INTRODUCTION
When you think about being home for the holidays, what comes to mind? Tinsel or tension? If you are like most people, the family gathering elicits as much excitement as a trip to the dentist. And they give you Novocain at the dentist. In this session we will examine the real ?reason for the season? and how you can make this your best Christmas ever.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What are some of your Christmas memories growing up?
- What were your expectations as a kid for what Christmas would bring?
- What are some of the relational dynamics in your family that you have to navigate this time of year?
- What are your expectations for this year's family gathering?
- How do you normally approach the relational dynamics in your family at Christmas?
- Pretend that everything is all right.
- Try to take control and make everything all right.
- Get depressed because nothing is right.
- Read Matthew 1:18-21. How do we tend to idealize the first Christmas? What were the tensions that Joseph and Mary had to work through?
- Read John 1:1-5. What is the real reason for the season? Why did God send Jesus into the world?
- How can you remind yourself of the reason for the season this Christmas?
THINK ABOUT IT
Who is someone that you have a difficult time dealing with this time of year? If you had a bumper sticker printed up that said, "____________" is the reason for the season," whose name would you put there?
How have you managed this relationship in the past?
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
What will you do differently this year?
CHANGING YOUR MIND
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21