Looking for a simple Christingle talk for families, churches or schools?
This Christingle message which I will be bringing myself this Christmas is designed to be warm, inclusive, and easy to use with children and adults together.
Rooted in John 1:1–5, it explores how the Christingle helps us understand the true meaning of Christmas – Light, Life and Love – for all the world.
Whether you’re leading a Christingle service, school assembly, or a family-focused Christmas gathering, I wanted to make this clear, engaging, and theologically rich, while also inviting and evangelistically challenging.
👉 Download this Christingle Talk (Free PDF)
If you’re a church leader, teacher, or children’s worker, you can download this talk as a printable PDF to use in your Christingle service.
If you’re interested in how Christian faith connects with everyday life, check out my other LAUNCH resources here.
Opening
Before we light the Christingle, I’m going to read a few short lines from the Bible that Christians around the world read at Christmas:
Read:
John 1:1–5 (NIV)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Pause.
These words are deep – but when you think about it, the message is simple.
They tell us – just like the Christingle does – about Light, Life and Love – for all.
(You can invite people to repeat that with you.)
“In the Beginning Was the Word” – LIGHT
Hold up the unlit candle.
The Bible calls Jesus “the Word” because God wanted us to know Him – to understand Him.
So God didn’t just send some rules written down.
He didn’t even just send an angel to sing a carol.
He came Himself – in person.
A person so ordinary people like the shepherds – and you and me – could see, hear, and know God.
I mean, it’s fine to text…
But God didn’t just send a message – He came Himself.
Light the candle.
That’s why Jesus later said, when people wanted to know who He really was:
“I am the light of the world.”
Everyone say: LIGHT!
“Through Him All Things Were Made” – LIFE
Verses 2–3 say:
“Through him all things were made.”
That’s talking about life.
The Bible says God made everything – every galaxy, every person, everyone who has ever lived.
Hold up the orange.
This orange represents the world and everyone in it:
families, homes, schools – all of life.
Question for children:
“Who likes making things – Lego, drawings, baking?”
Well, the Christmas story says the One lying in the manger
is the One who made the world – because it all matters to Him.
The real God became a real human.
That means every life matters, all people matter to God –
and your life matters.
Look again at verse 4. It says:
“In him was life.”
Sometimes life is fun.
Other times it can be really tough.
That’s true at Christmas too, isn’t it?
But this verse says God doesn’t just give life –
He wants to share life with us.
One of the Bible’s names for Jesus is Immanuel.
Does anyone know what that means?
God with us.
“The Life Was the Light of All Mankind” – LOVE
The passage carries on talking about light and life and says:
“The life was the light of all mankind.”
The world can seem pretty dark at times.
We all need light sometimes, don’t we?
To help us see.
To know which way to go.
That’s what Jesus does.
And then because when you put a light on darkness has no choice but to go, it says:
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Because nothing is more powerful than God’s love.
And God proved that love.
Point to the red ribbon.
Did you notice the ribbon goes all the way round?
It’s holding everything together.
That’s the love of God.
Jesus showed that love not just by coming to live with us,
but by dying for us on the cross –
so that all our mistakes, what the Bible calls sins,
everything that’s wrong, could be forgiven forever.
The red reminds us of the blood Jesus shed on the cross to show us that:
- God doesn’t give up on us
- God doesn’t walk away
- Jesus gave His life to give us life
So God’s light keeps shining, and His love keeps coming.
For All – Everyone Is Invited
For whom?
For all.
Everyone is invited – so everyone can be included. Always.
Point to the sweets.
Different shapes.
Different colours.
For everyone.
Question for children:
“Are the sweets just for some people – or for everyone?”
Exactly.
Sometimes we add fruit too, to show that whether it’s summer or spring,
winter or autumn – we can always come to God and receive His love.
Whether we are young or old.
No matter where we come from.
God’s light, God’s life, and God’s love are for everyone.
For families.
For children.
For grown-ups.
Because, just like Christmas, faith is about giving and receiving.
The best gift is freely offered by God.
The passage goes on to say that some people reject that gift –
but everyone can receive Jesus.
A Simple Prayer
So why not ask God for that gift now?
And as you light your own Christingle, you might like to pray:
“God, thank You for loving us.
Thank You for sending Jesus, the light of the world.
Help us walk in Your light, this Christmas and forever.
Amen.”If this Christingle talk was helpful, feel free to share it with others planning Christmas services or school assemblies. You’re very welcome to use it freely.