January 1, 2024
Guess Who's Coming to Christmas | Matthew 2:13-28
Herod
The Christmas Story ends with a downer. Dead babies. Few of us know the story, and fewer of us talk about Herod’s killing of the innocents. The message is clear, though: Jesus is on a mission in a world that really knows how to hurt each other. There’s no candy-coated church person experience; we face all the same rotten stuff along with the world. Anyone who tells you differently hasn’t read their Bible. But there is hope. This Baby has something up his sleeve.
Songs for this week: Spotify
- Has anyone ever done or said something to you that was helpful when you were going through a rough patch?
- What strong emotions would a Bethlehem father or mother feel who lost their little boy? What strong emotions have you had recently? What is behind those emotions?
- Joseph got up in the middle of the night to obey God. When was the last time you obeyed God directly on something (ie, speaking to someone, forgiving someone, being generous)?
- How do you explain a loving God and a world of suffering? Those two things seem at odds with each other. Is there a rational explanation?
- Who needs you to pray for them this week? Is there a gesture of support that you could extend to someone who is suffering?
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1 Corinthians 13 - Paul reminds the church in Corinth that love—not spiritual gifting—is the true measure of maturity. Love is a way of life, and unlike gifts, it lasts forever.
1 Corinthians 12:1-11 -Paul wrote to the church in Corinth about leadership, relationships, self-discipline, and spiritual life. In this message, we explore how the Holy Spirit helps us discern spiritual realities—with Jesus at the very centre of it all.
Galatians 5:16-26 - The Holy Spirit surprised both the convinced and the curious in the early Church—working through powerful deeds and transforming lives from within to become more like Jesus.
Acts 2:1-21 - The long-awaited gift of God’s Spirit given to ordinary women and men finally touched down! A few unlikely believers huddled together in an upstairs room were the first recipients. This story unlocks the plan that the Spirit of Jesus has for us all.
