Troy H. Jones

Ok, I am on a personal crusade.  I am sick of Christ followers having bumper stickes that say, “Jesus is the reason for the season”  I like and agree with the statement.  Here is my problem…what difference does Jesus make during this Chistmas season for you?  Another way to put this question—what is one thing you are doing this Christmas season to remember the Christ child?  Be honest..just name one thing?

Here is my personal challlenge and crusade I am on—I want to challenge you to read the Christmas story as a family on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.  I know this doesn’t solve every problem.  But, it is a step. I would love to  see 100 families or even 1,000 families  commit this year to reading the Christmas story.

Will you take this challenge?  I would love to hear from you. 

I have discovered people need very practical advice when doing something of this nature.  So here are some practical tips to make this happen.

• Attention men.  You take the lead.  You may be a grandfater, father, oldest child, oldest uncle—I don’t know.  But you take the lead.  For those single moms obvioulsy you need to step up if you don’t have a male in your family to do this. I know this takes guts.  I know it feels uncomfortable.  Break through this. I would rather preach to a couple of thousand than read to my family of 4.  But, they need me to step up.
• Ladies—allow the men to lead.  Don’t make him feel uncomfortable.  He won’t do it the way you do it the way you do it.  This is good.  You don’t want him to be a female.  You want him to be a man.  Allow him to step up in his own way.
• I would suggest either Luke 2:8-14 or Luke 2:1-20.  You don’t need to read a bunch.  Only a few scriptures.
• Read the text a couple of times before reading it outloud to your family
• Don’t  make this into a Bible study
• When you read the Christmas story—don’t make comments. None.  Just read.  Let your family here the Word of God. 
• I suggest the NIV…however you may want to look at the message Bible or some other version. 
• Read the story “before” or “after” something.   Say something like this, “before we eat dinner on Christmas eve let’s read the Christmas story together” or “before we open the first gifts….” or “before we have breakfast”.  “After we open the stockings”  
• Don’t make this long.  No more than 5-7 minutes.  Read the Scripture and say a quick prayer over the family.
• Once you decide “when” do it.  When the time arrives just speak up and say, “hey let’s read the Christmas story together.  It will only take a few moments:
• After you are done reading—say a quick prayer.  Don’t be fancy.  Just a quick prayer for this day.  Maybe even write this prayer out and read it.  Whatever you are comfortable with.  Be ok if you stumble through your  prayer. Don’t make it long.
• When you done reading—says, , “lets eat” or “lets open gifts” 

So there it is…a personal challenge.  I would love to hear from other tips you may have.  I would love to see 10, 100  or 1000 men respond to this blog and say, “I’m in!”

So here we go…I am the first one “I’m in!”  I will read the Christmas story with my family this year.