December 23, 2017

Read:  Psalm 23, 46:1-3, 73:26 

Given that depression can be a very real part of the holiday experience, how has this affected you? 

What does God’s word say about depressing thoughts and giving up? How can He be your strength? 

Why is this an important truth this time of year? How do you need to adjust the way you handle the holidays? 

Advent Reading: Philippians 4:4-7

December 22, 2017

Read:  Psalm 55:22, Matthew 6:25-34, 11:28-29, Philippians 4:4-8, 1 Peter 5:7 

In what way can the Christmas season conjure up fear, stress, or painful memories for you? Why? 

What does God’s word say about how to manage these emotions? Be specific. 

How does this encourage you? How will you step into this truth during the holiday season? 

Advent Reading: Romans 15:4-13

December 21, 2017

Read:  Ecc. 4:9-12, Romans 12:15, 1 Cor. 12:4-7, 1 Thess. 5:11, Hebrews 10:24-25 

What does God’s word say about avoiding church and other Christians? Why is it dangerous? 

Why is this important to remember during the Christmas holidays? How can pain tempt you to avoid others? 

What are some practical steps you need to take to stay engaged with others this Christmas? 

Advent Reading: Luke 1:47-55, 2:1-20

December 20, 2017

Read:  Matthew 1:18-24, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 

Why did Joseph initially decide to divorce Mary “quietly” when he heard she was pregnant? 

What did Joseph end up doing? Why? What does this highlight about God’s word and challenging times? 

In what way is Christmas a challenging time for you? Be specific. How can God’s word help? 

Advent Reading: Psalm 20, 96:1-13

December 19, 2017

Read:  Matthew 1:18-19, Luke 2:1-7, 13-15 

How would a virgin birth have been misunderstood by Joseph’s and Mary’s family and friends? 

Why would it have been socially challenging? How would the warning in Matthew 2:13 have been hard? 

In what way does this help adjust your emotional expectations at Christmas? Give an example.

Advent Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-20

December 18, 2017

Read:  Mat. 1:18, Luke 1:26-35, John 1:29, 1 Cor. 15:21-22, 2 Cor. 5:21, Heb. 7:26, 1 Jn. 3:5 

Why was the virgin birth a necessary event? How does it relate to sin, sacrifice, and the resurrection? 

In what way would a natural birth have changed things? How would it have disqualified Jesus?

How does this help you better understand Christmas? Be specific. 

Advent Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7, 35:1-10

December 16, 2017

Read: Luke 2:8-20 

Why do you think God chose shepherds rather than religious leaders to reveal the birth of Christ? 

What specific parts of the shepherds’ story encourage you the most? (faith, evangelism, etc.) Why? 

Ask God to show you ways you can be more of a shepherd this Christmas. Journal your experience. 

Advent Reading: Romans 1:1-7, 5:1-10

December 15, 2017

Read:  Luke 2:13-14, 20, Psalm 48:1-6, John 4:21-24, Acts 2:42-47, Ephesians 5:18-20 

What would have motivated the angels to worship God in front of the shepherds? (Hint: Pre-incarnation) 

Why did the shepherds do the same thing? What does this highlight about the importance of worship? 

How does this challenge your view of worship? How will you be more intentional this Christmas holiday? 

Advent Reading: Micah 5:1-5, John 14:27

December 14, 2017

Read:  Luke 1:26-38, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-19 

Explain how Mary would have struggled both relationally and emotionally before going to Bethlehem. 

How would Bethlehem have been lonely? In what way would the shepherds have been an encouragement? 

Knowing that God was always caring for Mary, how is this an encouragement to you this Christmas? 

Advent Reading: Psalm 23

December 13, 2017

Read:  Luke 2:12-17, Matthew 5:14-16, 9:35-38, Romans 10:14-16 

What clue did the angel provide regarding the location of Jesus? How did the shepherds respond? Why? 

What took place after the shepherds found Jesus? In what way were they the first evangelists? 

