When a Church Makes Room: Rediscovering the Heart of Christmas Hospitality

Advent Week 3 – Love

Christmas is the season when hearts open, hope rises, and people begin looking for a place to belong. And every December, without fail, more guests walk through the doors of local churches than at any time of the year except Easter.

That means this is not just a festive moment, it’s a missional moment.

This is when the church has the sacred opportunity to do what God did for us at Christmas - make room.

As Jesus “moved into the neighborhood” (John 1:14 MSG), God demonstrated what hospitality looks like in its purest form. He came close. He entered our world. He created space where grace could be found and lives could be changed.

What if your church embraced that same posture this Christmas?

1. God Made Room for Us—How Does Your Church Make Room for Others?

The Incarnation is the ultimate act of hospitality: God welcomed humanity into His presence by entering ours.

He didn’t wait for us to clean ourselves up, learn the right language, or “fit in.” He came near—messy stable, exhausted parents, shepherds who smelled like sheep and all.

Christmas reminds us that God’s love doesn’t hold people at arm’s length.

And if the church is going to reflect that love, we must intentionally create room for those who feel out of place, unsure of their welcome, or uncertain whether faith still has anything to offer them.

• Do your guests feel seen the moment they arrive?

• Do you create space—physically and emotionally—for newcomers?

• Does your congregation understand that hospitality isn’t a ministry team… it’s a mindset?

When a small church makes room, God does big things.

In my book, The Kitchen Table Gospel, hospitality has a key seat at the table. You can find that book here.

2. Simple Ways Small Churches Can Create Christ-Centered First Impressions

You don’t need a giant lobby, a tech team, or a gourmet coffee station to show the love of Christ. Small churches actually have an advantage: hospitality can feel personal instead of programmed.

Here are a few simple, highly effective Christmas touchpoints:

A Warm Greeting With Purpose

Teach your team (and your congregation!) to greet every person as if God might have sent them especially to you. Because He may have.

Clear, Kind Direction

Signs, ushers, and simple instructions remove awkwardness. Remember: guests don’t know where anything is.

A Thoughtful Guest Gift

Even something small—a peppermint stick with a Scripture tag, a handwritten card, or a simple ornament—creates a moment of warmth that lingers.

Hospitality Beyond the Doorway

Sit with guests. Introduce them to others. Invite them back next week. Real hospitality continues long after the greeting.

A Culture of Kindness From the Whole Church

Nothing replaces a congregation that genuinely loves its guests. When members take the initiative to connect, welcome, and encourage, guests feel like they’ve stepped into family.

Small churches don’t compete with large churches—they do hospitality differently… and often better.

3. Why Hospitality Is More Evangelistic in December Than Any Other Month

The holidays stir something deep in the human heart. People become reflective. They remember what faith used to feel like. They ache for hope, peace, and belonging.

Hospitality becomes evangelism when it:

• Opens a spiritual door

• Removes emotional barriers

• Creates a safe place to hear the Good News

• Reflects the love of Christ in tangible ways

More people will decide whether to return to church based on how they were welcomed than on anything said in the sermon.

In December, a simple “we’re so glad you’re here” can be the spark that reignites someone’s faith.

This is why Christmas hospitality matters. It’s not about being friendly. It’s about being Christlike.

4. A Christmas Challenge: Welcome One New Family With Intentional Follow-Up

This year, invite your church to pray for, welcome, and encourage one single family who visits during the Christmas season.

Just one.

If that family receives:

• A warm greeting

• A personal introduction

• A handwritten note after their visit

• A follow-up message that says, “We are grateful you came”

• An invitation to return in January

…you will be practicing hospitality the way Jesus modeled it—one meaningful encounter at a time.

This simple challenge can transform the way your church sees its mission and its guests. And who knows? That family’s first visit may become the beginning of a brand new walk with Christ.

Want to Go Deeper Into Christian Hospitality?

For more inspiration on how hospitality transforms discipleship, community, and spiritual growth, check out my devotional Entertaining Angels: The Transformative Power of Welcoming Strangers.

It’s a 7-day journey through Hebrews 13:2 that will encourage your heart and expand your church’s vision for what God can do through simple acts of welcome.

Let’s Make Room This Christmas

Churches don’t grow by accident. Disciples aren’t made by programs. Lives aren’t changed by chance.

They grow because people make room—for God, for neighbor, for the stranger who walks through the door wondering whether anyone will notice them.

This Christmas, may your church rediscover the beauty of holy hospitality.

Make room… because God made room for you.

Let’s Continue the Conversation

As you look toward Christmas Eve and the final Sundays of the year, what is one simple way your church plans to “make room” for guests this season? I’d love to hear your ideas, and your creativity may inspire another pastor or church leader who reads this. Share your thoughts with me online—I genuinely enjoy hearing how God is at work in your ministry.

If you found today’s article helpful, I invite you to subscribe at smallchurchcoaching.com for more resources designed especially for smaller churches.

You can also connect with me on social:

Facebook: facebook.com/ItsTimeSam

Leadership Edge for Smaller Churches Group: facebook.com/groups/1019833292715686

X/Twitter: @ItsTimeSam

And if this article encouraged you, would you take a moment to share it on your social feeds? Your share helps another church take one more step toward becoming a warm, welcoming, disciple-making community.

Let’s keep making room—for guests, for neighbors, and for the transforming love of Christ.