Read | Luke 2:1-201 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town...
Read | Luke 2:8-14 (ESV; emphasis added) And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said...
CHRISTMAS AT THE MOVIES | A Christmas Story Read | Philippians 2:5-11 “You’ll shoot your eye out…” A desperate desire squelched by an ominous warning. If you let it, this quote surfaces memories. Memories of childhood don’ts and warnings. The fear of...
CHRISTMAS AT THE MOVIES | How the Grinch Stole Christmas Read | Isaiah 9:6; Micah 5:5; Matthew 5:9; John 14:27; & Philippians 4:7-9 This time of year is my very favorite. I love the songs, the decorations, the excitement. But this season is also busy, chaotic, and it seems we either...
Week 5 (Dec 24-Dec 25) Read Matthew 2:1-18. The wise men would not have been Jewish. Their arrival is one of the first indications that Jesus came for the whole world, not just the people of Israel. What groups of people do you unconsciously (or consciously) exclude from God’s love?...
Week 4 (Dec 17-Dec 23) Read Luke 2:1-7. What made Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem? How do you think they would have reacted when they found out they had to make this long trip near the end of Mary’s pregnancy? Caesar Augustus issued a decree that caused millions of people to...
Week 3 (Dec 10-Dec 16) Read Luke 2:8-20. The shepherds were “in the same region,” doing their normal job. They didn’t know that God’s love was changing the world ... right in their neighborhood! Do you think it’s possible that God is working in your...
Week 2 (Dec 3-Dec 9) Read Matthew 1:18-25. Mary and Joseph were engaged to be married, but they got a surprise. Imagine how that must have felt for both Mary and Joseph. What kinds of difficult conversations do you think they had? Everyone has expectations for how they think life will go...
Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? We received the Target toy catalog in the mail a few weeks ago. It is always an exciting day in our house. The kids have been looking through it, circling the things they would like-- dreaming of the GIFTS they will receive on Christmas...
Week 1 (Nov 26-Dec 2) Read John 1:1-13. John refers to Jesus as “the light.” Why do you think John chose that as one of the ways for us to understand Jesus and the difference He makes in the world? In verse 12, John shares an amazing truth about those who receive Jesus. What is...
