Does your Christmas ever feel a bit more like a Chrismess? It certainly can, especially with all the gift wrapping, coordinating of families, and the joy/chaos of kids home from school on break? Maybe you think: “If I can just get past this, then I can take a break.” And then there is another thing and something else, and then school is back in session…
But what if in the midst of this season that can feel like a mess there is a message (no, not a massage, sorry) that will leave you forever changed about how you view Christmas? Join us this Sunday as we will read in Luke 2 about some characters who are in the midst of a mess but who, in that mess, hear a magnificent message of joy that changed how they view everything.
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(Weekly Community Group Discussion Guide)
Date: December 20, 2015 // Title: Advent – Joy: Glory to God in the Lowest
Scripture: Luke 2:1-20
SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes
Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.
SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
When the angel appeared to the shepherds, he announced good news of great joy that would be for all the people. Jesus – God with us – is that great joy. This Christmas, even if we find ourselves in the midst of a mess, Jesus promises to meet us and be with us in the mess, and amazingly He brings His joy into our mess. Glory to God in the highest comes down to bring glory to God in the lowest, too! God is inviting each of us to take His light and joy with us even into the dark situations we may encounter this season.
THE MAIN THOUGHT Keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
Joy is found in Jesus.
SEE IT Questions :: 10-15 minutes
Picture: Why did the angel appear to the shepherds (of all people)? What did the swaddling clothes and that setting of the manger represent?
Mirror: What mess are you afraid to share or are trying to fix on your own? How can trusting in the glory of the presence of Jesus bring joy into those circumstances?
Window: How did glory in the highest become glory in the lowest?
BE IT – Practice
Change UP // Exercise 15 minutes
Take a few minutes to pray and ask the Lord to show you areas of your life (maybe the messy part) that you have not surrendered to Him.
Change IN // Group Activity 10 minutes
The angel brought good tidings of GREAT joy. What would joy be for you? In your context, in the challenges that you’re facing, talk together about what would joy look like. Jesus is joy. Pray together, taking time to commit to Jesus and focus on the joy that He is—and that He brings to ALL your situations.
Change OUT // Life Application Assignment 5 minutes
Think of people you have been reaching out to. What would joy look like for them? Invite them to join you for the Christmas Eve service or take them some fresh bread—and offer to pray with them while you’re together.
CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.