Good News of Great Joy – Study #1
Luke 2:1-13 Good News Revealed!
When Angels sing, listen up! God has just changed the game!
(and wants our attention about Jesus)
GETTING STARTED
– Do your own survey in your group. Have everyone complete this sentence 5 ways —
Christmas is _______________________________________________________________________________________
Christmas is _______________________________________________________________________________________
Christmas is _______________________________________________________________________________________
Christmas is _______________________________________________________________________________________
Christmas is _______________________________________________________________________________________
Now…ask your group members to share which of the statements they wrote out means the most to them…and why?
What priorities about Christmas did you find in your group?
IN THE WORD
This week’s teaching focused on the importance of Jesus being the Savior, whom everyone needs. As the angel said, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” The teaching also suggested using Christmas gatherings as a time to share the ways in which Jesus has been a savior in your life.
EXERCISE – seed your next discussion in two ways:
by reading together Titus 2:11-14 and Titus 3:4-7. What saving aspects of Jesus’ impact does Paul underscore here?
by sharing a specific way Jesus has been a SAVIOR to you in your experience and life (note: this may “prime the pump” for some sharing that could go on in your family in the weeks to come
Finally, in thinking about the way Jesus has been SAVIOR in your experience, do you find your story parallel to that of any you find in the stories of Scripture? Think together for a few minutes about this, and “connect the dots” between your life and some one who was saved in Scripture? [for example, Zaccheus in Luke 19, or Cornelius in Acts 10. How about Lydia in Acts 16:11-15, or the Philippian jailor in Acts 16:15-34?]
MY LIFE – OUR MISSION
Finish by focusing on Ephesians 2:1-10. What a wonderful description of our salvation!
What are we saved “for”? What does verse 10 suggest? How do you connect this with our ministry’s mission – “to connect people to life-defining relationships in Christ”?
Who is the Lord leading you to connect with Jesus? Share that with your group, and pray together for God’s Spirit to do this “good work” through you, perhaps even as you share with that person how the Lord has been a “savior” to you.
“Blessings!” Pastor David Staff