12.09.07
Small Group Plan - December 9, 2007
“An Act of Love”
Breath of Heaven
Small Group Plan
December 9, 2007
Dear Small Group Leader,
Israel had waited for centuries for the coming of the Messiah. Anticipation was deeply rooted in every family. And everyone had a clear idea of the Messiah’s coming would mean for the nation. But no one anticipated this kind of beginning. No one thought their king would enter the world this way.
It is significant that Jesus was born under a cloud of scandal and that He died the same way (1 Cor. 1:23) “a skandalon to Jews.”
OPEN IT / INTRODUCE IT …
· When is anticipation good?
· How can it be bad?
· What is the connection between the scandal of Jesus’ birth and the scandal of His death?
LOOK AT IT / STUDY IT …
The Surprise Of Christmas
Matthew 1:18-25
18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” — which means, “God with us.” 24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
· Imagine what was going through Mary’s mind when she discovered she was pregnant.
· Imagine the first thought in Joseph’s mind when he discovered it.
· What do we learn about Joseph’s character from how he reacted (vs.19)?
· What do think the “grapevine” did with the Joseph/Mary story?
· Jesus was called “Immanuel” – “God with us” (vs. 23). How important is it that He became one of us?
The Scandal Of Christmas
Luke 2:1-11
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
· The census, the traveling, the lack of room – what lessons can we learn from Joseph and Mary about responding to unexpected difficulties?
· Why would the savior of humanity enter the world in an obscure part of an obscure village?
· How much did Joseph and Mary understand about Jesus’ birth?
· Shepherds, along with tax collectors and prostitutes, were labeled as unfaithful and unclean. What was God saying by having Jesus’ birth announced to them rather than to the nation’s official leaders? (Compare 5:31-32).
The Power Of Christmas
Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.
Hebrews 2:14,17
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity … 17 he had to be made like his brothers in every way.
· How can we connect — Jesus is exactly like God with Jesus had to be like us?
· What was God’s goal in becoming one of us?
USE IT / APPLY IT …
· Why would God choose to enter into the world under a cloud of scandal?
· Joseph acted with compassion. How does our desire for approval or acceptance keep us from acting with compassion?
· What would Jesus think about the way our world handles Christmas today?
Close by asking God to help us make this more of a time of compassion rather than consumption.