The Arrival

Table Talk (⅓ of meeting)   

• Which Christmas song do you never want to hear again?
• What’s the best thing about your past week? What was the most stressful? 
• Who would you like to invite to a Christmas service? Make a list and pray for them! 
• Worship God through song. Recommended: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing by Reawaken Hymns. 

Discussion Guidelines  

1. Everyone shares in sentences, not paragraphs.  
2. Focus only on what this passage is saying. (This keeps everyone on the same page)  
3. Share from your perspective – we won’t argue or give advice.  
4. Give everyone time to respond. Silence is OK.  
5. The facilitator will facilitate discussion, not teach.  

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Discover what God is saying to you. (⅓ of meeting) 

Big idea: When Christ’s joy breaks in, darkness loses its grip.

‍Read Luke 2:8-20

• Which verse or verses were highlighted to you in this familiar story?
• What point do you think God was making by choosing to announce the coming of the Messiah to lowly shepherds?
• What actions did the shepherds take? What do we learn from their response? 
• The angels announce joy in the midst of despair: Israel was in a dark chapter, and the shepherds were at the bottom of society. How can we have joy in the midst of despair?
• How would you define the word "joy?" How do you know you have it? 

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Go do it. (⅓ of meeting) 

• Think of someone you know in a season of despair. Pause now to pray for them and ask God to show you a step you can take to bring them joy. Share what God prompted. 
• Pair up with one another and pray for each other to experience the joy of the Lord in whatever circumstance we find ourselves.