12.21.25 Huddle
Opening Discussion
- What is a Christmas tradition you enjoy doing every year? How did that tradition get started in your life?
Read and Discuss
Matthew 1:18-23
18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.
20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”
- Why did the angel not appear to Joseph earlier or at the same time as Mary?
- “God is with us.” Why was this name given to Jesus?
- What would this have meant to the Jewish people who heard someone called this?
- What are some ways God calls us to trust and have faith in Him without giving us the full picture?
- What is a current situation that you are going through that you may be having trouble figuring out what God is doing in that situation?
Philippians 2:5-11
5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.
7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—
11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
- What are some ways Paul describes Jesus as fully God and fully human in this passage?
- Why is both the deity and humanity of Christ something that is hard to understand?
- What are some reasons you worship Jesus?
- How can you keep Christ the center of your life and worship this week?
Discipleship Questions
- What can you do this week to increase your faith, especially in a situation that doesn’t seem to make sense?
- How can you help someone understand the importance of Jesus being fully God and fully human this week?
- What can you do this week to keep Jesus at the center of Christmas?
Memorize it!
Matthew 1:21 “She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Prayer TACOS
Thanksgiving: How have you seen Jesus be with you this week? Thank Him for being present in your daily life.
Amazement: Jesus did what no other human could do. Spend some time worshipping Him for coming to earth as a human and saving us from our sin.
Confession: Jesus humbled Himself and did everything God asked Him to do. What are some ways you did your own thing this week and didn’t allow the Lord to lead you? Confess those things and ask for forgiveness.
Others: Who is someone you can help this week? Ask the Lord for opportunities to show His love to them through your actions.
Self: Is there anything you are worshipping that isn’t the Lord? Ask the Lord to guide you as you seek to worship Him.