CHAPTER 1
God Is Expectant
Preparation
Session Objective
Participants will reflect upon God as an eager Gift-giver who expects to break through to the world, bringing hope to the darkest places and forever changing our understanding of God's love and grace.
Main Themes
• Mary and Elizabeth were unlikely choices for lead characters in the Nativity story, but these expectant mothers said an obedient yes to God's invitation to tell God's great love story.
• God's people had waited for a Messiah for generations, but the arrival of Jesus was not what they expected. They had to adjust their expectations and let God's story unfold.
• God loves us with an expectant heart and is eager to lavish gifts upon us.
Key Scripture
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us").
Matthew 1:22-23
Materials Needed
You will need the Under Wraps DVD, a DVD player, and a Bible.
Getting Started (10 Minutes)
Opening Prayer
Loving God, we are so grateful that you stepped down into our time and space to show us that you are love and light and hope and joy and peace. We thank you for loving us so perfectly well. Fill us with your presence as we immerse ourselves back into your amazing, world-changing story. Give us hearts to expect that you will work and move in us this holy season. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Conversation Starter
Say:
This week we read about the expectant nature of God, full of hope and eagerness to give good gifts to God's children. Today we will discuss and reflect upon God's eagerness to surprise us, and invite God to give us expectant hearts to receive his gifts.
Ask:
Choose one of the following:
• When have you been so excited to give a gift that you could hardly contain your excitement?
• Have you ever considered that God is expectant and eager to surprise you? How would you describe the idea that God is expectant?
• How have you received surprising gifts from God?
Video, Discussion, and Application (40 Minutes)
Note: This section allows approximately 25 minutes total for discussion (of video, Scriptures, and book). More questions are provided than you will have time to cover; select in advance those questions you would like to discuss, putting a checkmark beside each one.
The Video
Play: Session 1: God Is Expectant (running time: 13:45)
Discuss:
• What is significant about the relationship and the conditions of Mary and Elizabeth?
• What kind of Messiah were God's people looking for? How was Jesus different from those expectations?
• How was God described as expectant in the video?
• In an instant-gratification kind of world, how does Advent teach us to wait? Why is waiting good for us?
• What does God expect to happen at Christmas?
• What do you expect to happen at Christmas?
The Book
In Chapter 1, we discovered that we all have different expectations about what Christmas brings. Elizabeth, Mary, and even God himself had expectations for that first Christmas. God expected to change the world and to breathe new life into even the hardest of hearts.
Discuss:
• Why does Christmas bring with it so many expectations?
• Mary was pregnant unexpectedly because of her young age and unwed status. Elizabeth was pregnant unexpectedly because of her old age. How do these unexpected circumstances set the stage for even more unexpected details about the Messiah that were still to come?
• Name some of the ways that Jesus defied expectations from the very beginning of his life all the way to the end.
• Reflect on the idea that God is like an eager Gift-giver. He has the perfect gift for you and can't wait until it's time to give it you. How do you receive his gift at Christmas? How do you receive it throughout the year?
• Jessica wrote about "we" language her community used when she was pregnant with her first child. Why do you think we use "we" language when it comes to the arrival of new babies? What is significant about "we" language surrounding the birth of Jesus?
• Review the story of the farmer who refused to go to church and came to believe in Jesus after attempting to rescue a flock of birds. Who are some "farmers" in your life that need the gift of Jesus Christ in their lives? Who does your heart break for? Who do you want God to get through to this Christmas?
Bible Study
In Advance: Use a commentary or Bible dictionary as needed to help you prepare for this segment. Choose one or more of the following texts (depending upon time available and your group dynamics and needs). Be familiar with the text before the group session begins. Write down your own discussion questions in addition to those provided below.
Read Aloud: Isaiah 9:6-7
Discuss:
• How is the Messiah described in this passage?
• If you didn't know the full story of Jesus and you heard this passage, how would you have thought this Messiah would come into the world?
• How was Jesus an unexpected fulfillment of this prophecy?
Read Aloud: John 1:14
Discuss:
• Review the section in Chapter 1 about the Greek word for dwelling. What does it mean that God put on flesh?
• What is the significance of Jesus putting on our "tent" and moving into our "camp"?
Read Aloud: Luke 1:46-55
Discuss:
• What is unexpected about Mary's declarations?
