The Light Has Come

Before Crossing Over

Main Thought

Transitions are a natural part of life. We often look forward to transitions with excitement as we imagine the possibilities that await us. Yet many transitions fail to deliver their full potential. One of the biggest reasons for this is that we are unprepared for these new seasons or opportunities. God wants us to prepare for transitions by being transformed. In Deuteronomy, we see how the Israelites were encouraged to transform before crossing over (or transitioning) into the Promised Land. Their transformation included reflection. When we reflect on things that have happened or what God has done in our lives, then we can adjust accordingly. Transformation also includes listening to God and responding in faith. Love motivates us to listen to God. God loved us with His best. We should love Him with our best too. If we choose to be transformed by doing these three things, then we are choosing life. That’s how we can prepare to experience God’s best in each new season.

Main Passages

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

- 2 Corinthians 5:21

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

- Deuteronomy 6:4-5

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days...”

- Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Discussion Questions

  1. What stands out to you in the Main Thought and Passages above?

  2. Reflect on your life in 2022. Try to describe it (or at least some major events) with a theme, word, or phrase.

  3. Based on your answer to the previous question, how might God have wanted to transform you? Is there anything you can do in response to listen to God and obey Him in love?

Christmas H.E.A.R. Journal: Luke 2

“For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations.”

- Luke 2:30-31

An easy, memorable way to learn how to read and process the Bible is through the H.E.A.R. journaling method. This process helps us read God’s Word with the goal of understanding it and applying it to our lives. The letters in the acronym stand for Highlight, Explain, Apply, and Respond. 

  • Highlight a scripture: Pick one verse (or pick a set of connected or related verses) from Luke 2. Highlight this verse or write down the Book, chapter, and verse number.

  • Explain the context: By asking some simple questions with the help of God’s Spirit, we can understand the meaning of a passage or verse. What’s happening in the story? Why was this written, and to whom? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? What does God intend to communicate through this text? 

  • Apply it to your life: Application is the heart of the process! Answering a series of questions can help us uncover the meaning of these verses to us on a personal level. What is God saying to me? How can this help me? What does this mean today? How would applying this look in my life?

  • Respond with action: This is the last part of the H.E.A.R. Journal. Your response to the passage may take on many forms. You may write a call to action. You can describe how you’ll be different because of what God said to you through His Word. You may indicate what you’re going to do because of what you have learned. You can even respond by writing out a prayer to God.

We invite you to celebrate Christmas by reflecting on, and learning from, the birth of Christ. You may do this with your Life Group. Pay special to the Apply and Respond steps; that’s where God’s Word comes to life! Let’s encourage each other in God’s Word.

The Guiding Light

Main Thought

Our world can be a dark place for so many different reasons. Jesus Christ was born into the darkness in order to reveal God’s light. He revealed God’s character, care, and compassion for humanity - revelations that culminated when Jesus went to the Cross. Yet many people rejected Jesus. He wasn’t the kind of Savior that a lot of people wanted. Others might have wanted to follow God on their own terms. Many simply dismissed Jesus or denied Him. But light in a dark place cannot be denied forever. It shines anyway, and it guides those who choose to follow it. If we choose to receive Jesus, then we become a part of God’s family. He can guide us through this life into an eternity with Him.

Main Passages

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

- John 1:9-13 

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

- Isaiah 53:6

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

- John 1:11-13

Discussion Questions

  1. What stands out to you in the Main Thought and Passages above?

  2. Have you ever felt like God guided you out of darkness in your life?

  3. Is anything keeping you from allowing Jesus, the Light of the World, to guide your life?

The Messiah is Comfortable in Our Mess

Main Thought

Jesus Christ was born into a mess literally and figuratively. Mary’s virgin conception surely would have looked scandalous to any outsider. Then, when it was finally time for her to give birth, the newborn Jesus was placed in a manger. Mangers were feeding troughs for animals! Why on earth would God allow His Son to be born in this way? It’s because He wanted to send a message. The Messiah came to meet us in our mess and help us clean up. Our “mess” represents the problems and pain we face. That comes in all shapes and sizes, but we all have something messy in our lives. If we want to meet the Messiah in our mess, then we can’t hide it. We need to invite Him in and be open to His help. It takes openness and obedience.

Main Passages

“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”

Luke 2:4-7 NIV

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

- Matthew 1:22

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

- Luke 2:15

Discussion Questions

  1. What stands out to you in the Main Thought or Passages above?

  2. Is there a mess in your life right now, or have you been through one before?

  3. What could it look like for God to meet you in your mess?

The Necessity of Light

Main Thought

As Christmas draws near, houses are decorated with colorful lights. These lights stand out in the dark - and they’re a powerful picture of something the world desperately needs. Our world is a dark place where people are searching for things like truth, purpose, and love. We desperately need a light. God sent Jesus to be the Light the world needs! We can find our soul’s greatest needs in Him. After we come to Christ, God calls us to be lights like Jesus. The closer we are to Him, the more radiant we become. It can be challenging to shine in a dark world. Yet we can remain confident, knowing that light always wins in the end.

Main Passages

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

- John 1:1-5

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

- John 1:14

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

- Matthew 5:14-16

Discussion Questions

  1. What stands out to you in the Main Thought and Passages above?

  2. How can it be challenging to be a light for Jesus in a dark world?

  3. Think of a person (or a group of people) that you can be a light for by pointing them to Jesus. Who is it, and how can you shine your light in Christ?