All I Want For Christmas Is Someone To Share My Faith
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord, help me understand what it means to be calm and focus on You during these celebrations. Amen
Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:15-18 NLT
REFLECT:
When I was growing up my folks made us wait until Christmas morning to get our gifts. I don’t know how my dad and mom were able to wait that long to hand out presents. As an adult, I have a bad habit of wanting to give gifts that I have purchased for my wife immediately. I just can’t wait for her to see what I got for her.
A friend of mine, Jim Mathias, is like that with the message of Christ. He has recently become a volunteer chaplain at the Union Rescue Mission. As a result, the composition of our Sunday school class has really changed from one that is made up of mostly seniors, who are seasoned Bible students, to one that has added several younger men who are new to the study of the Word. His enthusiasm for sharing the message of the Gospel is truly fulfilling the moto of Pathway, “God is one step away.” Recently, because of Jim’s sharing the message with these men, three members of the class were baptized.
APPLY:
As the focus Scripture states, we need to be ready to share why we have the hope we do. People need to understand there is more to Christmas than presents and parties. By doing this, you will be able to experience the joy that comes from seeing individuals internalize the hope that you have shared with them.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Lord, teach me how to share my hope in You with friends and family who don’t know why You came, and the hope that can be theirs when they believe in You. Amen
WORSHIP: