How Will We Celebrate Christmas This Year?

We usually focus on the coming of Christ during our Christmas celebrations. Have you also thought about celebrating Christmas by focusing on being and making Christlike disciples? As I reflected on this, I wondered what would this mean in terms of living out our NDI discipleship values.

Many Christian families read the Christmas story together and recall that Jesus Christ came to us as an infant (Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-20). In comprehensive biblical learning, we learn how God enables us to be Christlike disciples and make Christlike disciples. Learning the Scriptures through individual and group study helps us to become more like Jesus. When we study the Word of God,  we uncover who God is, how God loves, and how we are to love others.

Also, at Christmas we remember that Jesus Christ came as the living Word of God (John 1:1-18). This “Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” Furthermore, “Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.” Through his compassionate outreach, God is continually reaching out to prepare people’s hearts to receive salvation. Compassionate outreach reveals God’s love for humanity. It is a disciple’s care for non-believers, both local and global, that places a face and hand to God’s grace and love.

The Christmas story includes those who longed for Christ’s coming, some with fervent prayer (Luke 2:21-40). Jesus Christ modeled prayer and taught his disciples to pray (Luke 11:1-13 and Matthew 6:5-18). Prayer is an essential part of discipleship. It is the bedrock upon which all other ministry efforts are built. As we pray, God inspires us to be actively engaged in the world. Through prayer, we participate in the Holy’s Spirit’s transforming power, both for ourselves and for our neighbors.

We also find authentic relationships in the Christmas story (Matthew 2 and John 3:16-21). Both good and bad characters are portrayed. God loves the world so much that he sent his only Son.  Some believe unto eternal life while others remain condemned through their unbelief. The core of our faith and life is to love God and love others. Everyone committed to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) should be engaged in relationships that honor God and edify the Body of Christ. Loving relationships help us walk the path of holiness as we receive both encouragement and loving correction.

The Christmas narrative also includes intentional mentoring and equipping by angels and relatives (Matthew 1:18-24 and Luke 1:26-56). Much of Jesus’ ministry included mentoring and equipping (Mark 6:6-13 and Luke 10:1-24). Mentoring and equipping is a discipleship process that introduces new believers to Jesus and reveals how to follow him personally and fully. Also, mentoring and equipping others on the journey of discipleship is essential to Christian growth and maturity.

What will your Christmas celebrations include this year? Share with us how you celebrate Christmas in 2024. Contact me at dstanton@nazarene.org.