Reading for the Week of December 25-31
Day 1- John 3
Day 2- Psalm 90 & Psalm 145
Day 3- Psalm 96 & Psalm 98
Day 4- 2 Corinthians 5
Day 5- Ephesians 4
Day 6- Hebrews 8-10
Bonus- Revelation 4-5
Memorize/Reflect - “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Personal Reflection- What are some ways God has made your life and future better since you came to faith in Jesus? What are some new and fresh things God is doing in your life right now?
Discussion- Tell about how your relationship with Jesus has changed your life for the better. What is one area you are praying that God will help you follow Him closer and live for Him with greater passion and commitment?
Prayer Direction- As you begin this new year, pray for God to speak to you in clear ways and for a heart that is ready to follow Him no matter what. Thank God for the good things He did in and through your life last year.
“Live It!” Challenge - Set aside 15-20 minutes for this exercise. Sit somewhere quiet and bring a 2012 calendar with you. Go through each month of the coming year and pray for God to lead and guide you in the New Year. If there are specific things on your schedule, offer them up to God. Pray for Jesus to be glorified in your life in each day, week, and month of the coming year.
Monthly Prayer Focus: Pray for God to bless our journey through The Story. It begins on January 1 for those who are reading the whole Bible in a year. Ask that every person who is part of our study of The Story will learn God’s Word and love the truth He has revealed in the Bible.
Resources for this week: Buy a copy of The Story at the Shoreline bookstore. You also might want to consider buying a study Bible for the New Year.
Small Groups Discussion Questions (There Can Be Only One – Week 4)
Reading for the Week of December 18-24
Day 1- Matthew 8 (Celebrate His power)
Day 2- Matthew 9 (Celebrate His compassion)
Day 3- Matthew 13 (Celebrate His teaching)
Day 4- Luke 2 (Celebrate His birth)
Day 5- Luke 9 (Celebrate His glory)
Day 6- Luke 15 (Celebrate His grace and gospel)
Bonus- John 11 (Celebrate His authority)
Memorize/Reflect - “Thomas said to him (to Jesus), ‘My Lord and my God!’” (John 20:28)
Personal Reflection- What about Jesus’ life here on earth that makes you want to celebrate who He is? What has Jesus done in your life that moves you to celebrate Him?
Discussion- What is one of your favorite miracles that Jesus preformed, and what does this biblical account teach you about Him? What are ways that we can celebrate who Jesus is and what He has done as we walk through each day?
Prayer Direction- Lift up prayers of praise for who Jesus is and what He has done. Pray that you will recognize and rejoice in the many ways that God is working in our world and in your life each day.
“Live It!” Challenge - Celebration should not be a special occasion, but the normal attitude of Christians. This week, leading up to Christmas, begin each day with 5 minute of celebration. Focus on rejoicing in all that Jesus has done for us. Remember who He is and the depth of His love. Then, lift up prayers, songs, and actions of praise to Him. Let this attitude launch you into your day and carry you forward toward Christmas.
Monthly Prayer Focus: Think about the first Christmas and what Jesus did when He left the glory of heaven to be born in a manger. Thank Him for His humility, for His grace, and for the price He paid to offer you salvation.
Resources for this week: Consider reading the book, God Came Near, by Max Lucado.
Small Groups Discussion Questions (There Can Be Only One – Week 3)
Reading for the Week of December 11-17
Day 1- Matthew 26-27
Day 2- Matthew 28
Day 3- Mark 14-16
Day 4- Luke 23-24
Day 5- 1 Corinthians 15
Day 6- John 18-19
Bonus- John 20-21
Memorize/Reflect - “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
Personal Reflection- How are the birth of Jesus and His death connected to each other? If Christ had not risen from the dead, what difference would it make? (You might want to read 1 Corinthians 15 as you reflect on this.)
Discussion- How does the resurrection of Jesus give us hope in this life? How does Christ’s resurrection offer us hope for eternal life?
Prayer Direction- Thank Jesus for willingly entering human history and offering His life as the one and final sacrifice to pay for all of your sins. Pray that you will live with a daily awareness of His love and presence.
“Live It!” Challenge - Jesus is the hope of the world. In a time when people are feeling discouraged, confused, and fearful, He offers hope in His victory over sin, the devil, and death. Pray for one person you know that lives in your community and does not know the true meaning of Christmas. Ask God to give you an opportunity to invite them to a worship service this Christmas season or for a chance to share your faith story with this person.
Monthly Prayer Focus: Pray for people who own or work at businesses you frequent. Ask God to give you courage to reach out to at least one of these people this Christmas season and invite them to church or to your home.
Resources for this week: Consider reading the book, God Came Near, by Max Lucado.
Small Groups Discussion Questions (There Can Be Only One – Week 2)
Reading for the Week of December 4 – 10
Day 1- Matthew 8-9
Day 2- Matthew 20
Day 3- Luke 4-5
Day 4- Luke 7-8
Day 5- Luke 18
Day 6- John 3-4
Bonus- John 9 and 11
Memorize/Reflect - “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
Personal Reflection- Jesus knew everything about me and He still came to this world to give His life for me. What does this tell me about the depth of His love?
Discussion- What is one way you have experienced the grace and love of Jesus that surprises you? God knows everything about you and still loves you. How does this make you feel?
Prayer Direction- Thank Jesus for His tenacious love for you, no matter what your past might hold. Pray to have courage to be transparent with God at all times and never keep secrets from Him.
“Live It!” Challenge - God sees and knows everything. Don’t try to keep secrets from Him (because you can’t). Take time to confess any “hidden” sin that you have tried to pretend God can’t see. Confess it and ask God to reveal His grace to you.
Monthly Prayer Focus: Pray for people in your work place or school who do not know that Jesus really came to this earth to reveal His love to them. Ask God to give you courage to reach out to at least one of these people this Christmas season and invite them to Church or over to your home.
Resources for this week: Consider reading the book, God Came Near, by Max Lucado.
Small Groups Discussion Questions (There Can Be Only One – Week 1)
Reading for the Week of November 27 – December 3
Day 1- Luke 1
Day 2- Luke 2
Day 3- Matthew 1-2
Day 4- John 1
Day 5- Isaiah 7
Day 6- Philippians 1
Bonus- Colossians 2
Memorize/Reflect - “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (Hebrews 1:3)
Personal Reflection- What do you learn about God as you look at the way Jesus entered human history? What surprises you about the way Jesus came to this world?
Discussion- What is one of your favorite Christmas traditions? What is one of your best Christmas memories? How has the reality that God entered human history on that first Christmas impacted your life?
Prayer Direction- Thank God for loving you enough to come into this world as one of us. Pray that you will see the glory of God in the face of Jesus this Christmas season.
“Live It!” Challenge - Think of one person in your life who has not yet discovered that Jesus is God, the one who wants to be near them. Plan one way you can help this person discover the meaning of Christmas on a deeper level this year.
Monthly Prayer Focus: Pray for family and friends who do not know the true meaning of Christmas. Ask God to open their heart to the love of Jesus this Christmas season.
Resources for this week: Consider reading the book, God Came Near, by Max Lucado.
Small Groups Discussion Questions (Dogmata – Week 4)
