December 25 – 31

Weekly Reading for December 25 – 31

Preparing for Next Week’s Message

Sermon Series: New Year's Day
Sermon Title: New Beginnings and Endings: Three Radical Decisions

This reading plan will get your heart and mind set for the next message on January 1, 2017:


Reflecting on the Most Recent Sermon

Sermon Series: My First Christmas
Sermon Title: Testify…Our Story
Delivered On: December 25, 2016

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Memorize and Reflect

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)


Prayer Direction

Thank your heavenly Father for loving you enough to send His only Son to enter this world to save you from sin and judgment. Ask Jesus to help you encounter Him as the living and present Savior who loves you.


“Live It!” Challenge

The Gift of Time - One of our most precious and valuable commodities is time. On Christmas Day, take a fifteen-minute walk just to be with Jesus. Give Him this time on the day you celebrate His birth. Give Him thanks for all the good gifts He has given you…list them and be specific! Commit to follow Him more closely in the coming year. Rejoice in His life, death, and resurrection!


Small Group Discussion

  1. What is one of your favorite places in all of God’s creation? How do you see and experience God in this place that He made?

  2. Read: John 1:1-3, 14 The Bible says that Jesus came and made His dwelling among us. How is Jesus with you in the flow of a normal day? What can you do to notice and recognize His presence with greater attentiveness?

  3. What are some of the things that can cause you to miss the presence of Jesus as you walk through a day? How can you overcome these distractions?

  4. Read: John 1:4 Jesus is the giver of life, abundant and full. Describe what you think an abundant life in Jesus should look like. What is one way you are experiencing His abundance in your life and how can you give Him praise and thanks?

  5. Where are you missing the abundance God wants to give you in Jesus and what is one practical step you can take to experience and embrace the abundant life God wants to give you?

  6. Read: John 1:5 Jesus is the light that pierces the darkness. What are some of the ways that Satan, the enemy of our soul, tries to bring darkness into our world? How can we pray against the works of the devil that seek to keep us living in darkness?

  7. What is a fear you live with and how does Jesus want you to overcome this fear and shine His light in this dark place? How can your group members pray for you as you turn from fear and walk in confident faith in this specific area of your life?

  8. How can we walk in the light of Jesus and shine His light in this dark world? What are ways you see God shining His light through you?

  9. Read: John 1:12-13 What does it mean to say, “I am a child of God?” What do we have and who are we because we are God’s children?

  10. If we truly believe that every Christian is a child of God, then they are our brothers and sisters. What are ways we can serve, love, and encourage other Christians as our brothers and sisters?

  11. What is one of your favorite places in all of God’s creation? How do you see and experience God in this place that He made?

  12. Read: John 1:1-3, 14 The Bible says that Jesus came and made His dwelling among us. How is Jesus with you in the flow of a normal day? What can you do to notice and recognize His presence with greater attentiveness?

  13. What are some of the things that can cause you to miss the presence of Jesus as you walk through a day? How can you overcome these distractions?

  14. Read: John 1:4 Jesus is the giver of life, abundant and full. Describe what you think an abundant life in Jesus should look like. What is one way you are experiencing His abundance in your life and how can you give Him praise and thanks?

  15. Where are you missing the abundance God wants to give you in Jesus and what is one practical step you can take to experience and embrace the abundant life God wants to give you?

  16. Read: John 1:5 Jesus is the light that pierces the darkness. What are some of the ways that Satan, the enemy of our soul, tries to bring darkness into our world? How can we pray against the works of the devil that seek to keep us living in darkness?

  17. What is a fear you live with and how does Jesus want you to overcome this fear and shine His light in this dark place? How can your group members pray for you as you turn from fear and walk in confident faith in this specific area of your life?

  18. How can we walk in the light of Jesus and shine His light in this dark world? What are ways you see God shining His light through you?

  19. Read: John 1:12-13 What does it mean to say, “I am a child of God?” What do we have and who are we because we are God’s children?

  20. If we truly believe that every Christian is a child of God, then they are our brothers and sisters. What are ways we can serve, love, and encourage other Christians as our brothers and sisters?