If you’re anything like me, it’s difficult to enter into the real meaning of Christmas. Sure, I can go to the mall, hear the Christmas music piped through the speakers, see all of the Christmas decorations (that seem to go up earlier and earlier each year), and I can have pity on all of the tired husbands lounging on scattered sofas and comfy chairs throughout the mall. So, it’s easy to enter into our culture’s vision of Christmas.

But, if I’m honest, it’s hard to enter into that moment some two thousand years ago in a dark, sleepy little backwater town called Bethlehem where God put on flesh in the back of an ancient barn. This event and the purpose behind it is the real meaning of Christmas.

If that’s a difficult reality for us Christ-followers, how much more difficult is it for the people in our world who don’t know Him? This Christmas season, we have the opportunity to deliver the true meaning of Christmas to the family, friends, and neighbors of our world. This entire Christmas season will be all about delivering to our world the life-changing reality that God has come.

The first opportunity that you have is to invite your family, friends, and neighbors to “Christmas Delivered… Joy to the World.” We are partnering with the team that created Scribble to bring you a professional, artistic blend of musical variety, art and media presented in five shows, December 3rd-6th. “Christmas Delivered” is all about the true meaning of Christmas through music, media, and motion. It’s going to be an amazing show, with very high-quality seasonal entertainment, and the power of the Christmas message that God has come will clearly be presented. Tickets go on sale this Sunday and will be available online as well as in the Corridor on Sundays. The performances will feature reserved seating so please be in prayer regarding who to invite and reserve your seats early to be assured of getting your choice. Performance times are 7 pm Thurs, Fri & Sat, Dec 3rd-5th, with matinee performances at 2 pm on Sat and Sun, Dec 5th & 6th. Cost for Main Floor, $14; Balcony, $10; and children (12 & under), $6. A 15% discount will be applied to purchases of 6 or more tickets at a time.

And to help you get ready to invite your family, friends, and neighbors, I want to continue to encourage you to attend Pastor Dean Osuch’s “6 Ways to Deliver Christmas.” In this one-hour class you’ll discover various ways people like to share the Gospel message. Knowing one that is right and comfortable for you will better enable you to share Jesus in the way that God has created you. The hour-long class is offered Nov 8th, 15th, and 22nd at 10:45am or 7:15 pm in Room 212/213. Pick the day and time that works best for you and get better equipped to deliver Christmas.

Lastly, our message series throughout December is entitled Classic Christmas. I’ll be using Charles Schultz’s classic Charlie Brown Christmas to help set up themes that still endure today… topics such as the true meaning of Christmas and the commercialism that tends to rob us of the true beauty of Christmas (and Charlie Brown Christmas aired December 1965!). It will be a great series to invite your friends to this December.

So this Christmas season, enter fully into the reality that God our Savior has come to seek and save us. And as you yourself are entering, bring some people with you who need to know how much God loves them and how He proved that through Christmas.