12.18.22 Huddle
Opening Discussion:
- Fill in the blank: It doesn’t feel like Christmas until my family (or friends) and I ______________.
- Why does that thing make it feel like Christmas to you?
Read and Discuss
Leviticus 23: 39-43 NIV
“‘So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days; the first day is a day of sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is a day of sabbath rest. On the first day you are to take branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees—and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. . . Live in temporary shelters for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’”
Deuteronomy 16: 13-15
Celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and your winepress. Be joyful at your festival—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites, the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns. For seven days celebrate the festival to the Lord your God at the place the Lord will choose. For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.
- What were some of the details God wanted in the celebration of the Festival of Tabernacles?
- Who was invited? What did they do? What was the purpose?
- Why was joy and rejoicing a significant part of the celebration?
- What did it mean that the Israelites’ joy would be complete? (Deuteronomy 16:15)
- When does your joy feel complete?
- What is the difference between joy and happiness?
John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
- What might a Jewish audience, who grew up celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles, think about God making his dwelling among us?
- Why is it significant that Jesus made His dwelling among us?
- What does it mean that Jesus is full of grace and truth?
- How did the Feast of Tabernacles point to God’s grace and truth?
- How can you show grace and truth to others?
Read John 7:37-38
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
- The festival of Tabernacles reminded the Israelites of the time God provided for them in the wilderness after rescuing them from slavery. How did what Jesus said tie into those years in the wilderness?
For a little background on this see Exodus 17:1-3,5-6
1 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lordcommanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.”
Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”
3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”
5 The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.
- What are some ways you can come to Jesus and drink?
- What are some things that prevent you from coming to Jesus to drink and be filled by Him?
- During this Christmas season how can you make sure Jesus is your source of joy?
Apply it!
- What is something you can do this week to help you, your family, and friends to center on Jesus this season?
- What can you do to celebrate Jesus this week?
Memorize it!
John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Prayer TACOS
Thank God for using celebrations to point us to Him
Adoration– Spend some time worshiping the Lord for coming to earth as a person and dwelling among us
Confess to the times you have made Christmas more about your wants and needs instead of celebrating Jesus
Others- Pray that the Lord would put someone in your life this week that you can share about the Good News of Jesus.
Self- Pray that you would be full of grace and truth as you talk to people this week.