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Christmas
Keeping It Real

Main Point:  Not many would argue that the Christmas season has long ago become over-marketed and commercialized. The following article is a real life illustration of what one church did to make that point and do something about it. Take it from there with a discussion on what Christmas really means, making it personal to each student’s life with our suggested questions.

Introduction:  "Many people believe that the Christmas season has long ago become over-marketed and commercialized. The following article is a real life illustration of what one church did to make that point and do something about it."
    Church’s ‘Skipping Christmas’ Campaign Focuses on God’s Gift
    Charisma News Service
    December 14, 2004

    Move over Scrooge, a church in Kentucky is skipping Christmas -- sort of. Crossroads Christian Church in Lexington isn't suggesting bailing out on the celebration altogether, just the bad parts such as the stress, getting into debt and huge crowds, The Lexington Herald-Leader reported. "We want to encourage people not to get so caught up in the trappings of the season that they miss the heart of what Christmas is about," said Fred Turner, a pastor at the church. "We are not calling for people not to buy presents or put up trees, but we are trying to turn the focus on the things that matter." Turner said the church got the idea from John Grisham's newest book, Skipping Christmas, which has been made into the movie, Christmas with the Kranks, starring Tim Allen. Crossroads Christian began a series of weekly discussions on the "Skipping Christmas" campaign that focus on helping the community find simplicity, joy, rest, belonging and Jesus, while skipping the loneliness, obligations and rush that come with the holiday. The last session will be on Christmas Eve. "We really think this is important because the heart of Christmas needs to be getting back to who Jesus is and why He cares," Turner told the Lexington Herald-Leader. (http://www.charismanow.com)

Transition Statement:  "We’re not saying that this is the right thing to do or the thing you must do, but I find the story intriguing.  We want to know what you think?"

Small Group Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of what the church did?  Yay or nay?  Why?


  2. Crossroads Christian Church said they weren’t “bailing out on the celebration altogether, just the bad parts such as the stress, getting into debt and huge crowds.” Do you think it’s possible to avoid stress, debt and huge crowds during the Christmas season?  How?


  3. What do you like most about Christmas?


  4. What do you like least?


  5. What impact do you think that all the “merchandizing, stress, etc. has on society? On you?


  6. What if our church decided to “Skip Christmas?”  What impact would that have on people? On you?


  7. What would you suggest doing instead and why?



    8. Read The Following Verse:
      Colossians 2:8, See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

  8. This verse is usually used when talking about basic Biblical doctrine.  Since the birth of Christ is one of the historical facts on which Christians base their beliefs, let’s relate this verse to Christmas.  Do you think there are any “hollow and deceptive philosophies” and “human traditions” that have developed in our culture during the Christmas season?


  9. What about you personally?  How can you avoid being “taken captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy” about Christmas?  How can you ‘keep it real’ this Christmas and not become part of the Christmas stress ‘machine'?

Passage Options:
The Christmas story – Luke 1.26-31 and 2.1-20

Wrap-up:
Regardless of how we think someone should celebrate Christmas as a holiday, we never want to get away from the true meaning behind it: Christ’s birth, without which salvation would not have come into the world and would not have come to you and me personally.

We’re going to close by making a simple note or card to Jesus, writing to Him what His birth means to us personally. Over the holidays, I encourage you to keep this card where you can see it and let God remind you that He loved you so much He sent Jesus to be born and to die for you.
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