Categories: Preparing for Sunday

HIS-Story-Lessons From First Followers

Dear Friends,

Those first followers had to just trust and obey without knowing what it all meant. We spend much of our lives in the same uncertain position. We are living our lives, praying for our daily needs hoping for God to break through and show us a glimpse of his glory and purpose.
God has a way of bringing light at the darkest point. As the old song goes the darkest hour is just before dawn.

Zachariah described God’s plan and the people He was coming to save.

Luke 1:77  To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins,
Luke 1:78  Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
Luke 1:79  TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

We all sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,  but God has a plan to save us and bring us light. In fact, Jesus plans for us to become the light of the world.
This Sunday I will teach five-lesson from the earliest followers. Please come and bring someone along. This is a season for inviting friends and family. You may find a greater willingness as you invite.

I can’t wait to share this with you.
Blessings,
Joe

 

 

STEPS TO PREPARE

PRAY FOR THE SERVICES AND FOR YOURSELF
AND ME AND THE OTHER TEACHERS.

PRAYERFULLY READ THE SCRIPTURES
AND CONSIDER THE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS.

MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND A PREACHING SERVICE AND A SMALL GROUP.

INVITE SOMEONE TO COME WITH YOU.

 

PREPARING FOR SUNDAY: SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

Preparing for Sunday- December 22, 2019

HIS-Story – Lessons From First Followers

Please read the scriptures and prepare to discuss the questions. Please pray for the service and for all who will share or listen and pray for yourself and anyone you may invite. Please try asking someone to come with you.

 

Luke 2:8-20 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terribly frightened. 10  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11  for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13  And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14  “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” 15  When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16  So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

 

 

What kind of darkness does God talk about in the Bible?

Luke 1:77-79  To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, 78  Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, 79  TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Luke 11:34-35 “The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35 “Then watch out that the light in you is not darkness.

John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

John 12:46 “I have come as Light into the world so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.

 

 

What kind of darkness do you think the shepherds were in?

 

 

What did the shepherds do to earn this great announcement?

 

 

Describe a time God brought you to light and told you what to do?

 

 

Why is responding quickly to God’s message important?

Luke 2:15-16  When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16  So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.

 

 

Why is it important to tell your God story?

Luke 2:17-19 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.

 

 

How can sharing your God story help others?  Give a personal example.

Why don’t we?

 

 

Why is having a daily fresh encounter with God important to your witness?

Luke 2:20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

Act 4:18-20 And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19  But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20  for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Joe Martin

Senior Pastor - Click Here for full profile