I’m often asked, “What is the definition of missional?” While there are many great meanings, one of my definitions of being missional is to “find a need and meet that need in the name of Jesus, for His glory, while sharing His story.”
Small groups have the best opportunities to be missional during the Christmas season than any other time of the year as people are more open to accepting the gifts of others than any other time of the year.
Group leaders are often looking for practical missional ideas. Maybe one of the ideas below will be workable for you and your group:
- Find a single mom or dad and offer to babysit while the mother or father of the child/children spends a day shopping.
- Find a family that is struggling financially, ask the parents to make a list of things their children would like for Christmas. Ask the group to go together to purchase what is possible and let the parents of the children give them to their children on Christmas morning.
- Host a Christmas meal for a few homeless people at your last meeting before Christmas. Ask them to join you, transport them to and from a location of their choosing, give them appropriate Christmas gifts and enough money for the next day’s meals.
- Throw a Christmas party for the people on the street or cul-de-sac where your group meets.
- Go caroling at a local convalescent center. You’ll be shocked at how much this means to those who are bedridden or unable to leave the facility.
- Visit a shut-ins home and decorate the house for Christmas. Take a meal and spend a few hours showing the love of Christ through conversation. Remember to go back after Christmas and take the decorations down.
Rick Howerton has one passion — to see “a biblical small group within walking distance of every person on the planet making disciples that make disciples.” He is pursuing this passion as the small group and discipleship specialist at Lifeway Church Resources.
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