When Paul charged Timothy to preach the word in season and out of season, he wasn’t referring to the calendar or the climate. Rather, that we experience times of openness to the Bible’s message, as well as periods of stubborn resistance. Timothy was to press on, in both ‘seasons’.
The Christmas ‘season’ annually generates gospel opportunities that we would be foolish to miss though. The church is like a striker facing an open goalmouth, on the six-yard line, with the goalie nowhere in sight! In every church or CU I have ever been part of, in England or Scotland, people from outside the fellowship have accepted invitations to Christmas events, like carol or watchnight services. Christmas does seem to be ‘in season’ – every year .
Observers of our culture are also suggesting that we are living in a changing season and there is much discussion about the so-called ‘Quiet Revival’. Whether you are convinced by its more enthusiastic proponents or are more circumspect, everyone agrees that there seems to be more openness to considering Jesus than we have seen in a long time. One of the most striking things in the Bible Society’s recent research were the answers to the question, “Apart from weddings, baptisms/christenings, and funerals, would you attend a church service if you were invited by a friend?” 31% of people said ‘yes’. So, if our churches mobilise invitationally this December, we will meet many people who are willing to come and hear the gospel and experience a worshipping community of believers in action.
Each housegroup in my church is allocated a ‘patch’ and we deliver hundreds of leaflets around the town every December. Another fellowship set up a free Christmas present wrapping service in their city centre, as a way of meeting and inviting people to services, and chatting about the gospel. Others use carol-singing as a way of connecting and welcoming people in. What might work in your town?
What seems to be critical – along with proactively going out and inviting people, is knowing what to do when they come! Some things are obvious such as having a Christ-centred, gospel-focussed message which assumes no prior knowledge of the Bible or Christian language, at every event. Other things are also important such as having open homes for hospitality after services, as well as something to give to everyone who shows up. (A gift-wrapped gospel of Luke with some chocolates and a Christmas card from the church, is a winner).
The thing that sometimes gets missed though is giving the newcomer an obvious and inviting way of taking the next step towards Christ. What if, at the end of a carol service a visitor sitting in the pew is thinking to themselves, “I am dissatisfied with myself and with my life, and I think there might be something to this Jesus message I’ve just heard”. Then, it’s important to let them know what to do next.
Some churches launch their evangelistic courses in January, to make a good place for Christmas guests to come next. After carol services, many students in CU’s are offering to read through the “Uncover Luke” presentation of the gospel with those who come. The critical thing is that we don’t just use our Christmas events to arouse people’s spiritual hunger but also make real spiritual food easily accessible for them too.
“’Tis the season to be… if not jolly, then at least invitational!”. If a third of people really would be willing to accept an invitation to come to church, then that suggests that not only is Christmas a good season, but that our country is currently “in season” with many people who are spiritually searching. 75 years ago CS Lewis pictured the world in darkness as being “always winter, but never Christmas”. If Aslan really is on the move, the ice is melting, and Christmas is coming; we need to be ready to invite and welcome people and commend Christ to them.
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This article was first published in the Evangelicals Now newspaper, and is published with their permission.
