WELCOME ICEBREAKER

What is your favourite cartoon and why?

WORSHIP

Look at adding some Christmas songs that have rich lyrics about the Messiah.

WORD

As we enter into the Christmas season we will be hearing the story of the birth of Jesus. Hundreds of years before Jesus was born His birth was prophesied. There have been described in the Old Testament 300 prophecies of the first coming of the Messiah and 500 of His second coming.

These prophecies gave the early believers faith to accept Jesus as the Messiah. As a group take time to read three of these prophecies.

• He would be born in Bethlehem. Read Micah 5:2 and Matthew 2:1
  
  
• The flight to Egypt. Read Hosea 11:1 and Matthew 2:14,15
  
  
• The slaughter of innocent children. Read Jeremiah 3:15 and Matthew 2:16-18

One example of the impact of the prophecies in the faith of believers is found in Luke 24:13-45. Read this passage and discuss the impact of the prophecies.

• Why do you think they were so slow to believe what the prophets said about Jesus?
  
  
• What did they mean when they said that their hearts burned within them?
  
  
• What caused their eyes to be opened?
  
  
• What caused your eyes to be open to see Jesus as the Son of God?

As a group discuss what the purpose prophecy is.

WORK

Pray and ask God to open your understanding to the scriptures even as Jesus did for the disciples. Note even after seeing Jesus and His scars they still needed the confirmation of the scriptures.

Plan a Christmas outing/party for your home group. What can you do to invite others who might be lonely this Christmas?