Angel Encounters: You’re not going to believe this!
Luke 2:1-20
Connect:
Share how you have seen God in the Highs and Lows of your week.
Discuss how resolutions made last week in “growing more like Jesus” worked themselves out – what God did in and through you (Phil. 2:13) Celebrate and thank God for those together and pray with those who experienced some “Lows” this week, for God’s encouragement for them.
Prayer:
Pray that God would lead your discussion time and bring fresh insight, conviction, and hope through your time together.
Review:
We are launching into a new series looking at the angel encounters during Christmas Season of Jesus’ birth"! Last week, we looked at Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, and now the Shepherds…
The Grand Tour of the message: Thinking back on what you heard this Sunday…
o What did you learn about God?
o What did you learn about people?
o What did you learn about yourself?
o What do you want to commit to putting into practice?
Reflect:
Talk about a time when something that you had prayed over for a VERY long time actually happened!
Read Luke 2:1-7
o When did God make His plan for Jesus to come to earth? ( 1 Peter 1:18-21, 2 Timothy 1:8-10, Ephesians 1:3-6,)
o How does Scripture show that the humble beginnings of Jesus' life - born in a stable / flight to Egypt from Herod's plot to kill him - prepared Him to be a merciful Savior? ( Hebrews 4:14-16, and 5:7-9 and 24-25,)
Read Luke 2:8-20
o God often chose shepherds to deliver His Words - King David, Amos, and the shepherds in this passage. How/Why do you think God compares His role to that of shepherds? (Isaiah 40:11, Ezekiel 34:11-16, John 10:14-16 and 27-29,)
o The shepherds testified spontaneously about what they had seen and heard. What does the Scripture say of the power, and of our responsibility to testify to what we know of Jesus? (Revelations 12:10-11, Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8 and 26:14-18,)
Respond:
Keeping all of this in mind, what might God be inviting you to consider for next year?
Maybe read the Bible through this year with the YouVersion Bible App- takes about 15-20 minutes a day
Or use a spiritual gifts questionnaire to find out what gifts God has given you and find a place of service in the church or community so you can use them,
Or pray daily for an unsaved family member or friend, or an unreached people group, asking God what part He has for you in drawing them to Him for salvation!
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