizing what Jesus did in coming to earth, living a perfect righteous life on our behalf, and dying on a cross for our sins leads us to fall deeper and deeper in love with him which motivates us to spend time in prayer and immerse ourselves in the Word. Christmas is also a time to reach out to fellow believers, helping and encouraging each other in our faith. And it's time to share this beautiful message of reconciliation with the world.

As we enjoy this season, let's not lose sight of the big picture. As we enjoy our favorite Christmas tunes, treats, and holiday traditions, let's remember the joy of what this season means. Let's make this Christmas a time of deep reflection, joyful connection, and a renewed commitment to living out the Gospel.