Christmas

The Story: Peace

The Story: Peace

Faith Talks

1. How can you identify with the need for peace?

2. The Angels made it clear that there is a connection between our experience of peace and God being glorified. Can you identify a time in your life when you experienced a loss of peace because you had made something less than God most glorious?

3. From the teaching tonight what did you learn are “the things that make for peace?”

The Story: Redemption

The Story: Redemption

Faith Talks:

In the silent nine months leading up to Johns birth Zechariah started to see, understand and believe that they needed a savior and that the savior was coming. In what ways can you practice being still and quiet like Zechariah? What can you do this Christmas to slow down enough to recognize your need for a redeemer?

Zechariah said that Jesus would come and redeem his people. The two things that redemption looks like is a freedom from fear and a freedom to live holy/righteous. In what ways do you need freedom from fear? In what ways do you try to make yourself righteous?

According to this story in Luke what is your redeemer like? What do you think he is able and willing to redeem you?

The Story: Fall

The Story: Fall

Faith Talks

Sin is lawlessness.  How does this compare to your own definition of sin?  How is it the same or different?  

Which phrase describes you best:
- The law I live by asks "what serves me best"
- The law I live by asks "what does God desire"Explain your answer to a trusted friend. 

John Piper writes, " Let every heart prepare him room . . . by cleaning house."  What are some things that have replaced God in your heart that need to be dethroned?  Share them with someone this week. 

Try using this reading plan as you prepare to celebrate Christ-mas.  "Good news of great joy" link: http://bible.com/r/C7

The Story: Creation

The Story: Creation

Faith Talks

God makes all things good. Talk about the good things you see in each other. What are the unique characteristics of each person in your household?

Ask each person how easy/hard is it to believe what the others have said about you? Are there any of those positive characteristics they listed hard to believe? Why?