Join us this Sunday! In-Person 9:00am & 10:45am, Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

Join us this Sunday! In-Person 9:00am & 10:45am, Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

Join us at the next Sunday worship service:
In-Person
9:00am & 10:45am,
Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

Week 1 Questions For Northstar Groups

Part 1: Silent Night

Introduction:
Silent night is one of the classic Christmas songs sung each Christmas season when we celebrate the birth of Jesus more than two thousand years ago. Jesus, born to Mary, a young unmarried teenager, and Joseph, a poor carpenter engaged to this young mother-to-be. In spite of the criticism he might face from the strict Jewish social world in which they lived, Joseph stuck with her. In Bethlehem, they were forced to stay stabled with animals because there were no rooms available to them. And on that night – that special night – “Silent Night, Holy Night” – Jesus was born. I don’t believe it as all that silent. A virgin giving birth to a child with oxen and donkeys watching probably wouldn’t be as silent as “Silent Night” suggests. And finally, I would imagine that Jesus made it known when he was hungry or uncomfortable. Holy Night; yes. Silent Night; I doubt it.

Something To Talk About:
“…Son of God love’s pure light. Radiant beams from Thy holy face…With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.” Silent Night is a cherished song. A Christmas classic. There is so much hope in the birth of the baby Jesus. Why? Because Jesus came to earth to give us hope. Christmas is a time to hope for peace; peace in the world and peace in our own hearts. It is a time to experience joy, not mere happiness or pleasure, but joy that makes the soul feel alive and whole. And Christmas is a season of love. To love those we know and to love those far from the heart of God. Christmas and the cross is the hope of all this.

Questions:
1. To find peace during Christmas this year, there are some things we must do. First, we must trust God’s plan. What happens to our faithfulness when hard times come around? Pray and ask God to give you the strength and wisdom to choose faithfulness above all things, and watch God’s plan unfold.
2. Second is to obey God’s principles, Why is it important that we actually live out biblical principles? Read your Bible and take classes if you do not know what those principles are.
3. Third, is ask for God’s provision: Do you believe God will provide every need in your life? Do you agree that everything we need comes from Him? Pray for the wisdom to trust God to supply all our needs.
4. Fourth, accept God’s pardon: Do you believe you are accepted and loved by God? Do you believe in God’s unconditional love? Why is it so hard to let go of the past? Why is it so hard to say no to yourself and yes, to God when reliving the past? Pray and ask God to help you put the past in the past.

Take One Thing Home With You:
Take a moment and reflect on the glory that is Christmas. Far more than just a birth of a baby – it is the truth that God became a man. Hebrews 2:17 says: “For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.” That was part of God’s plan—to give us a Savior unlike anything in any other religion, a Savior who understands everything because He has experienced everything, yet without sinning. In order for Jesus to be fully man, He had to be born in the same way as every other man. What Christmas reminds us is that our God is not a God who is distant from us, who is out there somewhere. This is a God who knows our name, who cares what we are doing, who wants to be in relation with us, and who loves us so much that He gave us Jesus, who was born like us, who lived like us, who died like us and who was raised from the dead so that we too might have eternal life.