December 29 - January 4 -

Weekly Reading for December 29 – January 4

Preparing for Next Week’s Message

Sermon Series: Reboot
Sermon Title: Renewing Your Mind and Rediscovering Your Purpose

This reading plan will get your heart and mind set for the next message on January 5, 2025:

SUNDAY: Ephesians 1,
MONDAY: Ephesians 2,
TUESDAY: Ephesians 3,
WEDNESDAY: Ephesians 4,
THURSDAY: Ephesians 5,
FRIDAY: Ephesians 6,
SATURDAY: Romans 12,

Reflecting on the Most Recent Sermon

Sermon Series: Home for Christmas
Sermon Title: Memories are Made
Delivered On: December 29, 2024

VIEW SERMON NOTES

Memorize and Reflect

Philippians 2:6-7
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Prayer Direction

Spend time thanking Jesus for His willingness to leave heaven and come to earth to save you! Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to your memory powerful moments when Jesus has shown up in your life and provided, protected, or led you.

“Live It!” Challenge

Remember – Write out an account of (or think through) a time Jesus showed up in your life and reminded you that He is still Emmanuel, God with us. Tell this story to someone you care about during this Christmas / New Year season.

Small Group Discussion

What is one of your favorite Christmas memories?
Think about the first Christmas as recorded in Scripture in Matthew, Luke, and John. If you could have been there to witness one part of the whole story, from the angels to the shepherds to the wise men to the prophecies to the manger, what would you have liked to have witnessed and why?
Read: Luke 2:8-11. Image the incarnation (coming in the flesh) of Jesus being watched by the heavenly beings. They knew Jesus in all of His eternal glory. What did they see, and what must they have thought?
What do you think the angels saw when they came to the shepherds and invited them to come to the celebration of Jesus’ birth?
Read: Luke 2:6-7. What must the first Christmas have looked like through the eyes of Mary and Joseph as Mary delivered the Messiah, as wise men came with gifts, and as shepherds came with stories of angelic invitations? What memories did they have?
Read: Philippians 2:6-8. What did Jesus give up (when He left heaven) so that He could come to our world and offer His life as the payment for our sins?
Why do you think Jesus willingly and joyfully set aside all He gave up so that he could be born in a manger, live in this world (sinlessly), and die on the cross?
Tell a story of when you really began to understand the meaning of Christmas.
Who is one person in your life that does not know the true meaning of Christmas and how can you share Jesus with this person in the coming days?

December 29 – January 4