Christmas is rapidly approaching. Many churches will be celebrating the Gospel truths that God’s people have embraced for centuries. The incarnation of Jesus Christ is essential to the foundation of the Christian faith. This is why Christians celebrate and rejoice: because Jesus came from heaven to earth, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, so that He could save people from their sins (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:21). I encourage us to invite people to Christmas Eve service for three reasons:
1. To get connected
The reality is that Christmas and Easter are the two holidays that almost anybody would be willing to come to a church service. At least, it’s a higher probability than normal. We have a saying in our culture: “CEO Christians” (Christmas and Easter Only). On some level, we all yearn for belonging; it’s part of our nature. We were created in the Image of God, after His likeness. God is a community. He is the one who eternally exists in three divine persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). As His image-bearers, we were created for community. Inviting people to Christmas services is an opportunity to get them connected into your church community, so that they can experience love, peace, harmony, beauty, and God through the body of Christ.
2. To hear the Gospel
The good news of Jesus is not only what saves us, but it also keeps us. Contrary to popular belief, the Gospel is not just for non-Christians. The Gospel is for everybody! We need to rehearse the good news to ourselves daily. Anyone who steps into our church doors needs to hear this truth proclaimed. What an amazing opportunity to invite people to hear about how God created the entire world, how we sin and rebelled against His laws, how He sent a Savior to save His people from their sins, how He was resurrected after three days, how He calls all men and women to believe in His Son—Jesus the Christ—through faith and repentance, and how He’s coming back to restore all things (Col. 1:19). Everybody needs to hear this good news!
3. To get a foretaste of the kingdom
“The church is the bearer to all the nations of a Gospel that announces the kingdom, the reign, and the sovereignty of God…and so to become corporately a sign, instrument, and foretaste of that sovereignty of the one true and living God over all nature, all nations, and all human lives.” These are the words from Lesslie Newbigin from his book Foolishness to the Greeks. Those we invite into our churches should get a preview of God’s kingdom as they are in the presence of the people of God.
Conclusion
Invite your friends, family, co-workers, classmates, and neighbors. In fact, welcome anybody who you have regular contact with. Invite them so that they can get connected to your church family, so that they can witness people publically demonstrating their devotion to Jesus, so that they can hear the good news of the cross of Christ, and so that they can get a foretaste of God’s kingdom.