Living the Christmas Story in Your Small Group

Transcription

1 Living the Christmas Story in Your Small Group Living the Christmas story isn t something you do only at home. Maybe you would like to go through the devotional with a small group from church or some neighbors. These pages will provide you with the tools to lead group meetings that are prayerful and relational, fun and reverent, festive and comfortable. Below are exercises for four group meetings each of the weeks during Advent. Here are some tips: Plan for these activities to take about 20 minutes each. They can take longer if you wish. Gather everyone together adults and children for this community celebration of Christ s incarnation. If you have kids in your group, let them go first. Think about giving rewards of some sort for those who have memorized the Scriptures. Let there be both reverence and laughing!

2 Small Group Meeting in Week One Theme: The Compassion of God Have the people in your group recite this week s memory verse Isaiah 42:6. together the whole passage that contains the memory verse Isaiah 42:1-7. How well does this prophecy describe Jesus as you know him? Go back through the prophecy. What does it say about the Father (he is the one speaking)? What does it say about the Son (he is the Servant)? What does it say about the Holy Spirit (he s in there too!)? What is the one part of this prophecy you most need to imitate? How does this prophecy speak of God s compassion for people? What s wrong? What will God do about it? God s Servant will not put out a dimly lit wick (v. 3). Light a candle and see how easy it is to put out. How does this demonstrate Christ s gentleness with us? Is there a cause of compassion your group might want to take up this holiday season? A donation you can make on behalf of the bruised reeds (the marginalized or abused)? Have each person in the group pick a favorite word from Isaiah s prophecy (for instance, light, free, justice, etc.) and praise God for how He represents that word to us. for the willingness to be God s servants following in the footsteps of Jesus, ready to do anything for him. about the various areas where compassion is needed in your community and/or the world.

3 Small Group Meeting in Week Two Theme: The Love of God Have the people in your group recite this week s memory verse 1 John 4:9. together the whole passage that contains the memory verse 1 John 4:9-12. How does God sending his Son into the world change what we think about God s love? John says that because God loved us, we should love one another. What are two or three Bible stories that illustrate God s love? How can you live out what is in these stories? How does this passage inspire you to Love God and others? Play a game of imitation. Have one person do something kind for someone else in the room. Then have the recipient of the kind action do something similar for someone else. Then let that recipient do something similar and on around the room. Have each person in the group name someone they want to show God s love to and commit to an act of kindness toward that person. Relate to God some reasons you appreciate his love. Ask God to show you who needs his love. Commit in prayer to let God love those people through you. for each other that you will know the full extent of God s love. blessings over each other.

4 Small Group Meeting in Week Three Theme: The Incarnation of God Have the people in your group recite this week s memory verse John 1:14. together the whole passage that contains the memory verse Isaiah 9:2 and John 1:1-14. What do you hear in these verses? Choose one or two from these discussion questions: What are some of the ways Jesus is full of grace and truth? How difficult is it for you to think that in Jesus, God really became human? What difference does it make to you to know that God became human? What does it mean that Jesus is described as a great light? In what ways is he like a light? Sometimes we think the Christian life is about being spiritual. But in the incarnation, God became part of our physical world. How does the physical nature of the incarnation challenge our notions of what it means to be spiritual? John describes Jesus as the light that came into a dark world. Turn out all the lights in the room and imagine this is the world of darkness. Now light a candle or turn on a lamp. How does this illustrate the presence of Jesus in our world? Talk about some places in your community that often lack joy this time of year nursing homes, orphanages, and so on. What can you do as a group to bring joy to those places? Invite God to pour his grace and truth into your lives this Christmas season. blessings over each other. As you do so, appreciate the embodied nature of prayer. Gently lay a hand on someone s shoulder. Appreciate the beauty of voices lifted in prayer. Open your hands toward God. Enjoy the time.

5 Small Group Meeting in Week Four Theme: The Appearance of God Have the people in your group recite this week s memory verse Luke 2:15. together the whole passage that contains the memory verse Luke 2:1-20. Put yourselves in the place of the shepherds. Imagine the stillness of a typical night out under the stars and among the sheep. Talk about what it would have been like to experience the sudden appearance of the angels. Describe the further surprise of finding the newborn Messiah in a feeding trough. The shepherds mention going to see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. What is something you feel God has told you (put on your heart, impressed on you, shown you, etc.) this Christmas season? What are you doing in response? What is your experience with going and seeing what God is all about? Talk about the adventure and the risks of being one who goes and sees. the angels song in verse 14. Why do you think they say what they say? How would you explain their song to someone who might not be sure what it means? The shepherds found the newborn Messiah in a very unlikely place an animal stable. What is a place you wouldn t expect to find Jesus in your community? Make plans as a group to go there and see what God might want to do through you. If it is night, go outside and stand under the stars. As a group, thank God for all he has brought to earth through Jesus. for opportunities to be messengers of the great news about Jesus. Make the angels song your prayer. Express your excitement to God for his Son!