Now is the Time: Be Ready!

 

Study Guide for Week of December 26, 2021 

This Week Reading: Luke 2:1-40

Crossroads Community Group Guide:
A. Welcome: Welcome everyone especially new persons and read out loud the purpose of your group
B. Purpose: Our purpose is to spread the Kingdom of God. We do this by multiplying groups of people who care for each as God's family. We begin by inviting new people to our group and building them to be followers of Jesus. Each person here has the potential to be empowered to start and be the leader of a new group and spread God's kingdom.

C. Worship Time: Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Here is one you may want to use You Are My King Amazing Love  (or pick your own on YouTube make sure it has the lyrics on the screen)

D.    Ten Minute Message Summary                                                                   

       

E. Weekly Resources and Upcoming Events:     Crossroads Web Site        

F. Review   

1. How did you do with what you wanted to apply from last week?
2. Who did you invite to the group for this week?

G. Opening Question (a simple question to introduce the main theme - called an icebreaker): What distractions do you face in your life right now keep you from focusing on God?

H. Background Information for this study: 

Luke records the birth of jesus in these verses.

Note especially how the angel brings the message to the shepherd and then they check it out and spread the message to others.

In addition Luke notes how Jesus was circumsized on the eigth day. Jesus was also presented at the temple as was the custom for Jewish male children. Note that mary and Koseph were poor and only could bring a sacrifice of a doves. 

The focus in this study is on being ready for the coming of Jesus. Most people at the time of the birth of Jesus missed it. We certainly want to be ready for the second coming of Jesus and to help as many others to be ready as possible.

I. Verse Outline: Some Key Points to Discuss - Key Charachteristics of Believing

       I.        I.               Reality One: The Danger of Distractions – verses 1-7

 Key Concept: Distractions will prevent you from being ready

Key Verse: Matthew 24:43-44 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Community Group Application: Gathering together weekly is key to being ready 

Not

       I.      II. Reality Two: God’s Number One Desire – verses 8-14

Key Concept: God Desires everyone to be ready

Key Verse: 1 John 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

Community Group Application: The antidote to distractions is to spend time with God and other believers 

Fi      III. Reality Three: God’s Purpose for All Followers of Jesus - verses 15-40

Key Concept: We have the privilege of being used by God to help others ready

Key Verse: Romans 10:14 But how can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? (Message Bible)

Community Group Application: Healthy Christians, groups and churches keep the main thing the main thing. The main thing is reaching others 

     II.    I. Word: - read the scriptures above in portions - break it down into smaller portions to read. Read it in portions aloud together several times. (Goal is that everyone understand the Bible story or verses by retelling them in their own words - keep at it until everyone knows the story or verses)

1. What key (important) words do you see in these verses?
2. Tell in your own words what happens in these verses.
3. What are the details?

4. What jumps out at you - catches your attention?
5. What details can you add to what others in the group have said?

J. Discuss the following general questions together (Goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion - the leader should not speak more than 30% of the time - let the group discover what God is saying to them).
1. What catches your attention in these verses?

2. What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?
3. What did you learn about God (Father, Jesus or Holy Spirit) from the story?
4. What do you learn about people from the story?

5. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?

 
K. Commitment - Obedience - Application  (This is the key - have everyone answer this question): 
1. What in specific will you commit to apply in your life from this study? 

K. Prayer Time:  Break up into smaller groups of 3-4 - groups of the same sex           

       1. Pray for your group to multiply.

       2. Ask each other how you are doing spiritually               

       3.Pray for the needs of the members of the group. .

L. For Next time:                
1. Ask each person the name of a person they will invite to the group                                         for next week.