If you missed Sunday Dec 11th’s message, you can listen here.
(NOTE: This will be the last set of Conversation Starters for 2016. Questions will resume during the week of January 8, 2017).
- Take a few moments to talk about Sunday’s service together. What were some moments that stood out to you? How did God speak to you?
- Can you think of an example from your own life where God has given you a “tough assignment”? What was it? What has God done through that tough assignment in (and through) your life?
- Can you think of any examples from the Scriptures (other than the ones Jeff gave) where God gave someone a tough assignment? What did God do through them and that tough assignment?
- Read Mary’s story in Luke 1:25-38 together. What parts of Mary’s story stand out to you?
- What do you think Gabriel meant when he said “for you have found favour with God”? What is the “favour of God”? How does a person get “the favour of God”?
- In saying “yes” to God (in verse 38), what consequences was Mary also saying yes to? What did it cost her to be obedient to God?
- Read Joseph’s story in Matthew 1:18-24. What parts of Joseph’s story stand out to you?
- Put yourself in Joseph’s shoes. Why did Joseph wanted to divorce Mary? How would you feel if you were him in this situation?
- In saying “yes” to God (in verse 24), what consequences was Joseph also saying “yes” to? What did it cost Joseph to be obedient to God’s call?
- Ultimately, in saying “yes” to God, the whole world was blessed through their obedience (because of Jesus). What does this show us about being obedient to God? How does God use our obedience to him?
- Jeff said that God never gives us easy assignments, and if you find following Jesus to be “easy” you might not actually be following Jesus. What does this mean to you in practical terms? For you, what is the cost of following Jesus and being obedient?
- Is there something that you know that God has been asking you to do that you have been avoiding? What does it look like for you to be obedient to God this week?
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!
