One of my favorite songs at Christmas when I was growing up was Bill Monroe’s version of “Christmas Time’s A Coming.” It’s a fast paced Bluegrass celebration of Christmas and home that still makes me feel good when I hear it.
I thought about that song this week while Monieca and I were celebrating Thanksgiving with our family at the beach. Yes, we enjoyed all the traditional Thanksgiving things – turkey and stuffing, family conversation and prayer, football and more football. But “turkey day” is the holiday that seems to always share its space with Christmas.
Like most Americans we were also Christmas shopping on Thanksgiving. We shopped on our laptops, iPhones, iPads, and even visited old fashioned brick and mortar stores. With the grandchildren dressed in Christmas outfits Monieca had purchased, we went with them to visit Santa. We also discussed Christmas plans with everyone – who is off work when and who is going where.
We’re not unique in this. Christmas is big and there’s a lot to do. All of us know that it will be here soon. It’s coming!
That’s also good news. Think about it! We get to have a month long celebration of Jesus and His love for humanity.
It’s also good news because most Americans will attend some type of religious activity during December. That includes lost and unchurched Americans. Of those who don’t, research tells us a majority of them would if someone invited them. Now think about for a minute.
A large majority of unchurched Americans would attend church in December if someone invited them. That is great news!
It means that most of the people on your OIKOS Evangelism List – people you already know who don’t know Jesus or don’t go to church – are waiting for someone like you to invite them to church during the Christmas season. Talk about a reason to be excited that Christmas Time’s A Coming.
Take time today to pray for those on your list. Then get busy and start inviting them to church. Invite them to a Sunday morning worship service – even invite them to join you in Sunday School one week. Invite them to our Christmas Eve service. Take them with you to ring the bell for the Salvation Army at Walmart. Invite them to your Sunday School class Christmas party. Invite them to something.
Christmas time really is coming and it’ll be here before you know it. Be glad and seize the opportunity God is giving us.
Pastor Steve Hogg
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