Hope Has a Name
Christmas Eve & Christmas Eve-Eve
God
Read: Matthew 2:1-4; Luke 2:8-15
- When did these events occur in relation to one another?
- The Jewish people hadn’t heard directly from God for 400 years. What was their mindset at this point? Were they expecting Jesus?
- How do the Magi and shepherds respond in the verses following these passages?
- How do these passages set the stage for Jesus’ ministry?
Group
- God used angels to announce Jesus’ arrival to the Jewish shepherds and a star for the non-Jewish philosophers. Why do you think he used different signals for these groups?
- How do you feel like you connect best with Jesus? (i.e. worship, prayer, reading Scripture, podcasts, etc.) In what way does He speak most loudly to you?
- What is it about that activity that you feel draws you closer to Him?
- What does it say about God that He has so many different ways to connect with people?
- The Jews had grown used to being ruled and not hearing from God. What did Jesus’ birth represent to them?
- Read Galatians 4:4. What does the phrase, “we might receive adoption to our sonship” mean to you?
- How does the context of sonship, especially in the Christmas context as Jesus being born as a son to Mary and Joseph, mean to you?
- Is it hard for you to fully grasp the idea that you are God’s son or daughter? Why or why not?
- How does the story of Jesus’ birth give you hope?
Go
- How can you provide hope to someone in your life this week?
- What can you do to remind yourself daily – even hourly – of the hope you’ve been given through Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection?
Close in Prayer