Offer them Christ
By: Rev. Tom Parkinson
Toward the end of his life, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, commissioned Thomas Coke to sail from England to America and continue the Methodist movement. As Coke’s ship was departing, Wesley stood on the pier and gave Coke a final word of instruction: “Offer them Christ.”
Those three words summarize the mission of the church across the ages. In all times, in all places, against all odds, and overcoming all barriers, the church is called to offer the gift of Jesus Christ to a world in need.
In this Christmas season many gifts will be offered as family and friends exchange presents. Meaningful as these gifts may be, none can compare to the greatest gift ever offered: God sending his only Son, Jesus, to be our Savior.
One of the blessings of this season is that many people will come to our church who have never experienced the joy of a relationship with Jesus Christ. They come because of family traditions, or because of special activities for their children, or because someone they know is involved in the worship service. Over the next month, we will have numerous opportunities to “offer them Christ.”
Beyond our church’s ministry, I know you will have opportunities to “offer them Christ” this Christmas. Every time you gather with family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers for holiday gatherings, you can share what Christmas means to you. Here are five intentional ways you can share Christ this Christmas:
Give personal testimony. During conversations at Christmas gatherings, find an opportunity share how Christ has made a difference in your life. During conversations, share how Christ has brought peace, joy, and love to your life.
Serve with Christlikeness. Find an intentional way you can serve in the community and be willing to share with others that you serve because you’ve been blessed by the gift of Jesus Christ.
Invite people to church. This is a great time of year for new guests to experience the power of worship and the joy of praising God. Christmas services provide a great reason to invite someone to join you for the first time.
Send Christmas cards that share scripture. Be intentional about incorporating scripture into your greeting cards. Write notes on them that let folks know you are praying for them. Let your greeting cards be an expression of your faith.
Pray. Pray for individuals you know by name, that God would open their hearts to receive the gift of Christ this Christmas. Pray also for opportunities to share your faith with others and for the courage to take advantage when they present themselves.
Amid the hustle and bustle, let us not forget to offer the people we encounter the greatest gift of all: “Offer them Christ!”