Cross at Christmas

I know, I know, Christmas is well and truly over, and no-one wants to think about it till next November at the earliest (apart from super-organised people who are picking up discounted Christmas cards and decorations for next year).

But in publishing, we have to think ahead (not something I'm known for): and we're starting to develop a short evangelistic book which uses the historical events of the first Christmas to explain the gospel. It's for giving to friends, handing out at carol services, and so on.

Here's my current question: How do you get to the cross and resurrection from the Christmas story?

Obviously, no gospel explanation is complete if it includes only the manger, and not the cross and the tomb. But how to get there without a horrific, crunching gear change?

That's where I'd love your help! If at Christmas-time you've ever chatted to friends, family or colleagues who don't know Christ, how did you get to the cross? How have you heard others do it? How would you like it to be done in a book you could happily give to those contacts?

All ideas very gratefully received! Post a comment below. And then get the book next Christmas to see how we did it…