Bible Study - LUKE: Christmas Trips

1. Share something you are thankful for or are celebrating. As a child did you travel to be with family or friends for Christmas? What is your best Christmas trip experience?

2. Do you seem to experience more stress or anxiety during the holiday season? Why? Where are you experiencing stress or anxiety? Ask your group to be praying with you about that.

3. What did you hear in this week’s sermon that was new or particularly interesting? Did anything stand out to you as puzzling or troubling?

4. Read Luke 2:1-20. Look at the notes in your Luke Journal related to this passage. What stood out to you the most from these readings? What questions did you make note of that were raised for you by these readings? Did anything in these readings prompt you to do anything? To change anything? To believe something new?

5. What do you think Chris meant by saying - it’s the end of his (Elton John’s and Jesus’s) story that helps you to appreciate the things that happen at the beginning of his story? Are there things that happened early in your life that now seem to have greater significance for your story than they do for others who may have had similar experiences?

6. Read Micah 5:2-5a, and Matthew 2:1-12. What reason does Luke give to explain why Mary and Joseph are going to Bethlehem? How do you think Mary and Joseph felt about being compelled by Caesar to travel at this point in their lives? Why was it important for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem? How is your faith impacted by fulfilled prophecies?

7. Chris said that what seemed to be working against Mary and Joseph (forced to travel at the end of her term, etc.) was really putting them in a position to be exactly where they needed to be. Have you ever had an experience where things seemed to be working against you, that you later realized God was using to put you where you needed to be?

8. Read Luke 2:6-20. What is different about the angel’s appearance to the shepherds than the angel’s appearances to Mary and Zechariah? What is the sign the shepherds were to see that would affirm the angel’s message? Make a list of the times God is glorified or worshiped in this passage. What do you think Chris meant by saying that Christmas may be the greatest call to worship in history? Do you find yourself more inclined to worship during the Christmas season? Why?

9. In the next 24-48 hours, what simple next step could you take in obedience to what you’ve learned from your time in God’s Word? Who would benefit from hearing what you’ve learned this week? Will you share it with them?