In this season we have a great opportunity to jump into the story of Celebrate Differently as our Life Groups serve and bless others with the transformational love of Jesus! We want to hear your stories. How is God using your Life Group to engage Celebrate Differently?
Follow and tag @marinerslifegroups on Instagram with your Celebrate Differently Stories and pictures. Use the hashtags #mclifegroup and #celebratedifferently in the text of your post.
The first 100 people to follow us and share their #mclifegroup #celebratedifferntly stories will be entered to win a dinner at a local restaurant with your Life Group to celebrate this holiday season together as well as a $200 Target Gift Card for your Life Group to be used anyway you can dream of helping others to Celebrate Differently. Three Life Groups will be chosen. You can also share your stories using this online form.
What’s Your Life Group’s Story? // Tag, Bag, Serve and Share With Us!
View list of serving opportunities here.
Lean In // 5 minutes
Christmas memory share!
Leader Note: Have each person in your group share one of their favorite Christmas memories. From a childhood present to other family traditions, encourage everyone to jump in here.
Look Down // 10 minutes
Read Luke 2:8-15
What do you learn about the first Christmas?
Leader Note: Read the passage twice. On the second time ask your group to close their eyes and picture themselves in the story of the passage. What stands out? What phrases and emotions stand out?
- Ordinary night, ordinary people in an ordinary place
- Extraordinary show of God’s power and presence
- The shepherds were terrified
- Good news for all people
- No fear – reassurance – what seems overwhelming turns out to be good news
- The good news is subversive, not what they expected… a baby!
- Promise of peace, joy and comfort
- Promise of a savior, the Messiah has been born
- News of the Messiah’s birth inspired worship
- News of the Messiahs birth compelled the Shepherds to go and search for him
Leader Note: Transition your group to the next section by highlighting verse 10 “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” Jesus’ brith singles to the world that a new age has begun. The age of God’s Kingdom present on Earth which brings the good news of healing, hope, redemption and salvation for all people.
Look Out // 10 minutes
What does the world call good news and is it actually good?
Look In // 20 minutes
What good news have you received lately?
Where are you in need of good news?
Leader Note: You may want to ask these questions as one question to each person in the group. Pay to attention to each answer so you and your group and pray for one another at the end of the group discussion.
Live It Out // 5 minutes
How can you be a person of good news this Christmas Season?
Click here for Life Group Serve Opportunities
Looking to Join a Life Group? Check out our online group directory to get in touch with leader today.
Learn More About Flow Questions: Check out Kenton Beshore’s book Ask in the Irvine Campus Bookstore for more on the Flow Question model.