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HOLLYWOOD HOLIDAYS: Linus Got It Right!

The following questions are to be used as a study aid for the sermon preached by Pastor Tommy Dove at the Grace Place on Sunday, December 22, 2013. To get the most from these questions, go to https://soundcloud.com/#graceplacehermitage and listen to the service first.

These questions can be used in your private Bible study during the week or as the topic for a small group study. For more information on hosting or leading a small group study, click on "GP Small Groups" under "GP Ministries" at www.graceplace.us.

Fellowship: (Break bread with your community, share life from last week, announcements for next week)
What are some of your Christmas traditions?
What is your favorite Christmas movie?
How do you plan to spend Christmas Eve?

Icebreaker: (Get to know your fellow believers a little bit better using this week’s topic)

Worship: (Optional for communities who have the time and talent)
“Silent Night”

Scripture: (Read the word together – use different readers, different versions, just read it)
Luke 2:1-20

Lesson: (Delve deeper into the Word and into the sermon using open-ended questions)
This week a news story ran about a man who delivered his infant daughter at a gas station.  Rush hour traffic on I-65 prevented him and the laboring mom from reaching the hospital so he was forced to pull over at the gas station.  The dad tied the baby’s cord with his shoestring and wrapped her in her mother’s pants.  The mother kept the baby warm in her arms until the paramedics arrived.  The couple was not married.  Does this story sound familiar?

What stands out to you from this familiar passage?  (You may need to read it again.)
How long had Israel waited for this Good News?
Why were the people so anxious for the Messiah to come?
What did the shepherds understand about the baby, Jesus?
Why do you think God chose to use common people?
How do you share the Good News in your daily life?
How do you plan to worship the Messiah this Christmas?

Prayer: (Share each other’s burdens, become a community of believers)
Think about ways your group can share the real heart of Christmas with the community.  Ideas may be to serve food at the Salvation Army on Christmas, participate in Road to Grace at the church, buy gifts for an Angel Tree child or go caroling in your neighborhood


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