12 Ways To Keep Your Christmas Christ-Centered

Between the glitz, the glam, and the commercialism that makes Christmas so focused on STUFF these days, it’s important to remember the real reason for the season. And while you may know the importance of Jesus’ birth and why we celebrate Christmas, your family and kiddos may not yet grasp the importance of it. But don’t worry, I’ve made a list of 12 ways to keep Christmas Christ-centered this year, and every year from here on out! While it’s totally okay, even fun!, to celebrate Christmas with gingerbread houses and presents, let’s make sure Jesus doesn’t take a back seat to Santa Claus and toys this Christmas. Here are 12 ways to make sure Jesus is first in our hearts this season:

1. Do A Christian Advent Calendar

Every year when I was a child, my mom bought a Christian advent calendar that counted down the days to Jesus’s birth. My siblings and I would take turns opening a window each day, from December 1st to December 25th. It was a fun tradition we had to look forward to each year, and it helped us to remember the true meaning of Christmas. Most of the advent calendars had Bible verses in each window or each window told a part of the Christmas story.

2. Read the Christmas Story

You can’t go wrong with bringing out the Bible before or after dinner when everyone is gathered at the table and reading the Christmas story from Luke 2. You could read the story all the way through or break it up and read a part of the story each night.

3. Go To A Christmas Eve Church Service

Christmas Eve Church Services are always a great way to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas. It’s easy to get all caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas, but I always look forward to slowing down and worshiping God at our Christmas Eve church service the night before Christmas every year. It never fails to remind me of why we celebrate Christmas and the importance behind the holiday.

4. Decorate With A Nativity Scene

My mom collects nativity scenes so she’s got to have at least 10+ around her house by now. It’s the perfect way to decorate the house with beautiful physical reminders of Christ’s birth. You could have your kiddos help you arrange the nativity scene and talk about each character in the Christmas story and what actually happened in real life as you put out each figurine.

5. Listen To Christian Christmas Music Throughout Your Day

There’s nothing like worship music to help you focus on Jesus and worship Him, and the same goes with Christian Christmas music. Play a favorite Christian artist’s Christmas album, turn on the Christian music radio station, or listen to the Christian Christmas playlists on Spotify for free!

6. Watch The Nativity Story

We got The Nativity Story movie a few years back and it’s a beautiful picture of what Jesus’ birth and the events leading up to it might have looked liked. We usually watch it every Christmas evening and I’ve really enjoyed that tradition that we started.

7. Make A Birthday Cake For Jesus

Christmas is when we celebrate Jesus’s birthday after all, so what better way to help your children understand that than birthday cake! Every child understands that birthday cake and birthdays go hand in hand. You could write Happy Birthday Jesus on the cake and explain to your kids that Christmas is the day we celebrate Jesus’ birthday when He came to earth as a baby.

8. Pack A Shoebox For Operation Christmas Child

I wrote about Operation Christmas Child in this post here that you can read if you are interested in learning more. Packing a shoebox for a child in need in a 3rd world country is a great way to celebrate Christmas and give a child an opportunity to hear the gospel with their Christmas shoebox gift. As you pack the box, you can explain to your kids how the children receiving the box will get to hear about Jesus’s love for them as they receive their gift.

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A New Post Each Day Leading Up To Christmas Day, See Them All Here!

9. Deliver Hot Chocolate and The Gospel To Homeless Shelters

Who doesn’t enjoy a steaming cup of hot chocolate? Use the opportunity of passing out hot chocolate to those in need to also start some conversations with others. You could tell them about God’s love and why he came to earth to be born one Christmas many years ago so he could save us all from our sins and give us eternal life with him in Heaven. You’ll be bringing something a lot more special than hot cocoa to those sweet people.

10. Participate In A Living Nativity Scene

My husband had the opportunity to participate in a living nativity scene as a child and he loved it! If your church or a local church nearby is putting on a living nativity, you and your family could sign up to play a few of the roles. Participating in the reenactment of the Christmas story will surely remind your family of the meaning of Christmas.

11. Make A Christmas Decoration Relating To The Christmas Story

I remember when I was in elementary school, we would make angel crafts at church in Sunday school during the Christmas season to hang on the tree or decorate our homes with. I always LOVED making those crafts and decorating the house with them. You could find an angel craft or some other Christmas story related craft to make with your kiddos that they could decorate the house with. While making the craft, you could talk about the Christmas story, for example the angels who appeared to the shepherds in the night telling them about Jesus’s birth.

12. Do A Prayer Thanking Jesus For His Birth At Christmas Dinner

Don’t forget to include Jesus in on the excitement on Christmas day. You could dedicate a special time to thanking Jesus for his birth and ultimately His life here on Earth and death so He could save us all from our sin and spend eternity with us in Heaven. There is no greater gift than the gift Jesus was to all of us on Christmas day!

And That’s A Wrap!

12 ways to keep Jesus the focus this Christmas, and every Christmas from here on out. If you liked this post, please feel free to give it a pin using the image below. And don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss another day of Countdown to Christmas in this 25 day series!! 🙂 Merry Christmas!