Skip to main content

I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS: Safe House


Icebreaker:

Who was your protector growing up?
What is the biggest threat to your children?

Overview:

A family who leaves an eight-year old boy home alone while they go on a Christmas vacation are certainly not providing the child with a safe home. It makes for a funny Christmas movie though since Kevin is not your normal eight-year old and is well able to defend his home when it is attacked by criminals. Kevin says, “This is my house, I have to defend it.” He is so good at it that Hollywood made FIVE Home Alone movies. It seems his parents never learned.

People change when they hurt enough that they have to change, learn enough that they want to change, receive enough that they are able to change. – John Maxwell

Joseph, Jesus’ earthly dad, did a much better job of providing a safe home for his son. He sensitively listened and followed God’s guidance even when it meant uprooting his life to protect Jesus from danger. We have Joseph to thank for providing a safe house for Jesus and protecting Him from those who meant to do Him harm so that one day He could become our Savior and Lord.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. -- John 10:10 ESV

Discussion:

Read Matthew 2:13-23.

Why didn’t Joseph hesitate when the angel told him to flee to Egypt?
What did Mary and Joseph give up protecting Jesus?
What kind of person orders children killed to save their job?
When did Joseph feel safe to return to Israel?
How did Joseph know where to live?
How do we provide a safe house (environment, city, state, world) for children?
What can we do this Christmas to help children live a better, safer life everywhere?


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Surprises In The Dirt

The following questions are to be used as a study aid for the sermon preached by Rev. Kimberly Majeski at the Grace Place on Sunday, November 3, 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) Icebreaker: (Get to know your fellow believers a little bit better using this week’s topic) Remember some big events that created a lot of dirt:   Explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger Collapse of the World Trade Center Building a new house Worship: (Optional for communities who have the time and talent) “We Won’t Be Shaken...

MAXIMUM IMPACT: Expanding our Impact

The following questions are to be used as a study aid for the sermon preached by Pastor Kathy Tack at the Grace Place on Sunday, January 19, 2014. 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) Icebreaker: (Get to know your fellow believers a little bit better using this week’s topic) What is the biggest project you have ever attempted? Would you rather start from scratch or use a kit? What makes creating something from nothing so exciting? Worship: (Optional for communities who have the time and talent) “Together We Go to Ma...

BROKEN: Broken Communication

Daily devotionals have been prepared to accompany the First Quarter Series, BROKEN.  They are available at the Welcome Center or online at www.gpbrokenstudy.blogspot.com .  The following questions can be used as a weekly recap in a small group setting or as a personal study aid for the sermon preached by Senior Pastor, Tommy Dove, at the Grace Place on Sunday, January 29, 2017.  Past sermons are available offline at www.nashvillechurch.com .   Click on “Media” and then “BROKEN” to view the video. Small group members are encouraged to bring their completed daily devotionals to their weekly group sessions to share their BROKEN discoveries with their group.  For more information on participating in a Life Group study, contact Pastor Jon Green. Weekly Warm-up: How does technology aid in your communication? How does it hurt your communication? What rules does your family have regarding technology? Watch Weekly Video: (optional) Weekly ...