Mount Carmel BP Church

Sharing Christ at Christmas

With Christmas fast approaching, we are reminded of the beautiful gift that is the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. As we plan our gatherings with family and friends, let us not miss this opportunity to share the love of Jesus with those who need Him. 

If you are planning a Christmas gathering with family or friends, and you wonder how to have meaningful, spiritual conversations or go a step further to talk about Jesus, we have some ideas to get you going:

THE BASICS

  • Date: Target a December date to take advantage of the Christmas vibes
  • Time: Avoid ending the session too late at night to make it easy for those using public transport
  • Venue: Somewhere comfortable and conducive for conversations
  • Food: It’s not about a lavish spread but about showing God’s lavish love. Simple fare can also be yummy
  • Prayer: This is essential! Pray for guests to encounter the living God through your words and presence, and ask the Holy Spirit to lead your conversations. Also, come and join other Carmelites in praying for your friends, relatives, associates and neighbours (FRANs) on Sundays in between services in the Sanctuary (front pews near Communion table)

PROGRAMME & ACTIVITIES

  • Welcome with finger food and drinks
  • Food fellowship (if at home, cook, order delivery or suggest a potluck)
  • Play games, sing carols, have a gift exchange
  • Play music to set the mood – Spotify has lots of Christmas playlists like this
  • If you’re not someone who organises parties or gatherings, that’s OK too! You could arrange to catch up with friends over a meal or an exercise session, and take the opportunity to go deeper in the conversation.

HOW TO HAVE SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS

It is important not to force spiritual conversations but first, learn to listen well and meet them where they are.

  • Show genuine interest in their life: Beyond the usual chit chat, ask questions like “What is something you are most grateful for this year?” or “Any big reflections for you as the year ends?”. As your guest reflects and shares, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal appropriate follow-on questions and their readiness to hear the gospel. Listen carefully to their sharing and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s promptings
  • Stay open to understand their beliefs: When your friends share their opinions on religion, don’t squash their beliefs or correct them immediately. Instead, respond in a friendly tone: “That’s an interesting view! How did it come about?”. Seek to understand their background and experiences that have shaped them & try to find common ground.
  • Share how God has been real in your life: What are some of your struggles and how did God lead you through a difficult time? Or what has he been showing you recently about Himself or people? This makes Him real and personal and builds connection as you are authentic.
  • Share about Christmas: One easy idea is to suggest singing Christmas carols to break the ice. As the host, you could also share with your guests your Christmas traditions, have a Christmas story-telling session using a book or props (this works especially well with young kids and the adults get to overhear!) or even give out Candy canes and explain their significance.

For more tips on spiritual conversations, check out the links here and here. For tips on holiday gatherings in particular, the links here and here may be helpful.

WHAT’S NEXT?

If your guest is open and wants to know more about God (hooray!):

  • Invite them to the Christmas Eve service, or the next run of the Alpha Course at Mt Carmel in February 2026 – and plan to attend it with them! There they can clarify doubts, ask questions and learn about basics of Christianity
  • Share with them your own testimony 
  • If you feel prompted, ask if they would like to hear the good news of Jesus Christ (you could use twowaystolive.com) and allow them to respond. Offer to pray with or for them if they are open! 

Either way, continue to show love and care for them, and persevere in prayer. Remember that it’s not all up to you. Your role is to plant a seed as the Spirit leads and to keep on loving them. Trust God to do the rest!