Wonder - End of Week 4

INTRODUCTION
The following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.

OPEN QUESTIONS
What is the single best gift you ever got for Christmas, or your single best memory of Christmas?

HEAD

1. Read Luke 2:1-20, 25-40 together and share any wisdom, insights, or thoughts that come to you from the reading.
2. What does it mean to you that God can use anyone, even rulers and authorizes that don’t know him, to advance His will on this earth?
3. Why do you think Jesus came in such a lowly way, to a carpentar, born in a manger, away from all the lights of the big city and accolades that would be afforded any other king?
4. Why do you think the angels came to the shepherds and not the religious rulers?
5. Simeon had waiting his whole life to see the Messiah come. Describe what you think this moment was like for him?  
6. Do you think Mary had any idea what Simeons words might mean, “a sword will pierce your very soul.”? Explain your answer.
7. Luke brings the story of the old and new together through the birth of Jesus.  Why might it be important for our own stories, our own pasts, both personally and denominationally, to allow the old to inform the new? 

HEART

1. How might you and I keep our childlike wonder when it comes to the Christmas story, as well as all throughout our faith journey?
2. The shepherds weren’t told to share the news of Jesus, but they did it immediately (verse 17). How might this story inform how we go about evangelism (i.e. encouraging others to share with others about Jesus) today?
3. Simeon and Anna both waited their whole lives for Jesus.  What can we learn about their devotion to take into our own faith journeys as we too await for the Advent of Jesus?
4. Why do you think we have so little information on the childhood and adolescence of Jesus?

HANDS
Christmas is full of traditions.  This year. think of one tradition that you could begin, either for you personally or for your family, that could help remind you to keep your child-like wonder in tow, letting God continue to surprise you with His love, with the fulfillment of His promises, and with the many different ways that He shows up in this world.  Maybe it’s a new ornament on the tree, a moment of reflection during the season, a song you sing each year, etc…

LIVING WORDS FOR YOUR WEEK
““For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Luke 2:11-14 KJV