The Apollo8, 55 years ago brought a lot of hope during the Christmas season, after a particularly difficult year in the world. The three astronauts on board read from Genesis one on Christmas Eve 1968, and sent the following wishes to billions of spectators around the world:
“And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas – and God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth.”
God’s sovereignty glared through the timing and location of the events of this excellent space mission, reminding us that He alone can bring order amidst chaos by shining his light in darkness. Its coincidence with Christmas Eve reminds us of the supremacy of Christ as described in Colossians 1:15-23 where one finds the strongest statements about the divine nature of Christ as the firstborn of all creation and the one who can reconcile us with the Father.
Something you will feel compelled to play several times
Read the article I wrote on Apollo8’s 50th anniversary
Although the influence of Apollo 8’s Christmas message is hard to match in terms of the number of people it reached, we should still be intentional in sharing Jesus with as many people as possible. Throughout the years, the efforts of friends, family, churches, and ministries made my Christmas extra meaningful. I too learned from them and thought of a few more ways to share the gift of Jesus with others. Here is a collection of impactful Christmas ideas I have witnessed or practiced.
Choose one of your Christmas presents to your loved ones to be about Jesus
Include a Creche in your outdoor decorations
Participate in a Christmas Church program
Go caroling in the neighborhood
Invite others to attend a Christmas Eve service
Volunteer to help with the nursery on Christmas Eve
Share recordings of children reciting Christmas songs and poems
Visit at least one person who is shut-in due to illness or age
Give to a Christian charity or help with Operation Christmas Child
Share the true meaning of Christmas in your family newsletter
Share a recent sermon on Christmas by your pastor or another
Let us know in the comments, if you were inspired to adopt any of these ideas listed above. We would also love to hear any impactful methods that you have used during Christmas, so that others can adopt and reach the world for Jesus.
As you might still be looking for gifts for your loved ones, have you considered Lightlab? Many people purchase Lightlab during Christmas, since it shares about the Light of the World all throughout the twelve lessons. In fact, Chapter One “Let There be Light” teaches about different light sources, followed by a discussion on the reason God is referred to as light as all as the story of the Magi. Click here for a free PDF of that lesson in Large Group format.
I recommend two more books to influence youth of older ages, who love science.
Read about them here to see why I use them with my Physics students.
You can purchase all three books from
Amazon, Christianbook.com, or Rainbowresource.
Whatever methods you end up using to share the true meaning of Christmas, I trust it will be effective and life changing. For additional inspiration, I recommend you read the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke, where you will encounter Mary the mother of Jesus, Zacharias and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist. You will be dazzled by the experiences of ordinary people who loved the Lord and were used by Him in extra-ordinary ways. The Holy Spirit moved in them in such powerful ways that they worshiped the King of kings before He was even born. Here is what Zecharias said about Jesus
Luke 1:79 “To give light to them that sit in darkness and in shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”