1) What does
it look like for us as Innkeepers to make room for Jesus today?
Answers: (might include……..)
Let the
Word of God dwell in you richly, hide the Word of God in your heart, study to
show yourselves approved – e.g. carm.org,
be still
and know that I am God; (know Him better)
whatever
you have done to the least of these, you have done unto me…..; love one
another, consider others before yourself; love others as you love yourself,
which is second to loving God with all your heart, strength and mind; - - - - -
etc.
2) Christmas is a time of giving. Why? What needs do you have? Who can meet them? Read Phil 4:9
And my God will meet all your
needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (NLT)
When
God promised a savior, He set a plan of action into place to provide for our every need. It
seems like it took a long time to us humans. Still – King Jesus obeyed each &
every thing God asked Him to do *for us* – even when that meant being born, a
king, in a stable in a conquered nation, even when it meant being crucified on
a cross.
What can
we learn about ‘doing well’ when we look at the birth of Jesus? How can we be more like Him, willing to do
whatever God wants us to do for others? Which
*other* Jesus-stories might help us know how to obey regarding problems you or
I have had this week, or might have next week?
3) Read Isaiah 6:1-8 (when Isaiah said, “Here am I, send me!”
was He a type of Christ?). Then consider
this question: When mankind needed help,
did Jesus come willingly?
John
10:18b “I have authority to lay (my
life) down and authority to take it up again.
This command I received from my Father.” (he said this about facing
death on the cross, but by inference, he also said it about coming as a king to
be laid in a manger in a conquered land…….) But humble in His coming or not, He
came in fullness. Yes:
He came in fullness as the light and life of men. He came as the Word of God in all its
fullness.
We need
both the Light & the Word to know where to be on the path, and what to do
on that path. (Read John 8:12 – Why do we need to follow Him? Why do we need to share that Light &
Word?)
4) Why did Jesus come?
On a cold, snowy night, there was bird seeking for a shelter.
The bird flew over a mile. As he passed thru a flat terrain, he saw a house
which the light of fire furnace can be seen through its’ front windows. It was
a comforting light that attracts the bird to direct his route to the house, so
that his frigid body will be warmed. Suddenly the bird slamed the window and
hurt itself. The man inside the cozy house saw the hopeless bird. He ran
outside to see that the bird had flown away. The man ran after the bird but the
bird flew as fast as it can. The man felt sorry for this bird and he said “if
only I could be a bird, so that I can talk to him and tell him that I want to
help”. —that was the perfect illustration of what Jesus did for us. Jesus came
to save us from our sins (Matthew 1:21). Jesus came so that he can communicate
to us, and to have a fellowship with us. But it does not end with that, Jesus
came so that we could experience life and live it to the fullest (John 10:10b).
http://jhnfhlport.wordpress.com/2012/12/01/why-he-was-laid-in-the-manger/
John 17:3 Now
this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus
Christ, whom you have sent. (NIV)
He came so we can know Him more, because:
……… This is eternal life!
5) Why did God allow Herod to try to destroy Jesus
even when Jesus was a mere wee thing?
Answers might include:
Well, there is the fact that Satan wants to destroy
as many men as possible, and thus wants to see God’s plan of salvation
destroyed. There is the fact that too
many men are willing to help Satan in his plan to fight God.
But more than that, consider this:
Consider him who endured such
opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:3 NIV)
