Do you have any unique Christmas traditions?
As Christians, many of us practice Christmas traditions that center around remembering and honoring the birth of Jesus. One of my favorite traditions is unique to us. Every year, my family kicks off December and the Christmas season by gathering around the TV with popcorn and a warm drink to watch the movie Jingle All the Way. As with many traditions, no one in my family remembers how or why this ritual started, but for us it marks the official start of the holiday season.
A few years ago, I celebrated Christmas overseas. I decorated my tiny apartment by myself, made a cup of cocoa and streamed Jingle All the Way on my laptop. Although my family was halfway around the world, celebrating the start of the Christmas season by watching one of our favorite Christmas movies gave me a sense of closeness to them.
Looking back on that moment, I’m reminded of how powerful films can be. Movies go beyond entertaining. Watching a film with someone can create a lasting memory or spark meaningful conversations. Movies have the power to affect us deeply and introduce us to powerful truths—like that of the gospel. Film is one way of sharing the gospel at Christmas.
That’s a big reason why we at Jesus Film Project believe so deeply in the power of film to help people encounter the message of Jesus. God can and does use media in powerful ways. A story on screen can help someone who might never attend church or hear the gospel otherwise come to know Jesus.
Why Christmas is a Natural Time to Share Your Faith
Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, shared this in an article about Americans and celebrating Christmas: “Americans may celebrate the Christmas holiday in many different ways, but very few skip a Christmas celebration completely. Even many of those who aren’t as familiar with the story of Jesus’ birth find ways to observe the holiday.”
Yet that same Lifeway Research study tells us that many people who celebrate Christmas are not confident they could retell the biblical Christmas story. Sadly, for many, the Christmas season is about cultural traditions rather than spiritual significance. Many don’t know the deeper story behind the holiday, that it’s about the birth of Jesus, God’s Son, and that His birth and His life brought freedom from sin and joy that lasts much longer than a season—it lasts forever.
Chances are, someone in your family or circle of friends doesn’t know Jesus yet. And while the idea of sharing the gospel can sound intimidating, Christmastime creates natural moments to share your personal story and to talk about what Jesus means to you. As followers of Jesus, we get to take advantage of these moments. I want to encourage you to share your faith with someone you know who needs Jesus this Christmas.
And you can use media to do it.
Movie nights, cozy get-togethers and shared screens are wonderful opportunities to share your faith.
Four Practical Ways to Share the Hope of Jesus Through Media This Christmas:
1. Pray for opportunities to share the gospel
Before you share a link, host a movie night or invite someone to church, start with prayer. Ask God to prepare hearts and to open doors to meaningful conversations.
Whenever possible, pray for people by name. God is already at work long before we hit the “play” button. And when we spend time in prayer, we are more alert to moments He provides to bring up the name of Jesus with someone who needs Him. Through prayer, the Holy Spirit can highlight the opportunity for a brief conversation after a movie, or a deeper dive into the question someone asks during a meal. The Spirit could nudge you to send a short video to someone who needs encouragement.
You can even pray through our Christmas collection ahead of time, asking God to highlight which films might be the most meaningful to the person He brings to mind.
2. Invite someone in need of kindness to a film showing at your home
Jesus consistently sought out those on the margins—people who were overlooked, isolated or excluded from society. He ate with tax collectors (Luke 5:29-32), touched those considered unclean (Mark 1:40-41) and welcomed those others avoided. But He also saw people’s unique needs in the moment, like when He revealed Himself as Messiah to the woman at the well (John 4), or when He healed the blind man, Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52).
Hosting a Christmas movie night is a simple, relational way to follow His example. Think about someone in your life who might feel alone this season:
- The coworker who’s new in town
- A neighbor who has no family nearby
- Someone at church walking through illness or grief
Invite them over for dessert and a Christmas film—encourage them and share something meaningful to you; something that opens the door to a deeper conversation about their own life.
You might choose a short film or series from the Jesus Film Project Christmas collection, like this series called NUA: Christmas, which explains the spiritual significance of Christmas in a way that’s easy to understand. Short clips often spark conversations more easily than full-length films, and each episode of this three-part series even comes with conversation questions like these to make it easy:
- What is it about Christmas that makes people so happy?
