Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

1. When you hear that God is your Father, and you are his dearly loved son or daughter, what do you think and feel?

2. When you think of a picture frame that would include your "family" - who would be in that picture?

3. If you haven't thought about brothers and sisters in Christ being in your "family" picture frame, why do you think that is?

4. How do you/don't you live like "family" with your brothers and sisters in Christ (like you would with your nuclear family)?

5. What would it look like to live like "family" with your brothers and sisters in Christ at Kettlebrook in the everyday stuff of life?

6. What would others think, feel and experience if we really lived like "family" as brothers and sisters in Christ?

7. What is one change you and/or your group can make to live more like family with your brothers and sisters in Christ at Kettlebrook in the everyday stuff of life?

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

1. Which time frame, past, present, or future, do you find yourself primarily thinking in? Why do you think this is the case?

2. Do you ever find yourself thinking about those “glory days” of the past? What is it about that time that is so nostalgic? What do you miss the most and why?

3. When was the last time you really felt “alienated”? Why was this the case?

4. Can you relate to feeling alienated from God because of your attitudes or actions? Why or why not?

5. Read Colossians 1:21-22. What solution to this alienation does Paul develop? What aspect of this solution do you find most helpful?

6. In the notes section above, which of the 3 truths do you most struggle to believe? Why do you think this is?

7. How does the “power of sin” manifest itself in your own life most regularly? In what ways is the power of the gospel greater than the power of this sin? How can you leverage this in your own life?

8. What truths about the good news of Jesus might you need to remember, rehearse and recite this week as you go to school, work, and home? Give a specific example.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

1. In 2015, Miss Universe was wrongly crowned (we showed a brief clip of it). What do you think it would have been like for each person involved in that scenario?

2. Describe a time when you were really humbled like this. What was that like for you?

3. In what ways do you appreciate our country’s distribution of power between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches? We also find this in Deuteronomy 16-18. Why do you think this separation is helpful? What would be the significance of these coming together as seen in Zechariah 6:9-15?

4. Read Zech 6:12-13. Now read John 19:5. What are the similarities and what are the differences? Now read Hebrews 4:14-16 & Revelation 19:11-16. How do these passages help us understand Jesus as both the High Priest and the King? What difference does the truth of these passages make in your own life?

5. A case was made that Christmas might be threatening because it is a reminder that we are not king (or queen), but that Jesus is. How might you evidence this in your own life? In what ways do you see a reflection of “king” Herod in your own heart?

6. In what ways do you live as if you are wearing a crown?

7. In what ways could you respond to Jesus, the ultimate priest-king this Christmas? In what ways could you lay down the crown you have been wearing around?

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

1. Describe the time in your life when you have been the most filthy. What was that like for you? What was the process like to get cleaned up?

2. In the song, “Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas” the lyrics express the desire to have our troubles “out of sight” and “miles away.” What troubles in your life would you like to be out of sight? What solution does the song offer?

3. Read Zechariah 3:1-10. Twice God, not the High Priest, is responsible for removing iniquity (sin). What are the implications? How might this apply to you personally?

4. Which camp do you tend to fall into: #1) Those who may not see yourself as very dirty relative to other people around you, #2) those who believe they can clean themselves up, or #3) those who are so dirty you could never become clean. #4) Some other camp? Why is this the case? How does this text challenge your mindset?

5. Read Hebrews 10:11-14. In what ways is Jesus the ultimate High Priest? How should this impact the way we see: #1) religious rituals and sacrifices, #2) our filthy clothes, #3) our iniquity/sin?

6. If you have had “the Branch” remove your iniquity… in what ways might you be intentional this Christmas about inviting your neighbors, co-workers, family or friends over to sit down and sharing the good news?

Questions for Reflection:

1. Do you remember a time when you ever had to repent of something? What was that like for you? What was the result?

2. Why do you think repentance has such a bad rap in our society? Why is it so hard for us to do?

3. Read Zechariah 1:2-6 in a couple different translations. Then have a couple people try to retell the passage in their own words. Help them out if someone is reading along.

4. What does this passage tell us about God? What does it tell us about humanity?

5. Turn to Zechariah 8:11-17. What kind of things does God promise to the exiles if they turn from their wicked ways and return to him?

6. If God has our best interests at heart, why do we find it hard to trust him and follow him? What kind of life do you think God has in store for you if you decide to follow him with your whole heart?

7. What is one thing you may need to repent of and stop doing this Christmas season? What is stopping you from doing that?

Questions for Reflection:

1. When you hear the phrase 'generously stewarding your life for the gospel of Christ' what picture do you have?

2. What are some roadblocks to generously stewarding your life for the gospel of Christ? What is the biggest roadblock for you personally?

3. What would need to be true of Christ in order for you to generously steward your life for the gospel of Christ?

4. What are some ways you could stoke the affections of your heart for your King Jesus on a regular basis?

5. What is one thing God is saying to you? What will you do about it? Share this with someone else your in relationship with from Kettlebrook (spouse, group member that you are apart of)

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

1. Share a time in your life where someone asked you to take care of their things and it didn’t go so well?

2. When have you ever had someone squander your money or possessions? What was that like for you?

3. Re-read Luke 16:1-15. If God were the rich man in this parable and he were to ask you to give an account of your “management” of his possessions, how do you think that conversation would go?

4. We have heard it said that if we are not faithful with our own things, we are not fit to handle those of others, but Jesus reverses this in Luke 16:12. Why do you think he does this? How would you evaluate yourself with respect to this?

5. In what ways do you justify yourself with respect to wealth like the Pharisees do in this text? Why do you think this is the case?

6. In Luke 16:13 Jesus says you can’t serve both God and money. If that is true, which of the two does your life reflect that you have chosen to serve?

7. Have you ever felt guilty for a lack of stewardship or generosity? What was that like for you? Why is this not the true motivation of the gospel? What is the motivation of the gospel and what is Jesus’ role in it?

8. How might you respond to this text and parable this week?

Questions for Discussion:

1. What are some things which people typically worry about? What are some ways you have seen this in other people’s lives? How have you seen this in your own life?

2. Why do we tend to worry? What good does it do? What is worry a symptom of or what is it the opposite of?

3. Have someone read Luke 12:22-34 in a couple of different versions, then see if a couple people can retell Jesus’ teachings in their own words. Have them paraphrase what was read.

4. What do we learn about God from these verses? Take some time to list them out.

5. What do we learn about ourselves/people?

6. Reread verses 31-34. Why do you suppose Jesus tells us this?

7. If this is the word of God, and you consider yourself to be an actual follower of Jesus Christ (that is, he is our leader and we do what he says) is there some way we can obey these verses? Share what that might be with your group.