Christmas is obviously not just about how many lights you can fit on the tree. Just look at the response of the wise men and shepherd boys.
Talking Points:
- The wise men sought Jesus, traveling up to 1000 miles to find him. This shows that God’s invitation is not limited to “religious” types. Matthew 2:1-2, Jeremiah 29:13
- The wise men gave extravagant gifts: gold for his royalty, frankincense for his divinity, and myrhh for his humanity. Matthew 2:11
- The shepherds shared Jesus even though they were nobodies in their day. It was the natural response to the Good News that was shared with them. Luke 2:8-11, Genesis 46:34, Luke 2:17
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- When you hear the word Christmas what images and memories come to your mind?
- What was your favorite Christmas gift as a kid? How about as an adult?
- Read Matthew 2:1-2 and share what you think it must have been like to be a wise man traveling, watching the star, trying to find this new king named Jesus.
- Read Matthew 2:10-11 and Jeremiah 29:13. Share a time in your life when you had a powerful experience with Jesus.
- Read Luke 2:8-11. Why do you think God intentionally chose the lowly and outcast shepherds to be the first to tell the world about Jesus? How can you use your story to share Jesus with others?
- What steps have you taken, or need to take, to keep Christmas about Jesus and not all the other stuff that distracts us during the Christmas season?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
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