Christmas: The Music And The Meaning - Week 3

Listen to this weeks playlist here:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4wqgdrkGeBU5qmssCjfGDZ?si=JLbHBjrPTC2S0Wfu3CS ofA

Welcome!

Opening Prayer:

God, thank you for bringing this group together. Thank you for this time to discuss life, and your
word...and maybe even sing. Please be with us during this time. It’s in your name we pray.
Amen.


Ice Breaker: This week’s song focuses on hopes and fears through all the years.
Let’s start with hopes: What are two things on your bucket list?
Now fears: If you were on the show Fear Factor, what would be your most undesirable
challenge? Something with bugs? Heights? Clowns?


The Head:

The scripture below tells the story of the Magi and the little town of Bethlehem.

Matthew 2:1-6 (NIV)
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the
east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?
We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had
called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the
Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet
has written:
6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Micah 5:2 (NIV)
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.”

1. Consider the fact that Bethlehem was small and insignificant in comparison to the rest of
Israel. What does this tell you about God and Jesus? What about life today?

2. What do you think God sees in Bethlehem that He doesn’t see elsewhere?

3. The book of Micah predicted the birth place of Jesus centuries before his actual birth.
The people of Israel had been hoping for His birth for a very long time. Nevertheless, not
everyone is happy to hear that this long wait is over. Take King Herod. What’s his
problem? What does he fear?


The Heart:

Sing aloud together (or read 5020202020Recent