December 9th - December 14th Life Group Notes

Open in Prayer 

• Welcome/Introductions/Cast Vision - Remind the Life Group of the Guidelines- See bottom of page.

•  Doing the Mission: Did anyone share Jesus or last week's passage?  

• Does anyone have a God story? An undeniable encounter or experience with God that creates an impact or breakthrough in your day-to-day life. These moments can be extraordinary or very humble, but always personally powerful. 

• Opening Question: What two positive qualities about your mom or dad can you recall from your childhood? If you can’t recall any, can you name some way God, as your Father, has made up for it?

• Share background for the passage: Israel has gone through some 400 years of silence from God. Now He is sending His Son to fulfill the prophecy that God would be with us and save us from our sins.
• Thought/Focus: Who are the 5 key characters in this account of Jesus’ birth? 
• Have someone, or a couple of people, read this week's passage: Matthew 1: 18-25

Discuss these questions: Go deeper as led. Remember Head, Heart, Hands.

1. How is it that Mary came to be ‘with child’? – vs. 18
2. What was Joseph planning to do about it? What changed his mind? – vss. 20-21 
3. Why did Jesus birth happen this way? – vss. 22-23 

 4. What do vss. 24-25 tell you about the intensity of Joseph’s dream & his understanding          of it?
 5. How do you think you would have felt in Joseph’s place in vs. 19? ...in vss. 20-21?  
 6. What struggles do you think you would have had if you were Mary in this account? Do          you think you would have had more positive or negative thoughts/emotions overall?              Share some of each +/-.
 7.  How does Joseph’s faith challenge/encourage your own? How will you exercise                     stronger faith because of it?
 8.  Has Jesus saved you from your sins? Can you share when & where with the group?              ...will you with others?
 9.  How will you show God & others that you truly believe He is Immanuel, God with us?
   
Next week's passage/story: 

• Dismiss in Prayer   Matthew 2: 1-11
  

CONFIDENTIALITY: What is said in the group stays in the group.
 
LISTEN: Let's value one another during the  discussions by really listening to what is  being shared. Try to avoid thinking about  how you are going to respond or what you  are going to say next.
 
PAUSE: Allow a pause in conversation after someone shares. Give the person sharing a  chance to finish and the group the  opportunity to consider what was just  shared before responding.

NO "CROSS TALK": Be considerate of others  as they are sharing- no side conversations.

NO FIXING: We are not here to fix each  other. Jesus does that part. Speak truth is love, give  
encouragement, empathize,  point to Jesus.  You may share  solutions God has led you through. The  other person should never feel shame or  failure, but rather connection & hope.

NO HIJACKING of shared stories.

NO RESCUING: When people are sharing  something deeply personal, there can be a  tendency to try to make them feel better  about themselves or the situation by  providing immediate condolences. This will  often cause them to stop sharing. Resist the  temptation to rescue people.
 
SHARING: Be sensitive about the amount of time  you share.
 
SILENCE: It is important to allow silence in the  group as it provides an opportunity for someone  else to share and for members in the group to  process the topic or question being considered.

BE SELF-AWARE: Be self-aware of how you are  personally affecting the environment through your  words, actions, and non-verbal communication.
 
"I"STATEMENTS: It's easy to talk about the issues  of others, but for our purposes, we want you to put  yourself on the table. Try to use "I" statements rather than "them', "they", "you", "the church", "us", "we", etc.
 
FIGHT FOR RELATIONSHIP: We will commit to resolve conflict  biblically. When conflict or sin issues arise between  group members, we want to make sure that  we are honoring God and each other in the way we  deal with these issues. We will fight for  relationship.  I will discuss the struggle with the person I am in conflict with first, & if not resolved, seek wise advice. The following are a few key Scriptures  in this regard (there are many others.)

• If someone sins against you: Mat. 18:15-20
• Restoring someone in sin: Gal. 6:1-5 
• Forgive a sinner: Col. 3: 12-13 
• Reconciling differences: Mat. 5:23-24, Mat. 7:1-5