EXTRA! Ideas for Adults – Looking Forward to Christmas – Session 3

3 weeks ago 16

Date: December 15, 2024

Looking Forward to Joy

The Point: Jesus has come, giving us much cause for joy.

Get Into the Study

As you recap the story of Billy Bray in The Bible Meets Life, share this story as well:

When Oliver Burkhardt was just 9 years old, he found out he had cancer. It was a devastating diagnosis and seeing the fear and hopelessness in their son, Oliver’s parents looked for a way to cheer him up. When Oliver’s father, Brian, found an old patch in his drawer, he had an epiphany and reached out to friends and family. To their surprise, thousands of patches arrived for Oliver in just a few weeks.

Upon seeing all the patches, Oliver’s face burst into such joy as no one thought humanly possible. He proudly wore those patches on a special coat to his treatments, a source of joy in the midst of gloom and fear. Soon, the joy spread to the hospital staff who began looking forward to Oliver’s visits to see what new patch he would have. And out of this difficult circumstance came a non-profit that now provides free patches and jackets to kids going through life-threatening illnesses, spreading joy to those who need it most.

Like Billy Bray, Oliver knew darkness and difficult days, which made their joy even greater. The Jews were also living through a period of darkness, with no hope or peace. But then came the birth of the Messiah, Jesus, bringing good news of great joy to ALL people (Luke 2:10). While outward patches show joy to others, Jesus gives us joy in our hearts and minds. His joy doesn’t depend on circumstances or situation. But because Jesus has come, we can have joy in Him, no matter what we face.

https://apnews.com/article/childhood-cancer-oliver-patch-project-59982f8e29a03e1beade8bde228229ec?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=shar1000’s of patches came in

Study the Bible (Option from Adult Leader Guide)

In advance, print out the lyrics to “Jesus, Joy of the Highest Heaven” (by the Gettys). Play the song and ask the group to circle the lyrics that stand out as reasons why we can have joy in Jesus. Afterward, ask them to look for lyrics that connect Jesus’ life and death to His birth.

Live It Out

Share the following as you review the application ideas in Live It Out.

According to Psychology Today, our brains are trained to think negatively. While this helped our ancestors to survive all sorts of perilous situations, in our world today this negative way of thinking can rob us of joy. By resetting our brain, we can find joy in ways that we might never have seen before.

Here are a few ways to overcome negativity in our every-day lives, in order to find joy in every-day moments. We can live with intention. Start your day by intentionally trying to find that glimmer of joy in the day ahead. We also need to slow down, live with purpose and notice “pockets of joy” around us. We can even take a picture or keep a journal to remind us of the sparks of joy we found that day. To find joy, we might need to practice gratitude, savor the moment or share our source of joy with others. Whichever we choose, in this holiday season, it’s important to stop, take a moment to refocus on the positives, and let joy into our lives.

It is easy to get wrapped up in the negative things that plagued every day. But there is good news! Jesus has come – He is cause for much joy. A baby, wrapped in cloths and placed in a manger is THE great joy to the world even today. As we move into a season of celebrating the advent of joy, choose one of the following applications:www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/everyday-resilience/202410/the-power-of-little-things-how-to-find-joy-in-the-everyday?msockid=2e6f38ad857d62c217182d8984eb63eb

Erika Morrison provided these week’s Extra. Erika is passionate about being the hands and feet of Jesus to those around her. She and her husband Chris have been married for twenty-four years and are busy parents to three kids. Erika spent ten years in missions and now calls beautiful Southwest Michigan home, where they are active in their church and community.

Additional Questions

Icebreaker

Why is Christmas such a season of joy even among non-believers?
Who among your relatives is the most fun to celebrate the holidays with?
What was your favorite Christmas gift of all time?
What’s a memorable Christmas gift you gave that brought you great joy?
Who do you know that always seems to be full of joy?

Luke 2:4-7

What details in this passage indicate that Christ’s birth fulfills God’s plan?
How could understanding God’s fulfillment of prophecy fuel our joy in salvation?
What do you remember about when this passage became more than just a story?
Why does humanity need the salvation of Christ?

Luke 2:8-12

What can we learn about Jesus from these verses?
In what ways do you relate to the shepherds from this passage?
Why is it important that the good news of Jesus’s birth is for “all people”?
Where do you typically find opportunities to experience joy during the Christmas season?
What is the significance of the announcement being made to the shepherds?
Why would the angel’s message bring great joy?

Luke 2:13-14

In what ways have you experienced joy and peace through Jesus?
How can believers express praise to God for His gift of joy through Christ?
What are some ways we can intentionally fold this joy into the way we celebrate Christmas?
How has Jesus brought joy into your life?
How can there be peace on earth when there is so much conflict today?
What about Jesus makes you rejoice?
What are some ways we can share Christ that reflects the good news of great joy?