December 7, 2024
The Christmas season is an excellent opportunity for small groups to deepen connections, grow in Christlikeness, and show the love of Jesus to their communities. With the right focus and activities, your small groups can become a space for your church community to experience the true meaning of Christmas. Here are seven ways to make your small group memorable this season!
1. Celebrate the Season Together
Christmas is a time of joy, togetherness, and Jesus’ birthday! Hosting a special celebration for your small group can set the tone for the season. Plan a Christmas party with festive food, decorations, and, of course, a birthday cake for Jesus. Activities such as caroling, cookie decorating, or a "White Elephant" gift exchange can make the event fun and engaging. However, remember the celebration should include a time for prayer and reflection on the birth of Christ as we are called to go and make disciples who make disciples.
2. Engage in a Christmas-Themed Bible Study
Pause your usual curriculum to dive into a Bible study that explores the Christmas story. This could include studying prophecies about Christ’s birth, the Nativity story, or the theological significance of God becoming flesh. Resources like Advent devotionals or studies designed for small groups during the holiday season can provide structure and spark meaningful discussions. This focused time in God’s Word can help members connect the season’s celebrations to its true purpose.
3. Serve Your Community Together
Christmas is a season of giving, making it the perfect time for your small group to engage in acts of service. Organize a group project such as volunteering at a local shelter, providing gifts for underprivileged children (i.e. Operation Christmas Child or Angel Tree), or adopting a family in need. These acts of kindness bless others and unite your group around a shared mission as you reflect Christ’s love to your community.
4. Share Personal Testimonies of God's Faithfulness
Set aside time during a gathering for group members to share how God has been faithful to them throughout the year. Encourage storytelling about past Christmases or moments when God’s provision was evident. These testimonies can inspire hope, deepen relationships, and remind everyone of God’s goodness in every season.
5. Incorporate Worship into Your Gatherings
Bring the group together for a special time of worship during the Christmas season. Sing traditional Christmas carols, read Scriptures about the birth of Christ, and pray for one another. A worshipful atmosphere can create a sense of awe and reverence, reminding everyone of the miraculous gift of Jesus. After all, it is the time of year when even the Grinch will sing a Christmas song!
6. Invite New People to Join
The holiday season often opens doors for outreach, as people may be more receptive to spiritual conversations or invitations to gather. Encourage group members to invite friends, coworkers, or neighbors who may not have a church family to experience the love of Christ through your group. Remember singles during the holidays as well, checking that they have a community to celebrate the season with and no one is forgotten. Hosting a low-pressure event, like a Christmas dinner or movie night, can provide an easy entry point for newcomers to connect with your group.
7. Make Discipleship a Priority
Christmas is a time to celebrate and an opportunity to be recommitted to the Great Commission. As your group focuses on Christ’s birth, consider how you can challenge and equip members to grow as disciples of Jesus. This could include discussing ways to live out your faith during the holiday season, setting spiritual goals for the coming year, or encouraging members to invite others into disciple-making relationships.
We Can Help
The Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s discipleship team is here to help your small group thrive this Christmas season to advance the Gospel! From Bible study materials and discipleship tools to training and mission opportunities, we are here to equip your group to grow spiritually, connect authentically, and serve effectively. Ready to start? Contact lmelton@gabaptist.org to request a consultant to visit with you and your ministry team.
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Dr. PJ Dunn serves the Georgia Baptist Mission Board as a Discipleship consultant.
