12.20.21 HUDDLE
INTRO QUESTION
- What is your favorite Christmas present you’ve ever received?
- What is your favorite Christmas present you’ve ever given?
LESSON INTRO
Most One Life Groups take the month of December off. As such, the huddles for the rest of this month will be abbreviated. Feel free to simply spend time with one another and debrief the year. Make plans as a group for something you want to do together in 2022.
BIBLE ENGAGEMENT – LUKE 2:1-20
The Birth of Jesus
2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
BIBLE ENGAGEMENT QUESTIONS
- What stands out to you from the text?
- What questions does it raise?
- What did you notice this time that you haven’t noticed before?
Three themes that rise to the surface in this text . . .
- Anticipation
- It Was For Everyone –Especially Those on the Margins
- Salvation
- Where do you notice these themes in the text?
- From it’s earliest days, the Christian movement was known for their care . . . known as rescuers or helpers. Respond to the following quote from non-Christian philosopher, Mark Nelson.
“If you ask what is Jesus’ influence on medicine and compassion? I would suggest that wherever you have an institution of self-giving for the lonely (and for practical welfare of the lonely), schools, hospitals, hospices, orphanages for those who will never be able to repay; this probably has its roots in the movement of Jesus.”
- Here is a similar theme from Dionysius, 3rd century Bishop of Alexandria.
“Heedless of the danger, they took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ. And with them departed this life serenely happy, for they were infected by others with the disease, drawing on themselves the sickness of their neighbors, and cheerly accepting their pains.”
- The world Jesus grew up in was built on a class system. The rich were important, the poor were not. In light of the previous two quotes, how did Jesus change the view of the worth of people in the ancient world?
- Do you think Jesus followers today stand out in the same way? Why or why not?
CLOSE IN PRAYER