Simply Christmas - Week 4 Discussion Guide

CoreGroup Guide | Simply Christmas - Week 4
Guide written by Denee Bowers and Jenny Huffman


Welcome

We are almost there, Christmas is nearly here (peep that Christmas Eve worship schedule if you haven’t already). It can be both an exciting and overwhelming time. So, it is fitting that this week we are focusing on grace. The grace God extends to us and the grace we can share with others.


Opening Prayer

God, thank you for this group and for the time we have spent together this semester. Thank you for the ways we have grown in our relationships with each other and with you. Be with us today, Lord, as we wrestle with what it means to have “grace upon grace.” You are a God of second chances, a God of healing, a God of forgiveness. Help us to experience your extravagant grace this Christmas season, while also recognizing the places where we are called to extend that same grace to others. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen. 


Ice Breaker

What is one Christmas song you can’t get enough of this year? On the contrary, what is one Christmas song you never want to hear again for the rest of your life? 


The Head

Most of us are familiar with the Christmas story that gives us cute animals and a baby in a manger. John’s gospel takes a different approach. John 1 combines a creation story with the story of Jesus’ birth in a beautiful, if not somewhat difficult to follow, way. As we reflect on this week’s scripture, try to embrace the symbolism and mystery of Jesus’ birth. 

“The Word became flesh
    and made his home among us.
We have seen his glory,
    glory like that of a father’s only son,
        full of grace and truth.

John testified about him, crying out, “This is the one of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than me because he existed before me.’”

From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace;
as the Law was given through Moses,
    so grace and truth came into being through Jesus Christ.” 

[John 1:14-17]

• Why is it remarkable that God became human and made God’s home on earth with us?
• “The Word became flesh” is John’s poetic way of describing the birth of Jesus. What sticks out to you about Jesus as you read this scripture? 
• The scripture says we have not just received grace, but grace upon grace. Why do you think the grace is piled on? 

The Heart

The Message is a paraphrase of the Bible compiled by Eugene Peterson. It puts the Bible into contemporary language in a way that makes it easy to understand, and often helps us connect with it in new ways. This version of John 1:14-17 speaks beautifully to the gift of grace we receive at Christmas. 
The Word became flesh and blood,
    and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
    the one-of-a-kind glory,
    like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
    true from start to finish.
John pointed him out and called, “This is the One! The One I told you was coming after me but in fact was ahead of me. He has always been ahead of me, has always had the first word.”
We all live off his generous abundance,
    gift after gift after gift.
We got the basics from Moses,
    and then this exuberant giving and receiving,
This endless knowing and understanding—
    all this came through Jesus, the Messiah.

• The Message version of this scripture says Jesus moved into the neighborhood. What area of your life do you feel especially needs Jesus to move in this Christmas (work, school, neighborhood, family)?
• This paraphrase highlights the generosity of God. How have you experienced the generosity of God in your life?
• Like a big pile of presents on Christmas morning, God wants to give us limitless grace. Where in your life do you need the gift of grace? 

The Hands

As we try to follow Jesus’ example of offering grace, we face the challenge of offering grace to difficult people and in difficult situations. If we allow ourselves to go beyond gift wrapping, cookie baking, and movie watching we might realize that we have the power to transform our holidays by offering grace. 

• Is there a person or a situation that you are dreading dealing with this Christmas? Describe why this person or situation is so difficult for you.
• Grace is a gift that the recipient doesn’t deserve and can’t earn. What would it look like to give this type of gift this Christmas?
• Extending grace is not easy. What will you have to let go of, forgive, or move on from in order to extend grace?

Going Deeper

As we prepare for a break from CoreGroup meetings over Christmas, we can stay connected through prayer. While we are experiencing the highs and lows of the holiday, we can know we are supported in prayer by this group. Make time for each group member to name one specific thing they would like prayer for over the next couple of weeks. Write them down. Share them in whatever way works for your group. Then simply pray for one another regularly between now and your next meeting.