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December Evangelism
December Evangelism
Turning everyday conversations into conversations about Jesus can be difficult, but I think it is easiest in December. I am often shocked at the worldly entertainment Americans justify in public places like shopping malls and theme parks, but in those same places you will likely hear songs celebrating the birth of Christ this month. We should take advantage of these opportunities while Americans still include this as part of their holiday culture every year. How we celebrate or refrain from celebrating holidays is an individual choice (Romans 14:5-6), but the opportunities to talk to people about Jesus should not be passed up by any of us. Here are three easy ways you can evangelize this month:
Share Scripture
Point someone to God by sharing a passage of His life-giving word with them. As people are hearing about the birth of Jesus this time of year, it makes sense to share a verse with someone from the beginning of any of the gospels. Share a verse that shows the true importance of Jesus’ birth (Matthew 1:21-23; Mark 1:1-2; Luke 2:11-14; John 1:11-14). If someone seems interested in the initial verse you share, ask them if they would be interested in studying that book of the Bible more. If you do not feel comfortable leading a Bible study on your own, I would be happy to join! Find a verse that you feel excited to share and keep sowing that seed. Someone is going to be interested.
Invite Someone to Church
If someone is hearing about Jesus on the radio or their Spotify Christmas playlist, then maybe they would also be interested in visiting His church. I often talk myself out of inviting people to church because I think they are going to say no. They might say no, but I think they are more likely to say yes during this time of year. A recent pew research study found that over half of Americans plan to attend a church service around Christmas time. This month you will probably encounter more retail workers than you usually do, so take the chance to invite one of those retail workers to church. If a salesman at the mall tries to give you something, give him one of our trifolds so they can read the basics of Salvation and learn more about the Brandon church of Christ. Even if they never end up walking through the doors of our church building, you never know what the outcome will be of sowing a seed. “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6). God gives the increase, but we must labor in our sowing and watering (1 Corinthians 3:8).
Ask If They Understand What They Are Hearing
In Acts 8, we read about an Ethiopian in a chariot who is reading from the prophet Isaiah. When Philip catches up to him, he asks, “Do you understand what you are reading?” Whenever I read this, I think about how easy of an opportunity that would be to talk to someone about Jesus, but I never see anyone reading Isaiah in public so I never get my chance. This month you will likely be around non-believers who gladly listen to songs about the birth of Jesus, but they probably do not understand the magnitude of what they are listening to. Explain to these people that the birth of Jesus is just the beginning. Explain that He was born to die for all of us. It is possible that people will not care even when you explain the weight of Jesus’ birth, but it is also possible that someone will respond with obedient belief like the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8.
All of us have been blessed to know the true magnitude of Jesus’ birth while many Americans forget about it after December. Perhaps if they understood Jesus’ birth better they would remember His death the whole year.
--William Speer
