Good News of Great Joy: Study #3 Leader Guide

Christ Community Church   -  

Gain some key insights as a group leader
As the leader, you may be tempted to skip some of the steps suggested in the study. May we encourage you not to do this? J Take the time to allow group members to reflect and discuss. There is “iron sharpening iron” in such discussions. Truths can sink it; values can be shaped; Christlikeness can be formed.
3 Insider Insights:
GOAL
This week’s Connect Group experience is about understanding even more thoroughly the importance of God sending His Son through the line of David. God has made great promises to the world, promises which will be realized through the One who is “of David.”
It will be to your advantage to look up BEFOREHAND the passages listed in the WORD section, and get a feel for what they are promising. The BENEFIT of this study will be to notice the specific blessings that are coming when Jesus sits on David’s Throne in the coming age. 
THIS MIGHT BE FUN…

*Joy to the World video courtesy of Hillsong
Notice how the lyrics to JOY TO THE WORLD are actually not speaking of the first Christmas (or Jesus’ first coming) but rather what will happen at His second coming. Take a look:
Joy to the World , the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the World, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders, of His love.
BE SURE TO PRAY…
for Christ Community Church’s important ministry outreaches at this time of year — Special Services at Christmas – pray that many will come to trust in Christ as Savior this season!

Good News of Great Joy Christmas Teaching 11/25, 12/2, 9, 16, 24
Christmas Eve Services Monday Night December 24, 2018 (2 pm, 4 pm, 6 pm)

Luke 2:11 Good News of (great!) JOY
This week’s teaching focused on all that God has done and will do through Jesus: Born of David, Jesus fulfills God’s greatest promises to the world.
As you begin this study together, ask the Spirit of God to provide you insight about true joy. J
GETTING STARTED
Any survey of today’s newspaper pages or internet-delivered news confirms what we know all too well. There are many wonderful things in our world. Still, our world is blanketed with challenges that seem overwhelming. This week’s teaching suggested the following trouble spots:

Sin – its tragic and difficult consequences in people’s lives (what examples of this leap quickly to mind?)
Human need – so many are in need of encouragement and blessing (example?)
Unthinkable injustices – too many wrongs never appear to be set right (example?)
Inadequate leadership – surprising the kind of people who are given the mantle of leading (example?)
Chaos – even when living in a protected place, a look around daily reveals what is out of control (example?)

In a commencement speech to graduates at American University (1963), President John F. Kennedy said, “Our problems are man-made—therefore, they can be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants; no problem of human destiny is beyond human beings.” Do you agree with his assertion? Is this a Biblical way to size up our situation?
IN THE WORD
The Scripture insists that only the One born “of David” can both fulfill God’s greatest promises to our world, and set the future and experience of human beings aright His blessing and favor. This is God’s good news, intended to bring great joy.
The following Scriptures give us a glimpse of what Jesus is yet to do in keeping with God’s yet-to-be-realized promises. As you read, identify (and discuss!) what our world is going to experience when these are fulfilled!

Zechariah 12:8-10, 14:1-5 and Revelation 19:11-21
How will the days of the coming Tribulation end?

Revelation 20:1-6
At least 4 incredible happenings! What is established?

Luke 1:31-32
What will Jesus be given? How does this relate to Rev. 20:4b, 6b?, Cf. Ps 2

Isaiah 2:1-4, 11:5-10
What will Jesus’ reign look like? What will be experienced?

Isaiah 9:2-8

What is Jesus destined to be called, and to do, in his coming reign? And who or what will guarantee it happens?

What we’ve studied is sometimes called “the millennial age” – the age on earth when ALL of God’s promises of a Righteous King are fulfilled. Does this excite your heart? What questions do you have?
MY LIFE – OUR MISSION
As we offer the hope of the Lord Jesus Christ to one another, and especially to those who are without hope because they have not yet met Christ, we are offering even more than forgiveness of sins. We are offering a Savior who will be Lord of the future. As you finish your look and discussion of Scripture, identify how this study has strengthened your own hope. Is there anything that you’ve discovered you’d be willing to share with someone else? Clearly, the most important Person with whom to have a relationship is the One born in the line of David…who is coming to fulfill all of God’s greatest promises to the world.