‘Tis the season to be Bible sharing
The Word One to One’s Community Engagement Manager, Christine Armstrong, shares some practical ideas on how you and your church family can help others get to know Jesus this Christmas.
Christmas is fast approaching, and we all want to make the most of the chance to celebrate and proclaim to our communities the good news: that the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.
You may be on top of planning the logistics of carol services (minus the COVID restrictions for a change!), parties, gift-buying, and where and who you’ll spend time with over the Christmas period.
You may also have plans to invite family, friends, neighbours, colleagues and acquaintances to your events and carol services so that they can hear the gospel, which is still a very socially acceptable invitation that Christians should make the most of.
But have you factored into your thinking that ‘tis the season for Bible sharing?
If you aren’t familiar with the concept of Bible sharing, it simply involves a Christian taking someone through God’s Word to help them get to know Jesus. Usually enjoyed one-to-one, it’s proving to be a very approachable and enjoyable way for people to explore the gospel, and it’s something every Christian can do with their family and friends.
The Word One to One is a resource that has been designed for this very purpose. It gives countless Christians around the world everything they need to guide people through John’s Gospel, depending on God’s Word to do its work.
Here are some practical ideas for how you could make the most of this Christmas season to get going with sharing God’s Word with others.
Make the most of Christmas events
If you’re a church leader, it’s really important to plan a clear pathway from your Christmas events for people to find out more about Jesus.
You may invite them to come back to do courses like Hope Explored or Christianity Explored, which is a great option for some. But what about those who are spiritually open, but can’t make the course or aren’t ready to join a group thing in a largely unfamiliar setting?
Equipping your congregation to share God’s Word with others on a one-to-one (or slightly bigger group basis), is a fantastic way to follow up with people after events. Why not get yourself and your whole church family ready and motivated with some training (you might only need a short refresher!) and real stories of people around the world who are sharing God’s Word, so that they have the confidence to personally invite people to look at the first 18 verses of John’s gospel together? Pray about it in your prayer meetings leading up to Christmas, and check out our training resources here.
“Equipping your congregation to share God’s Word with others on a one-to-one (or slightly bigger group basis), is a fantastic way to follow up with people after events.”
It’s also worth brainstorming some creative ideas for how you could engage those who are already in contact with your church. Last year, we heard of a church north of Glasgow gifting a copy of the first book of The Word One to One to everyone at their final toddlers’ session, along with a children’s storybook and letter from their minister inviting them to Christmas services and for someone to read John’s Gospel with them.
Amidst all the exciting Christmas festivities, don’t miss the opportunity to introduce and promote The Word One to One from the front, and to have some copies of the books available for people to look at. You might find folks who are ready and prepared to read with those who show an interest in exploring the gospel further, so make sure you provide a way for them to be connected and start reading together!
For more practical suggestions on following up events and courses, check out this blog post.
Be intentional in your down-time
The downtime after the Christmas rush can be a fantastic opportunity for you to reconnect with friends and family. It’s worth texting or ringing around your Christmas card list to see how they are and rekindle your friendships, with the prayerful intention of inviting them to look at the first episode of The Word One to One with you soon.
If you’re spending time with family and friends in person, why not have some copies of The Word One to One with you, and in between all the food, classic Christmas films and board games, ask them if they’d like to spend half an hour looking at the first episode? It’s a conversational rather than confrontational approach to sharing what you believe about Jesus. Reassure them that they can be totally honest about their thoughts as you look at it.
“Inviting someone to read John’s Gospel with you is a conversational rather than confrontational approach to sharing what you believe about Jesus.”
Remember, The Word One to One is a tool in your toolkit all year round – but let's not miss the opportunity this Christmas to show people Jesus, the Word made flesh, and the true hope, peace and joy He offers.
Find out more about mobilising your church for Bible sharing.
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