Gospel tenderness grows around the Holidays:

Be ready to listen 👂🏽

• People are looking for Happiness.

• We want Hope.

• And we need Help.

Holidays are the perfect swirl of key ingredients:

Blustery Travel 🧳

Tight-budget shopping 🛍️

Stretching tension on family ties 🎀

It gets dark around 4 PM 🌌

Sniffles jump around 🤧

Don't forget your booties 'cause it's cooooooold out there today! 🎿

The real highlight of the holiday should be the Highest Light.

Instead, human nature tends toward discord.

Holidays can be speckled with troubles.

Troubles expressed are perfect platforms for gracious believers to provide a safe, tried-and-true solution from Scripture. As a welcome opener into the gospel message. Truth welcomes more truth. When people are hungry for truth, bread should be made available.

What are some common holiday problems which can open-up gospel conversations?

We try to rekindle the nostalgia of yesteryear without proper emotional and spiritual preparation for where that train takes us.

Holiday problem:

Feeling distant from loved ones due to restraints beyond our control ….

Scripture solution:

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” Psalm 46:1.

“The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble” Psalm 9:9.

“The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth” Psalm 145:18.

Holiday problem:

Ultra-high expectations for hyper-developing heartfelt relationships in just a thimble of time. Catching up with everyone and restoring bonds that haven’t been tightly re-woven for … probably since last year.

Scripture solution:

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness” Isaiah 41:10.

“Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit” 1 John 4:13.

Holiday problem:

“Liquid lava” flowing into the system, which sparks strange sayings out of the mouth. Bloodstream alchohol is a mood-altering chemical which changes the whole room atmosphere.

Better option:

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God” Ephesians 5.

People will tell you their problems.

Takes little skill to lend an ear of empathy.

Life problems will come tumbling out.

Holiday problem:

I’m unsure.

Eternity.

God.

All that.

Solution:

Experience true peace.

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13.

All the results of receiving the Gospel are simply how life is designed to best be enjoyed. :)

When a problem pops into the conversation, pray for wisdom, exercise compassion. And be ready for that opportunity.

“Would you be open to allowing me the joy of showing you the simple gospel from Scripture this holiday?”

Or please tap 💜.