12 Dec Discussion Guide: Searching for Christmas Week 2
PRAYER
Take the first few minutes of your time together to listen to what God is doing in one another’s lives and pray for any specific needs people in your group may have.
Today’s Discussion
This week we continue our Christmas series, Searching for Christmas. Over the next few weeks, as we draw nearer to the celebration of the coming of Jesus, we will be looking at the longing and the hope the story of Christmas arouses in the human heart. What is it that we are all so eager to experience, to know, to have? What is it that all the excitement and gifts and lights are ultimately pointing us to? Let’s find out together.
Discussion Questions
When you think of Christmas, what comes to mind?
Cuando piensas en la Navidad, que se te viene a la mente?
Charles Spurgeon
“Infinite, and an infant. Eternal, and yet born of a woman. Almighty, and yet hanging on a woman’s breast. Supporting a universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother’s arms. King of angels, and yet the reputed son of Joseph. Heir of all things, and yet the carpenter’s despised son.”
When you look at how, where and why Jesus was born and raised, if you were God would you have done it any differently? If so, how and why?
What does that tell us about how God want to transform the world?
In light of that, how should we respond when God does, or allows, things in our lives that are not what we expected?
Charles Spurgeon
“Infinito, y un infante. Eterno, y aun nacido de una mujer. Todopoderoso, y aun al pecho de una mujer. Soportando al universo, y aun necesitando ser cargado en los brazos de una madre. Rey de ángeles, y aun el hijo renombrado de Jose. Heredero de todas las cosas, y aun el hijo despreciado de un carpintero.”
Cuando miras a como, donde, y porque Jesús nació y creció, si fueras Dios lo hubieras hecho diferente? Como y Porque?
Como eso nos dice como Dios quiere transformar el mundo?
Luke 1:26-38
””In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”
Have you ever had a hard time believing God has a purpose for your life?
How does our faith and trust in God’s purpose for our lives affect the way we experience the unexpectated?
Lucas 1:26-38
‘Al sexto mes, el ángel Gabriel fue enviado por Dios a una ciudad de Galilea llamada Nazaret, a una virgen comprometida para casarse con un hombre que se llamaba José, de los descendientes de David; y el nombre de la virgen era María. Y entrando el ángel, le dijo: “¡Salve, muy favorecida! El Señor está (sea) contigo; bendita eres tú entre las mujeres.” Ella se turbó mucho por estas palabras, y se preguntaba qué clase de saludo sería éste. Y el ángel le dijo: “No temas, María, porque has hallado gracia delante de Dios. Concebirás en tu seno y darás a luz un Hijo, y Le pondrás por nombre Jesús (el Señor salva). Este será grande y será llamado Hijo del Altísimo, y el Señor Dios Le dará el trono de Su padre David; y reinará sobre la casa de Jacob para siempre, y Su reino no tendrá fin.” Entonces María dijo al ángel: “¿Cómo será esto, puesto que soy virgen?” El ángel le respondió: “El Espíritu Santo vendrá sobre ti, y el poder del Altísimo te cubrirá con su sombra; por eso el Niño que nacerá será llamado Hijo de Dios. Tu parienta Elisabet en su vejez también ha concebido un hijo; y éste es el sexto mes para ella, la que llamaban estéril. Porque ninguna cosa será imposible para Dios.” Entonces María dijo: “Aquí tienes a la sierva del Señor; hágase conmigo conforme a tu palabra.” Y el ángel se fue de su presencia. ‘
pregunta
Closing Thought
Isaiah 7:14
‘Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. ‘
When we look at the impossibility of a virgin birth, what conclusion can we draw regarding the things God has promised us?
How do God’s promises for us empower us to be unified in the midst of our differences?
Pensamientos de Cierre
Isaías 7:14
‘Por tanto, el Señor mismo les dará esta señal: Una virgen concebirá y dará a luz un hijo, y Le pondrá por nombre Emmanuel (Dios con nosotros). ‘
pregunta