Group Discussion Guide
Always Winter, Never Christmas... Until He Came, Part 2
This guide is designed to help your group create a space for genuine connection and conversation within your discussion time. Don't feel pressured to address every question each week. Instead, allow the Holy Spirit to guide you as you lead your group in uncovering what God intends to communicate during your time together.
This guide comprises three sections: Loving, Learning, and Living. Each section aims to steer your conversation towards meaningful discussions about spiritual growth as individuals and as members of the body of Christ.
This guide comprises three sections: Loving, Learning, and Living. Each section aims to steer your conversation towards meaningful discussions about spiritual growth as individuals and as members of the body of Christ.
LOVING
First moments together as a group to connect and pray (approx. 10-15 min).
Open with prayer and invite God to be part of your conversation and relationship.
- How have you seen God at work in your life since the last time we met?
- What has been one high and one low since the last time we met?
- How did you do with living out what we talked about last time we met?
Open with prayer and invite God to be part of your conversation and relationship.
LEARNING
The majority of the group discussion is devoted to open dialogue, reflecting on God’s Word and its personal application to each of our lives (approx. 60-75 min).
Scripture References from Message: Matthew 2:1-18
Big Idea from Message: Jesus brings peace by replacing our kingdom with his.
Scripture References from Message: Matthew 2:1-18
Big Idea from Message: Jesus brings peace by replacing our kingdom with his.
The Magi in this story very likely aren’t followers of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Why do you think they would look for a star celebrating the birth of a King they don’t follow?
How might the information about the Messiah that Herod gleaned from the priests and teachers of religious law have heightened his insecurity and fueled his later, evil actions? (Hint: Herod was considered a “half-Jew” by the religious leaders of the day and often accused of being co-opted by Rome to work against the Jewish people.)
Why do you think God chooses to speak through dreams to both the Magi and Joseph?
This passage is full of prophecies being fulfilled. Why do you think it was important for Matthew to include all of this information here?
Herod’s need to protect his own kingdom led him to do great harm to others. This is often the case with us because our insecurities need to be fed, even at the expense of other people. Have you ever experienced something like this? Have you, or someone you know, inflicted some kind of harm (mental, physical, emotional, etc.) on others to protect their own “kingdom?”
How might the information about the Messiah that Herod gleaned from the priests and teachers of religious law have heightened his insecurity and fueled his later, evil actions? (Hint: Herod was considered a “half-Jew” by the religious leaders of the day and often accused of being co-opted by Rome to work against the Jewish people.)
Why do you think God chooses to speak through dreams to both the Magi and Joseph?
This passage is full of prophecies being fulfilled. Why do you think it was important for Matthew to include all of this information here?
Herod’s need to protect his own kingdom led him to do great harm to others. This is often the case with us because our insecurities need to be fed, even at the expense of other people. Have you ever experienced something like this? Have you, or someone you know, inflicted some kind of harm (mental, physical, emotional, etc.) on others to protect their own “kingdom?”
LIVING
The challenge for the week ahead is to grow in our faith and lovingly hold each other accountable through the community.
This week, reread Matthew 2:1-18 and spend some time in prayer, asking God to show you your own insecurities and how you might be trying to hold onto your own “kingdom” and missing the gift of peace Jesus wants to give to you. In this time of reflection, be careful to consider how your need to be in control of things may have inflicted harm on others and, if necessary, begin to find ways to ask forgiveness of anyone you have wronged.
This week, reread Matthew 2:1-18 and spend some time in prayer, asking God to show you your own insecurities and how you might be trying to hold onto your own “kingdom” and missing the gift of peace Jesus wants to give to you. In this time of reflection, be careful to consider how your need to be in control of things may have inflicted harm on others and, if necessary, begin to find ways to ask forgiveness of anyone you have wronged.