Sermon Discussion Guide: A Certain Kind of Christmas

Week 1: Hope (Matthew 1:18-25)
How to Be Certain When We’re Unsure 

1. What special traditions contributed to “A Certain Kind of Christmas” in your childhood home? What are your favorite Christmas traditions today?
2. What feels “certain” in your life right now?
3. Where are you wrestling with uncertainty?
4. Our text this weekend, Matthew 1:18-25, touched on several themes: betrayal (or the perception of it), duty, fear, shame, disgrace. Which of these themes resonates the most and why?
5. Advent is a season of longing, expectation, and preparation. How will you prepare to have a Christ-centered Advent this year? 

 
Week 2: Joy (Luke 2:1-15)
How to be Certain When Doors Close

1. Share one of your most joyful Christmas memories.
2. Would you characterize yourself as a joyful person? Why or why not? Do you think other people would characterize you as joyful, or “spiritually optimistic”?
3. Read Luke 2:1-15. What stands out to you either from the text itself, or from the sermon this weekend? 
4. How can we be certain if our circumstances don’t always align with our plans?
5. How does anxiety rob us of joy? Would anyone like to illustrate with a personal example? What next steps can we take to welcome joy into our lives?

 
Week 3: Love (Matthew 2:1-23)
How to be Certain There’s a Big Picture

1. When was the last time you felt like you couldn’t see the “big picture”? 
2. What are some reasons we tend to lose sight of the bigger picture of God’s sovereignty, eternity, and future hope? 
3. In our text this weekend, Matthew 2:1-23, we saw how Herod’s fear and uncertainty led to horrific suffering and oppression. How can uncertainty be dangerous?
4. Can you think of a time when you acted out of fear or anxiety and hurt someone else as a result? How did you mend the relationship?
5. When facing persecution or suffering, what are some practical ways we can keep our eyes fixed on the bigger picture?

 
Week 4: Peace (Luke 2:25-40)
How to be Certain Our Faithfulness Will Be Rewarded

1. On a scale of 1-10, how much peace would you say you’re feeling lately? 
2. What is the number one thing that robs you of peace? In other words, what keeps you up at night; where do your anxious thoughts tend to gravitate? How do you push back against anxiety?
3. Read Luke 2:25-40. What’s your biggest takeaway from the life of either Simeon or Anna?
4. What does it look like to be certain of the future when the reward is so far away?
5. How has your sense of certainty grown as a result of this Advent series? What next steps have you taken?

 
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