Matthew 2:1-12

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The Big Idea: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. (Psalm 19:1)

The Magi: who they are, how they responded, and what they brought

Who They Are

A Kingdom’s most valued advisors (Daniel 2 and 5)

Magi would explain and interpret the coexistence of the spiritual and the physical to align kings with the work of the gods among men.

How they responded

Overjoyed - Rejoiced on a scale or extent equivalent to violence

Bowed Down - Fell down, prostrate in submission and supplication

Worshiped - declared their allegiance to and regard for deity

What they brought

Gold for a King

Frankincense for a Priest

Myrrh for a suffering, priestly, King

This Christmas be like the Magi:

• Rejoice exceedingly

• Bow in submission

• Declare your allegiance

Luke 2:22-35

The Big Idea: The radical measure God takes to redeem creation is the dividing line of all things.

The Humility of Jesus

Exodus 13:2

Leviticus 12:8

Mark 1:4‭‭

The Praise of Simeon

God doesn’t want A people - He wants ALL people

Everything and everyone was made for the glory of God - and He wants it all back!

The Prophecy of Simeon

Jesus brings division to clarify the pathway to peace

Luke 12:49-53

Response:

• Give your life for the glory of God

• Enjoy the certainty of His love and Presence in your life

• Go to war for your Oikos

DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY

► This week's Passage: Matthew 2:13-18

► Connection questions:

1. What are you thankful for?

2. What is a challenge you are facing?

3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement?

► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words

► Individual answers to five questions:

1. What stands out to you?

2. What does this passage tell us about people?

3. What does this passage tell us about God?

4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)

5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)

The Big Idea: Jesus has joined the least of us, to save the least of us, and give us all God’s favor - forever! 

Luke 2:1-20

The Coming of the Christ

• His historical certainty

• The Father’s Choice for Point-of-Entry

• The Emptying of Jesus

The Significance of the Shepherds

• A career of all guts, no glory

• Legally defined as unreliable

• Jesus joins the team

John 10:11-13 

The Announcement of the Angels

• Warriors, not cupids

• God’s Glory, Great news, and Mega Joy

• The Sign

The Message: Jesus has joined the least of us, to save the least of us, and give us God’s favor, forever!

The disqualification you feel is what makes you qualified and the qualifications you feel make you disqualified.

RESPONSE:

• Join the Worship of the Heavenly Host

• Go and see this thing that God has done!

• Do the Shepherd thing: “They spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child”

DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY

► This week's Passage: Matthew 2:1-12

► Connection questions:

1. What are you thankful for?

2. What is a challenge you are facing?

3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement?

► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words

► Individual answers to five questions:

1. What stands out to you?

2. What does this passage tell us about people?

3. What does this passage tell us about God?

4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)

5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)

Matthew 1:17-25

The Big Idea: Wake up and answer God's call, for it is worth everything that it costs.

Law and Grace: v19

Law is a Teacher, Love is The Guide

Galatians 3:24-25

Matthew 22:37-40

‭Your Role in God’s Work: v17; 20

The Angel’s Pitch:

•Do not allow fear to make you miss God 

•You are participating in God’s Master Plan of redemption

The Biggest Enemy You Face: v20, 24-25

Joseph, like you and me, is essential to God’s plan and completely dispensable. 

Proverbs 3:34

Ever since Genesis 3, THE enemy that brings us down is our love of self.

RESPONSE:

•What is God saying to you?

•What will you do about it?

•Who can you encourage this week?

DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY

► This week's Passage: Psalm 27:7-14

► Connection questions:

1. What are you thankful for?

2. What is a challenge you are facing?

3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement?

► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words

► Individual answers to five questions:

1. What stands out to you?

2. What does this passage tell us about people?

3. What does this passage tell us about God?

4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)

5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)

Luke 1:26-56

The Big Idea: You are eligible to receive God’s favor and blessing the same way Mary did - the impossible made possible entirely by God’s goodness and power.

God’s WHY for everything He does is HIMSELF: 

In other words, God is gracious to us because He is faithful and true to Himself

God’s WHAT: Favor and Blessings made available to all who fear Him; the humble and the hungry 

Mary is Favored - “the recipient of manifest unmerited grace” 

•The Holy Spirit comes to her

•The Power of the Most High overshadows her

•The One who saves her is the Son of God

Mary is Blessed: “happy and fortunate due to her circumstances”

God’s HOW: Everything we need, He has already done

God keeps His promises! Holy is His name!

RESPONSE:

What is God saying to you?

Will you say “yes” to what God has done?

Will you live from the same WHY as He does?

DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY

► This week's Passage: Galatians 6:7-10

► Connection questions:

1. What are you thankful for?

2. What is a challenge you are facing?

3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement?

► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words

► Individual answers to five questions:

1. What stands out to you?

2. What does this passage tell us about people?

3. What does this passage tell us about God?

4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)

5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)

The Big Idea: While God is doing His global work, He attends to your cries, too.

Luke 1:5-25

The Testimony of Zechariah and Elizabeth:

• There is a long, sovereign, specifically planned and never random redeeming work of God among men. He is faithful, relentless, and deeply in love with us

• All people, including the faithful, must reconcile deep disappointments

• God responds to the cries of the world and your personal cries at the same time

Luke 1:67-79

Response:

• Give up the Global Operations Director (G.O.D.) role

• Pick up the prayers once again that you have given up on

• Walk in the peace of your King - your sins have been forgiven, and your Redeemer lives!

