While the various articles in this series have been more focused on how to evangelize extended family and friends during the Christmas season, this specific article will provide ways to evangelize your immediate family. In other words, this article is more for the close and intimate group you choose to gather with on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
Bridging the gap between Christmas to evangelism, we believe that you can easily utilize your family traditions. As a believer, these traditions may be something that you and your family already do. Nonetheless, by adding these Scripture readings, this can be a fairly simple path in talking about the gospel.
Luke 1:26-56 and Matthew 1:18-25
The first Scriptures to read is the announcement of the Virgin Birth. In Luke 1:26-56, Mary is informed that she will give birth to Jesus. In Matthew 1:18-25, Joseph is informed of this news. To begin a gospel presentation through your family tradition of reading Scripture, bring to light the reality of Jesus as God. Matthew 1:23 says that Jesus is "Immanuel, God with Us." Luke 1:32, 35 says that Jesus is the Son of the Highest and the Son of God. As you read through these two passages, make sure to bring the truth of Jesus's divinity to light.
These two passages also bring to light that Jesus is the King. Luke 1:32-33 says that Jesus will be given “the throne of his father, David, and he will reign” over Israel, and “his kingdom there will have no end.”
Lastly, these two passages bring to light that Jesus is Savior. Matthew 1:21 says that Jesus will “save his people from their sins.” As you work through these two passages, don't just read them—point out these truths about Jesus with purpose and intention.
Luke 2:1-20
After you have read about the announcement of the Virgin Birth in Luke 1:26-56 and Matthew 1:18-25, read Luke 2:1-20. This is the story of the birth of Jesus and the visiting of the shepherds. In order to evangelize those participating in this family tradition, you will need to emphasize Luke 2:11, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Here, Jesus is called "Savior." Make sure to emphasize the need for Jesus to come as a Savior. Further, Jesus is called "Christ." This word means Messiah, and Luke 2:11 is the first time Jesus is called the Messiah. With this, you want to emphasize that Jesus is the promised one from the Old Testament that God said He would send so His people so that they may be saved. In both aspects, Jesus as Savior and Jesus as Messiah. Therefore, emphasize that Jesus did not come to be a good example, person, or story. Rather, He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10).
Also, in reading this passage, you can bring to light is that the first people to visit Jesus were shepherds. These shepherds, whose field was right outside of Jerusalem, likely raised a few lambs that would've been used as sacrifices in the temple. Jesus being first visited by shepherds demonstrates that He had come to be the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. This further emphasizes that the purpose of His first coming was to save the lost.
Matthew 2:1-12
Following Luke 2:1-20, read Matthew 2:1-12. This is the story of the wisemen who came from the East to worship Jesus. In this section of the reading, you want to emphasize the gifts that were given. Three gifts were given to Jesus: Gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In his commentary on Matthew, John Walvoord writes, "Gold [is] for His deity and majesty, frankincense for the fragrance of His life and His intercession, myrrh for His sacrifice and death." Bring to light these three realities. Speak of the deity and majesty of Jesus. Then, speak of how His life would be perfect and pleasing to God. And lastly, speak of His sacrifice and death. Once again, emphasize that Jesus was born to die for the sins of man.
The Gift of the Magi
After you read these four passages, and if time allows, read "The Gift of the Magi." You can find the story here. The story is about a young couple who both sacrifice their most prized possession to give a great gift to the other. It's a touching story of love and sacrifice. The story concludes by comparing these gifts to the gifts of the wisemen. The author gives the principle that a gift that comes from sacrifice is the greatest kind of gift. Following this, instead of telling your family about how important it is to give sacrificially, tell them again that God gave the greatest gift, and it is the greatest sacrifice.
Conclusion
After you have walked through these Scriptures, ensure that you know your family members are saved. Ask them if they have received the best gift ever given. If they haven't, ask them if they want to be saved. To be prepared for them wanting to be saved, and so you can lead them in receiving Jesus as their Lord and Savior, make sure to read the sections on "Endgame" in our previous two articles (here and here).
John F. Walvoord, Matthew: Thy Kingdom Come (Galaxie Software, 2007), 23.
Written by Klayton Carson
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