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Keep The Change

Title: “Keep the Change”

Date: Sunday, December 29th 

Big Idea: “Let Christmas define your life” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12) 

Work Backwards - Is your life marked by being proactive or reactive, preparing or repairing. discipline or disordered? What are some of your goals for 2020? What do you hope your friends and family would say about you at your funeral? How does reverse engineering your life help you to achieve your goals?  

Live Consistently - Why is it important for Christians to know that grace isn't opposed to effort but to earning? Would you say that you're walking in a manner worthy of your calling and why? 

Make Resolutions - If you were going to create a summery word for your 2020, what would it be and why? What spirit-given and grace-driven resolutions will you make for 2020? 

Be Intentional - Where have you seen the disconnect between good intentions and good actions? What new "keystone habits" do you need to begin in 2020?

Stay Faithful - How does faithfulness lead to fruitfulness? What motivates long-term change in your life? How can your community group help you to grow in 2020? 

Plans for 2020 and Beyond!

Mary: A Song of Joy (Luke 1:46-55)

Week #3 “Mary: A Song of Joy” (Luke 1:46-55)

• What are some of your favorite joy-filled Christmas memories? 
• What does it mean to magnify God and how can this increase your joy this Christmas season? 
• Mary rejoices in being blessed by God, how have you been blessed by God this season and how does recognizing these blessings fill you with joy? 
• What are some of the “joy-killers” in your life? If your group had to make a list of 5 to 10 joy-killers, what would they be and why? What common joy-killers do multiple people within your group struggle with? 
• What does it mean to magnify God? How can we magnifying God in our daily life? What is the connection between magnifying God and experiencing joy? 
• How can we find joy this season in God’s mercy, provision, strength, and faithfulness?

The Amazing History of Christmas

Advent Week #2 "Peace" (Luke 2:8-20)

Discussion Questions for The Songs of Christmas #2 "Peace" Luke 2:8-20

What makes you anxious, nervous, and fearful? Most people deal with consistent, daily, low-grade anxiety. Wrestling with the "What Ifs" of life. At Christmas we remember that Jesus came as the prince of peace. Learn how the good news of Jesus' incarnation gives us a peace that transcends our circumstances, a peace that surpasses understanding. Watch, listen or download the latest message at https://rainiervalleychurch.com/latest-sermons

Big Idea: “In Jesus Christ we can have peace with God, with other people, and in our circumstances.” What sorts of things make you anxious in the world, in your relationships, and in your current circumstances? How does anxiety manifest in your life? (Short-tempered, stressed out, fearful, lonely, angry, etc?)How does the Hebrew word Shalom differ from the way our cultural understanding of peace?Read Mark 2:8-20. Shepherds were filled with anxieties and fears and they were not at peace with God since they couldn't go to the temple, they were not at peace with others since they were looked down on, and they were not at peace with their circumstances because they had no economic or social mobility to change their circumstances. What might be some modern equivalents to the shepherds? Are there ways that you feel like you can relate to the shepherds circumstances and lack of peace?The angel appears to the shepherds, what is God illustrating by sending the angels to a bunch of ordinary, no name, anxious shepherds? The angel announces good news for all people. What is the content of the good news and how does the good news impact those who are wrestling with anxiety? How do Jesus title of savior, Christ, and Lord minister to our current anxieties? What song do the angels sing together? What is the connection between God’s glory and peace?The song of the angels reminds us of three different kinds of peace that God establishes through the birth of Jesus.

• Peace with God - What does Romans 5:1-2 tells us about the eternal peace that we can have with God? In Matt 11:28-30, Jesus calls all to come to him for peace because his yoke is easy and his burden is light. How have you experienced Jesus peace in this season?
• Peace with Others - How does Christmas establish the truth of Ephesians 2:14-22. How have you personally experienced this peace that tears down ethnic, cultural, generational, gender and socioeconomic barriers between people?
• Peace with Circumstances - How does Christmas reflect the truth of Romans 8:28? In Phil 4:6-8, Paul specifically encourages prayer and thanksgiving as a response to anxiety? As you reflect on 2019, what are some things you’re thankful to God for and how can we pray for one another to have our emotions and our thoughts protected by the peace of Jesus in this season?

How to Share Your Faith Like a Pro with Greg Koukl