EXTRA! Ideas for Adults – Looking Forward to Christmas – Session 6

3 days ago 6

Date: January 5, 2025

Looking Forward with Anticipation

The Point: Jesus will return to bring us into His kingdom.

Get Into the Study

As you discuss the opening question, share the following:

It will be a wonderful holiday season for Staff Sgt.Payton May, a former military working dog (MWD) handler. On November 25th, he was reunited with his military dog, Yacob, who had officially retired from service. But the road to this happy-ever-after wasn’t easy. It was a long, 2 ½ year journey as May worked with American Humane to track down his buddy and find out when his retirement would take place.

Having grown up with dogs, it was natural for May to step into the MWD program. And he fell in love with it right away. There was also an instant connection when he was paired with Yacob, as they had similar personalities. They served over two years together, even sharing a twin bed barely big enough for one of them. When he missed his family or they had an especially hard mission, May leaned on Yacob for emotional support and comfort. Then May was reassigned, leaving Yacob behind. The dog developed anxiety and was never able to recertify as a MWD with another handler, and shortly thereafter, Yacob was sent into early retirement. American Humane worked with him to get him acclimated to civilian life, and just before Thanksgiving, he was reunited with May.

The 2 ½ years of waiting, constantly asking about Yacob were excruciating for May. He waited with much expectation for the day when he would be reunited with his best friend, and able to call Yacob family. And that day finally came, just in time for the holidays.

Like the anticipation of May reuniting with Jacob, we are to be expectantly waiting for the return of Jesus, for He will return to bring us into His kingdom. When was the last time you felt a great deal of anticipation for a coming event?

Home for the holidays: Former Fort Drum MP reunites with retired military working dog | Article | The United States Army

Get Into the Study (Option from Adult Leader Guide)

In advance, play a song about Christ’s return to give the group an opportunity to worship the Lord and reflect on His soon return. Then close in prayer.

Live It Out

Share the following before discussing the Live It Out application ideas.

For over eighteen years, Chief Sisson served in the Navy, having to leave her daughter behind when she was deployed. Now, she had finished her final tour and was expectantly looking forward to being home for Christmas. Wanting to surprise her daughter, she worked with her daughter’s school, Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Florida, and began to plan her surprise homecoming. It was all she could do to contain her excitement and anticipation. The expectation of getting to see each other brought hope of the day it would come to fruition. And that day was finally here!

On December 16th, Sisson arrived at the school, dressed in fatigues, ready to surprise her daughter. The school had arranged for a picture session outside the building, in order to better facilitate the reunion. She joined in the pictures, standing silently next to her daughter, waiting for her to notice her presence.

Sisson’s daughter finally turned around and screamed with surprised recognition. She couldn’t believe it. Her mom was back! After several surreal moments, reality hit and she hugged her mom as though her life depended on it. It was an emotional, heart-felt reunion with many happy tears and laughter, all thinking of the holiday memories they would make together.

Just like a family being reunited, how much more wonderful will it be when we are reunited with Christ. We should continually, obediently live out our faith in our everyday existence while also expectantly awaiting the advent of Christ. Jesus will return to bring us into His Kingdom.

Grab the tissues: Navy mom returns home for Christmas after final deployment, surprises daughter at Jacksonville school

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

When was the last time you felt a great deal of anticipation (like for a trip, holiday, family occasion, some accomplishment)?
When was the last time you felt genuinely surprised?
When have you had to keep a secret for a long time?
How do you prepare when you have a guest coming to your home?
What makes Jesus’ Second Coming different from His first?
When have you felt the need to “sleep with one eye open?”
What’s one of the funniest animal quirks you’ve seen?

Matthew 24:32-35

Why do most people tend to think of Jesus’ return as something in the distant future?
How does believing Jesus’s return is near affect your walk with God?
What signs do you see that Jesus’s return is near?
How do we best prepare for Jesus’s return?
In what ways can we prepare ourselves for Christ’s return?
How would you explain this concept of the Second Coming to a new believer?

Matthew 24:36-39

How should the reality of Christ’s imminent return affect our daily lives?
Why might God want to keep the hour of His return a secret?
How should we respond to a culture that’s unaware of the impending doom that’s coming?
How should the warning in these verses change the way we live?
How do you feel knowing that Jesus could show up at any mo
Why do you think Jesus chose to issue this warning about His return?
What do you need to get in order before CHRIST returns?

Matthew 24:40-44

If you knew Jesus would return tomorrow, what would you do today?
What are some of the ways we can “be ready,” even without knowing when Jesus will return?
As a group, how can we work together to remain alert for Christ’s return?
How can you be ready for the day He returns?
What are some practical ways we can stay alert and prepared for Jesus’s return?
How can we help others prepare for the return of Jesus?
How would you live your life differently if you knew when Jesus was coming?