- What do you think is the purpose of Christmas?
- How does Christmas make you feel?
These conversations create an opportunity to share your testimony—the story of how you came to follow Jesus and how He has changed your life—and open the door for you to share the gospel.
3. Invite someone to a Christmas service and host a post-service movie showing.
Christmas services are often traditional, visitor-friendly and focused on the gospel. But often people need time to process what they hear. That’s where media can help.
After attending a Christmas church service with someone, consider suggesting a Christ-centered movie to watch together. A family-friendly film, like The Story of Jesus for Children or a short, Bible-based series, can help keep the conversation going about the spiritual meaning of Christmas, like this short film that’s part of a longer series from our Christmas collection: LUMO: Luke 1:1-56
Movies that are based on Scripture can help people experience the story of Jesus’ birth visually, which makes it easier for viewers to ask questions or share their observations. Asking a simple follow-up question like, “What did you notice in that scene?” can lead to a conversation that a more direct theological question might not.
4. Share a short film or series with someone who is struggling and invite them to talk about it.
Sadly, the Christmas season is not joyful for everyone. Many people go through the holiday season carrying grief, loneliness or memories that are difficult to bear. Media can be a gentle and simple way to offer comfort.
If you know someone who is grieving, homesick or hurting, consider sending them a short, hope-filled video that reminds them that God sees them, loves them, and that they are not alone. A short explanatory video like Yakhal/Hope or Chara/Joy from BibleProject are part of their Advent series and available to watch and share from our Christmas collection. There are several other encouraging series and short films on the Jesus Film Project app that can be helpful for moments like these.
Then follow up with an invitation to talk about what you’ve shared with them. Offer to meet them for coffee or a meal and ask them what they thought about the video.
Don’t underestimate the power of simply sitting with someone and listening to them. It creates space for you to offer the hope you have in Jesus.
Seek opportunities to pray with others
Just as I started this list with a recommendation for private prayer, I am ending it with an encouragement to pray with someone else. We are reminded in the book of James,“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16).
Several years ago, a woman my mother worked with reached out to me and asked me to pet-sit for her. A fire had broken out in her house and she would not be able to stay in her home for a long while. When she came to drop off her dog, I could see she was upset. I knew this woman was not a Christian, and I felt compelled to pray for her and her situation in the moment.
I asked her if I could pray with her and she said yes. I placed my hand on her shoulder and began to pray right there in my driveway. I don’t think she was expecting that. I asked God to grant her peace and that He would reveal Himself to her in this difficult situation.
When she left, she had tears in her eyes and she was smiling. Truthfully, I don’t know if she has prayed or sought the Lord since then. But I know I was able to show her Jesus right in that moment through my simple prayer.
Sometimes the best way to show someone the love of Jesus is to pray out loud with them. If you don’t feel comfortable leading with an offer to pray for someone in the moment, you can use a short film to open up the conversation, offering to pray for them during or after the conversation.
Sharing the gospel at Christmas
Traditions, like exchanging gifts, sipping cocoa or watching your favorite holiday movies, highlight the joy of the holiday season. But the heart of Christmas is and will always be the story of Jesus: God’s great love entering our world in the most unexpected way.
Media and film can create an opportunity for you to share that story. As you gather with your loved ones this year, consider using Christ-centered films to share the gospel.
Your next step
Start by watching this short series on how to share the story of Jesus through film and media.
Then explore the Jesus Film Project Christmas collection on our watch page or through the Jesus Film Project app.
Stay connected with Jesus Film Project through our bi-weekly newsletter. When you sign up, we’ll send you films and clips you can use to talk about Jesus, updates about our resources and strategies and encouraging stories of what God is doing around the world through our ministry partners. Sign up here.
This Christmas, give the gift of sharing Jesus with someone who needs to know Him. When you make a gift in the name of a friend or loved one, they’ll receive a personalized Christmas card letting them know you’ve made a gift in their name—and you’ll equip ministry teams to share the gospel around the world. Learn more or give here.