How much did they understand about Jesus? How does this encourage you to be bolder about Jesus? 

Advent Reading: Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19

December 12, 2017

Read:  Luke 2:12-14, Isaiah 32:17, 48:22, John 14:25-27, 16:33, Romans 5:1-2, Col. 1:19-20 

What kind of peace did the angels proclaim to the shepherds? How is this different than world peace? 

In what way was Jesus going to provide this peace? How does this relate Christmas to the Gospel? 

Why is this a good reminder this time of year? How does this help you during the Christmas holidays? 

Advent Reading: Isaiah 9:1-7, 55:1-2

December 11, 2017

Read:  Luke 2:10-14, Genesis 16:1-12, 22:9-19, 1 Timothy 5:17-21, Heb. 13:2, Rev. 7:9-12 

What basic role do angels play throughout the Bible? How does that relate to the Christmas story? 

In what way are angels different than people? Why would this have been intimidating for the shepherds? 

How might Christians encounter angels today? (c.f. Heb. 13:2) How does this keep you spiritually alert? 

Advent Reading: Psalm 122 & 126

December 9, 2017

Read:  Luke 2:1-11 

What spiritual insight is God showing you as you revisit the story of the birth of Christ? 

How does the first Christmas compare to your Christmas? In what ways are you being “overcrowded”? 

How will you incorporate a more godly approach to your Christmas celebration this year? Be specific. 

Advent Reading: Matthew 24:36-44, Revelation 7:9-17

December 8, 2017

Read:  Luke 2:8-11, Romans 3:23-26, Ephesians 2:1-10 

During the time of Christ, how did the Jews try to justify themselves before God? Why didn’t it work? 

In what way do people try to approach God in the same way today? How does Christmas change that? 

How does this encourage you? How can you incorporate more of God’s grace and love in your Christmas? 

Advent Reading: Luke 1:68-79, James 5:7-10

December 7, 2017

Read:  Luke 2:8-11, Matthew 1:20-21, 20:28, John 3:16-19, 14:6 

How did God reveal the meaning of Christmas to the shepherds? What was the primary message? 

How can this message easily get lost? Give an example. Why might people try to avoid this message? 

In what way does this reminder help refocus you this Christmas? Be specific.

Advent Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Lamentations 3:24-26

December 6, 2017

Read:  Luke 2:1-7, 2 Corinthians 8:9, Philippians 2:5-8, Colossians 1:16-17, Mat. 25:31-46 

How was the birth of Christ a statement about humility? Why will the return of Christ be different?

I what way does this model a godly Christmas attitude for all Christians? Be specific. 

Why can this be a struggle during the Christmas season? How will you step into Christmas humility? 

Advent Reading: Psalm 130:1-8, 146:5-10

December 5, 2017

Read:  Luke 2:1-7, Matthew 2:1-6 

In what way was the context and setting surrounding the birth of Jesus underwhelming? Be specific. 

What strikes you as odd about the chief priests and scribes response to Herod? (i.e. urgency) 

What does this imply about how people may respond to Christmas? Why is this important to remember? 

Advent Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11

December 4, 2017

Read:  Luke 1:26-33, 2:1-7, John 7:37-44, Micah 5:2-5, Romans 1:1-3 

What Old Testament lineage requirement was prophesied for the coming Messiah? 

How did Joseph and Mary fulfill this requirement? How did Caesar Augustus fulfill this prophecy? 

During the time of Christ, why were people confused about Jesus? How do you see people confused today? 

Advent Reading: Psalm 80:1-7

December 2, 2017

Read:  Philippians 4:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:22, James 3:17, Psalm 1 

What does it take for you to think worthy thoughts? 

What can you do if you struggle with impure/negative thoughts? 

What are you filling your mind with? How can you fill your mind with what is good?

December 1, 2017

Read:  Philippians 4:6-9, John 14:27, Colossians 3:15 

What is the peace that Jesus has given us? 

How can a believer enjoy the peace of God? 

What troubling problem or fear do you need to turn over to God?