• Mary mentions God's promises to Abraham. How would God's people, who had heard about these promises for generations, have been surprised at what the fulfillment of the promise looked like?
• Mary's song comes before she ever holds Jesus in her arms. With the child in her womb, she believes with all confidence in the fulfillment of God's promise and gives new imagery for what God has done by sending Jesus to live among us. What does she proclaim that God has done?
Conclude by reading Isaiah 25:6, 8-9 aloud. Remind participants that Christmas is a celebration of Jesus; and while Advent can feel more like a season of hurry-up-and-get-ready-for-Christmas, Advent is meant to cause us to slow down, to wait, and to seek God—to look for the coming Light. As preparing for Christmas fills up our calendars, let's redirect our hearts and minds to this truth: "This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation."
Life Application
Say:
We talked earlier about people in our lives who need to receive the gift of Jesus. Maybe you are the one who needs to receive the gift of Jesus, whether for the first time or as a renewed experience of his grace. Remember this: God expected to change the world through the birth of his Son. God expected to break through to bring hope and joy and peace and light. God expected to see hardened hearts soften and turn to him.
You are invited to examine your state of need before God. This week, spend time in prayer each day asking God for a renewed and fresh experience of the gift of Jesus in your life. Ask God to break through to your heart in ways that you have not yet known.
Then, invite God to give you awareness of those people in your life who do not know Jesus. Pray for the diligence to pray for these people and for the courage to invite them to church or to tell them the story of Jesus.
This week be on the lookout for new ways that God is breaking through to your heart or showing you how to reach out to someone who hasn't yet received the gift of Jesus.
Closing (10 Minutes)
A Final Reflection
Say:
What are you expecting this Christmas? Do you have a longing that God will change something in our world? That God will change someone you love? That God will change you ? God loves an expectant heart, and he is eager to surprise us with the gifts of his goodness and love. May we wait for him with eager hearts.
Closing Prayer
Loving God, we are so grateful for your extravagant gift of love, your only Son, coming into our lives. We are grateful that you expected to change the world and to break through to even the hardest of hearts, including our own. Help us to expect life change. Help us to expect peace. Help us to expect joy. Help us to expect hope. We seek you and we wait this Advent. Amen.
CHAPTER 2
God Is Dangerous
Preparation
Session Objective
Participants will discover that God is mighty and has powerful plans for his children. God so loved the world that he calls us to live our lives to the fullest, which sometimes means we are called to tasks we never imagined ourselves undertaking, challenges we feel ill equipped to handle, and unknown territory where we may not want to go.
Main Themes
• Jesus was born into a dangerous situation, as King Herod felt threatened by a new baby king having been born.
• Life with God is dangerous because he wants more for us than we've considered and has bolder dreams for us than we've dreamed.
• God wants us to have a dangerous faith—one that loves with abandon and is focused on the mission of Jesus Christ in the world.
Key Scripture
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:16-17
Materials Needed
You will need the Under Wraps DVD, a DVD player, and a Bible.
Getting Started (10 Minutes)
Opening Prayer
Loving God, you are dangerous, but you are good. You don't call us to safety but to live out your story in our lives with bravery and trust in your faithfulness. Thank you for stepping down into our world to save us and to love us. Give us wisdom now as we study your Word. Amen.
Conversation Starter
Say:
This week we read about the ways in which a life with God can be dangerous. Today we will discuss and reflect upon God's call in our lives to live out Jesus' mission in the world—even if it isn't always the safest path.
Ask:
Choose one of the following:
• What is the most dangerous situation you have ever faced?
• What do you think of when you reflect on the idea of God as dangerous?
• Have you ever sensed God calling you out of your comfort zone? When?
Video, Discussion, and Application (40 Minutes)
Note: This section allows approximately 25 minutes total for discussion (of video, Scriptures, and book). More questions are provided than you will have time to cover; select in advance those questions you would like to discuss, putting a checkmark beside each one.
The Video
Play: Session 2: God Is Dangerous (running time: 16:40)
Discuss:
• Why is it surprising to consider that Jesus' coming would be dangerous?
• What is the "cosmic struggle" referred to? How is this dangerous to the world?
• Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. How is this a dangerous mission?
• Why was Herod troubled at news of the birth of Jesus?
• How did Jesus challenge the reign of corruption in his day?
• How is a life of following after God dangerous?
