Breaking Ground
What’s your favorite Christmas day tradition? Why?
The Dig
On Christmas Eve, Pastor Scott taught about what the incarnation revealed about God, humanity, & Creation; as well as what it might mean for us today.
Begin by reflecting on your relationship with Christmas (past & present).
What emotions do you tend to feel during the Christmas holiday? Why?
As a kid, what were you taught to believe about the meaning of Christmas? Do you feel like the holiday centered upon the implications of God’s choice to become flesh or something else? What does this holiday represent to you today?
Next, read John 1:9-14. Here, we find John’s reflection upon what Christ’s incarnation meant for us & the universe. In particular, John focuses on how Christ’s birth revealed this moment when God, the Creator of All Things, became like us by adopting physicality & human weakness. In doing so, John believes that God embraced & showed loving solidarity with humanity & all things physical.
Why does it matter that God chose to enter into our physical world & human condition (as opposed to rejecting it)? What does this act of solidarity reveal about the nature of our universe? How does viewing our physical reality as being saturated with God’s presence change our understanding of it (as opposed to viewing God as separate from our physical world, reality, experience, etc)?
Critically, God chose to surrender power & embrace human weakness in this moment. What does that reveal about God’s character? How might this inform our own understanding of what it means to be human?
Perhaps most importantly for John, God choosing to become human was fundamentally an act of love for Creation & us.
How would you define the love displayed by God in making this choice?
How does the incarnation display God’s love for us? How does this, in turn, make it easier for us to love God & others?
Coming Out of the Hole
Take time this week to express gratitude for & reflect upon what Christ’s incarnation revealed about our universe. Consider how this great act of love invites you personally to discover God with you & for you (no matter what circumstances you find yourself in). Journal, reflect, & pray on how God might be speaking to you through each week’s teaching. Share your experience with your growth group next week!
Additional Resources*
Simply Jesus by NT Wright
Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent & Christmas (Advent Devotional)
TheBibleProject.com
Coming Up This Week:*
As a reminder, we will NOT be having church next Sunday! However, we will be moving to TWO gatherings when we return on Sunday, January 7th, 2024!
*Please see mye3.org for details.