• Be an ambassador of Peace

DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY

► This week's Passage: Genesis 37:1-11

► Connection questions:

1. What are you thankful for?

2. What is a challenge you are facing?

3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement?

► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words

► Individual answers to five questions:

1. What stands out to you?

2. What does this passage tell us about people?

3. What does this passage tell us about God?

4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)

5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)

Matthew 25:31-46

Matthew 16:24-27

The Big Idea: Jesus hates fake religion even more than people do.

James 1:27

The Truth About Sheep and Goats:

•Goats don’t hurt you or help you - they just consume   

•Jesus knows the sheep

Matthew 7:22 - I never knew you - “Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name…”

•Those on the left hand are not just unwelcomed, they are banished

What Jesus is Actually Judging

Jesus is discerning the root by the fruit that it produces

•The presence of the Spirit - Luke 4:18 (Isaiah 61)

“Good deeds that are not the unconscious, automatic response of a heart indwelt by Jesus Christ are not truly ‘good’ deeds. They are planned deeds, contrived, carefully performed for the public eye, or if in private, done in the hope that they will purchase some merit or favor before God. But God's judgments take note only of the unconscious moments of our lives, the times when we are off guard, when we are unaware. It is then that we truly reveal ourselves. The test comes, not in our remembered actions, but in our unconscious reactions, our instinctive, unplanned responses.” - Ray C. Stedman

A Great Place to Get Started

V40: “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

Acts 4:33-35  

Is the church a safe place for broken people? Yes or No?

If we cannot do this for our brothers and sisters, how can we ever do this for the world?

Response:

•What is God saying to me?

•What will happen if I obey?

•Who in my Oikos needs to hear from me?

DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY

► Connection questions:

1. What are you thankful for?

2. What is a challenge you are facing?

3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement?

► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words

► Individual answers to five questions:

1. What stands out to you?

2. What does this passage tell us about people?

3. What does this passage tell us about God?

4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)

5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)

Mark 1:40-45

Prayer:
I bow my knees to declare that I am a servant of the Most High God. I lift my hands and pray, Come, Holy Spirit, and fill me this day that I might glorify Jesus.

“The Spirit filled life is not a special, deluxe edition of Christianity. It’s part and parcel of the total plan of God for His people.” - A.W. Tozer (How to be filled with the Holy Spirit)

Mark 1:9-11
Mark 1:12-13
Matthew 4:1

Greek - Anagó: to lead up, bring up

John 14:26
Galatians 5:22-23

Big Idea: The Spirit Leads Us Into Our Oikos.

Acts 1:8

Response:
•We are led into places that glorify Christ and produce fruit of the Spirit dwelling within us.
•The Baptism of the Spirit is less about us having the Spirit, and more about the Spirit having us.

DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY
► This week's Passage: Ephesians 1:17-23

► Connection questions:

1. What are you thankful for?

2. What is a challenge you are facing?

3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement?


► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words


► Individual answers to five questions:

1. What stands out to you?

2. What does this passage tell us about people?

3. What does this passage tell us about God?

4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)

5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)

The Big Idea: God invites us to have lives, families, and communities that are unexplainable apart from the Presence of God.

Galatians 4:6-11
Galatians 5:16-25

Wrestle with this question:
Does your worship more resemble the prophets of BAAL or the prophet of God?
1 Kings 18:16-39


We Must Learn the Jesus Two-Step: Galatians 5:24-25

Step 1: Crucify the Flesh

Step 2: Keep in step with the Spirit:

Life in this world does not define you, this does:
Galatians 3:13-14

Four Guiding Principles:
1. Jesus did not die and rise again so He could FOLLOW US

2. The activity of the Spirit is not done to you, but in you and through you

3. At any moment, it is impossible to live in the power of the SPIRIT and the power of SIN at the same time.

4. God wants my life, family, and church to be UNEXPLAINABLE without the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 4:6-7

In this world you will have trouble – I have overcome world

How Bout This: Don’t try harder: Just invite God to be GOD, in you and through you!

God invites ME and WE to be:
UNEXPLAINABLE
UNSTOPPABLE
UNFAKEABLE
IRRESISTIBLE

Response:
What is God saying to me?
What would happen if I obey Him?
Who should I tell about this moment?

DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY
► This week's Passage: 2 Corinthians 12:7b-12

► Connection questions:

1. What are you thankful for?

2. What is a challenge you are facing?

3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement?


► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words


► Individual answers to five questions:

1. What stands out to you?

2. What does this passage tell us about people?

3. What does this passage tell us about God?

4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)

5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)

The Big Idea: The Holy Spirit will put His breath in you, and you will come to life.

Pentecostal: “Depending upon God to do something that I cannot do”

A Framework for Spiritual Gifts and their Function:
Purpose of the Gifts = LOVE
Power of the Gifts = LOVE
Practice of the Gifts = LOVE
Product of the Gifts = LOVE

Ezekiel 37:1-10

God’s redemptive and powerful plan: (v5-6)
• I will put breath in you
• You will come to life
• You will know that I am the Lord

We desire healing in our body, but do not have the breath of God in us

God invited Ezekiel to invite His Spirit - He does the same with you and me.

Luke 11:11-13

Response:
• When you have no hope in the bones, have hope in God
• Do not limit what God wants to do with the bones
• Prophesy to your dry bones

DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY
► This week's Passage: Ephesians 4:1-16

► Connection questions:

1. What are you thankful for?

2. What is a challenge you are facing?

3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement?


► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words


► Individual answers to five questions:

1. What stands out to you?

2. What does this passage tell us about people?

3. What does this passage tell us about God?

4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)

5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)