Advent Conspiracy 02: Rebel Follow-Up

Week 2 of Advent Conspiracy: Rebel has happened. Take the time to listen to the podcast or just dive straight into this study to help you prepare for one of the holiest days of the year. Do it yourself or get together with some friends, family or strangers and discuss.

READ: Matthew 2:1-12

What is your favourite tradition related to Christmas?

Who are three “Magi” or wise men you turn to for advice?

Why was it important that Jesus be born in Bethlehem?

Since the Magi were pagan astrologers, why would they leave everything in order to follow that star?

In light of the prophecy (v.6), why was Herod so concerned that the baby be found?

Note the responses of the Magi upon seeing Jesus. How is that similar to the response that Christians make to Jesus? How is it different?

What do the star , the Magi, the gifts, the homage, the hostility and the prophecy teach about the significance of Jesus?

In your journey toward God, how are you like the Magi? Unlike them? Have you had to leave anything to follow Jesus? What is the “gold, incense, and myrrh” in your life? How have you offered this to Jesus?

If Jesus is all about the “Kingdom” & Caesar is all about the “Empire” what Caesars are you facing? Will it make a difference how you respond?

What do you want to rebel against in the empire that surrounds you?

What can you put on the line this year to not compromise?

What would this look like to your friends or family?

Will it motivate them or freak them out?

Read: Luke 1:26-38

Mary’s initial reaction to the angel’s appearance was: fear, confusion, doubt, faith, concern, curiosity?

Why did God choose Mary to give birth to His Son? 1. She earned the honour by her holy life. 2. she was at the right place at the right time. 3. her lineage was correct. 4. he had her in mind from the beginning. 5. only God knows why he picked her.

What do you think was the hardest for May to comprehend? 1. the fact that she was favoured by God 2. a pregnancy before marriage 3. who her child was going to be 4. how all this fits into God’s plan.

How do you think Mary felt about giving birth to the Messiah? Scared, honoured, burdened, glad, lonely, wait-and-see?

Why did the angel tell Mary about Elizabeth’s condition? 1. to prove God’s power 2. to unfold the rest of God’s plan 3. to encourage her 4. to give her something else to think about?

After this encounter with the angel, how did Mary envision herself? 1. ascending a throne 2. as a lowly servant 3. as a surrogate mother 4. as an ordinary person?

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The Way

You know, salvation isn't a do-it-yourself, choose-your-own-path kind of thing. You gotta pick the right door. Jesus explained in Luke 13.

Luke 13:24-25, 29-30 (New Living Translation)

24 “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. 25 When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’"

Ok, you won't reach Heaven through the most traveled, most popular way. Think about it for yourself:

"And people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God. 30 And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.”

The choice is yours.

411God.net

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Lookin' For Trouble?

You know, there's enough trouble in this world. Don't go looking for it.

Proverbs 20:3 (New Living Translation)

3 Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor;
only fools insist on quarreling.

Proverbs 13:10 (English Standard Version)

10 By insolence comes nothing but strife,
but with those who take advice is wisdom.

Proverbs 16:28 (New Living Translation)

28 A troublemaker plants seeds of strife;
gossip separates the best of friends.

Proverbs 21:23 (New Living Translation)

23 Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut,
and you will stay out of trouble.

The wisest guy that ever lived wrote that stuff! And you know, sometimes our tongues can get us in the most trouble. More on that tomorrow.

411God.net

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Got A Light?

God's Word is like a flashlight...you know, that you may use when camping in a dark forest to get from your tent past the outhouses to the dining hall to the campfire.

Without that flashlight, you may trip and fall by accidentally putting your foot into a shallow hole filled with water and leaves forcing you to wait there, stuck in the dark until a large camper who also has no flashlight finds you and punches you repeatedly before taking your marshmallows and s'mores chocolate...

Bottom line--you need a flashlight. And God's Word is like a flashlight:

Psalm 119:105-112 (New Living Translation)

105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path.
106 I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again:
I will obey your righteous regulations.
107 I have suffered much, O LORD;
restore my life again as you promised.
108 LORD, accept my offering of praise,
and teach me your regulations.
109 My life constantly hangs in the balance,
but I will not stop obeying your instructions.
110 The wicked have set their traps for me,
but I will not turn from your commandments.
111 Your laws are my treasure;
they are my heart’s delight.
112 I am determined to keep your decrees
to the very end.

The Word of God is important. Don't forget, it's like a camping flashlight! Determine today to read and follow God's Word.

411God.net

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THOUGHT: The Word of God

Why is this Bible thing so important? Well, here's a little something to answer that from Hebrews.

Hebrews 4:12 (New Living Translation)

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Alive and powerful...exposes thoughts and desires. Give that some thought.

411God.net

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THOUGHT: A Revisioned World

Ok: It's August 16, 1965--Imagine you are in line to see the Beatles, yes, THE Beatles, play Shea Stadium in New York City. Arguably one of the most famous concerts in rock history. Cars are barely moving, lining up, trying to get close to the stadium. John, Paul, George, and Ringo themselves have to take a helicopter to get to the show on time just because of the traffic.

Now, would you want to be at the front of the line or the back? Front row seats, or nosebleeds? Jesus talks to his disciples about being first or last:

Mark 9:33-37 (New Living Translation)

33 After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?” 34 But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. 35 He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”

36 Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.”

You want to be first? Then be last. You want to hang out with the greatest, then hang out with the least. Get it?

411God.net


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ANNOUNCEMENT: A Christmas Treat For You!

Here is a wee Christmas treat for you. (ok not here exactly. Check the podcast)

As we count down to Christmas I am going to be sharing with you a great story that helps to describe what it might have been like in Heaven around the first Christmas. I will be reading chapter by chapter Max Lucado's "An Angel's Story"; so we can experience this story together.

Hope you enjoy coming back for new episodes periodically as I read you a goodnight story :)

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