The Book
In Chapter 2, we discovered that even in his infancy, Jesus was dangerous. He was dangerous to the government, he was dangerous for Mary and Joseph, and his mission would be dangerous for his followers as they would be called to take his light to the darkest corners of the world.
Discuss:
• What words come to mind when you think about a newborn baby? Why is dangerous not a word we typically connect with babies? How does this word apply to the Christ child?
• What are some examples from the Bible of the dangerous nature of God?
• When God calls people to dangerous situations, what does he always provide?
• Jesus' birth shook up the powers of the world in many ways. Name some of the ways mentioned in Chapter 2.
• Read aloud the following statement: "An encounter with Jesus is always dangerous because he has big things in mind for us, and it's probably going to be more than we ever dreamed of or expected." How have you found this to be true in your own life?
• Review the details of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life. What are some other examples of people who walked into dangerous territory for the sake of the gospel?
Bible Study
In Advance: Use a commentary or Bible dictionary as needed to help you prepare for this segment. Choose one or more of the following texts (depending upon time available and your group dynamics and needs). Be familiar with the text before the group session begins. Write down your own discussion questions in addition to those provided below.
Read Aloud: Matthew 10:34-42
Discuss:
• What is Jesus referring to in these verses?
• How does this passage demonstrate the danger of following Jesus?
• What does it cost to follow Jesus?
• What is dangerous about losing our life and finding it again in Jesus?
Read Aloud: Ephesians 6:10-20
Discuss:
• Review the section in Chapter 2 about the spiritual forces of darkness. Why did Jesus need to come to overthrow these forces of darkness?
• What are the dangers of the world? How does Jesus' coming undo the powers of evil in the world?
• How does the "armor of God" protect us from the danger of evil?
Read Aloud: John 17:15-17
Discuss:
• What is Jesus' prayer for his followers?
• Jesus knew that the world would be a dangerous place for his followers. How does he equip us for the mission?
Conclude by reading John 3:16-19, 36 aloud. Remind participants that even though we celebrate with joy at Christmas, we should also remember that the sweet baby in the manger came to overcome evil and injustice in the world and to do a work in us, making us holy as he is holy.
Life Application
Say:
We have explored some ways that Jesus is dangerous to the powers of the world and touched on some ways that following Jesus can be dangerous. In Chapter 2 we read these words: "God's work in our lives doesn't always feel comfortable. Sometimes it doesn't make sense. Sometimes it hurts. Why put you through these renovations? Because God intends to come and reside there. That's what he's doing in our lives. The King wants to move in. And he's got work to do." It can be a dangerous task to let God into your heart so that he can clear out the things that take up too much space, tear down walls, and lead a renovation and restoration project in you.
So this week, we are invited to ask God to put on his contractor hat and do some demo. Spend time in prayer each day asking God to expose things that you've kept from him. Though it feels dangerous, be vulnerable before God and accept the gift of his grace, mercy, forgiveness, and power to carry his light to the world.
Closing (10 Minutes)
A Final Reflection
Say:
Do you have a dangerous faith, one that isn't afraid to follow the mission that is laid out before you no matter the cost or where it may take you? Is God calling you to leave your comfort zone and invite a neighbor to church or to a Bible study? Is God calling you to take a leap of faith and give sacrificially to your church in order to grow its outreach to your community? Is God calling you to trust in the gifts he has given you to be a voice of hope and faith in your local schools, your community, or your home? Is God calling you to stand above the culture and raise your voice against an injustice like human trafficking? Is God calling you to come face to face with the need in your area: to minister to those who are homeless, to open your heart and home to a child in the foster care system, or to mentor a youth who doesn't have a father? Is God calling you to face the unknown and offer yourself as a light into the world on a mission trip to Guatemala, India, or China? Following a mighty God like ours can be dangerous.
Jesus came to do a dangerous work in the world—to destroy the power of death and sin and restore us into a right relationship with himself. His message is not safe; his love for us is undaunted. He was not afraid to walk into the dark crevices of this world with his light. He fights for our hearts with his extraordinary love, and his sacrifice leads our hearts to say, "Yes, Lord, we will follow."
Closing Prayer
Mighty God, we thank you for breaking into our world to bring down systems of injustice and to bring your reign of peace, grace, and hope. Help us to boldly follow you and go where you send us to be your hands and feet in this world. As we wait in this season, work on our hearts, making them your home. Amen.
