Between Two Trees (Part 1): Gathering Around The Tree

TO START

This Sunday, we jumped into a 3 part series leading us up to Christmas.  The focus of this series is to consider how we can participate in the hope of God this December.

  • In this season, what is the predominant emotion you are feeling in connection to Christmas? OR what’s the first thing you think of when you think of Christmas this season?

This week we are inviting your group to choose questions from the multiple options below.  Our hope is that these questions might help you to lead your discussion in a way that makes sense for your group this week as y’all “talk it out” and “live it out”.

TALK IT OUT AFTER READING ISAIAH 53:1-5

STUDY

  • Why might Jesus be described as a little plant in dry ground? Do any stories in Jesus’ life seem to foster this description?

  • Why do you think Scripture leaves Jesus’s physical appearance mostly untouched? 

  • What is so unbelievable about God’s answer to human evil found in Isaiah 53?

PROCESS

  • What seems to take the most of your time/energy during the Christmas season? Is there time in your schedule to share with those who are hurting?

  • What tends to be a common pain cycle or wound that surfaces for you this time of year? When have you seen a cycle of pain or hurt be broken in and around you?

LIVE IT OUT 

PRACTICE

  • Share a time when someone who was hurting in your life surprised you in the way they helped you even in the midst of their hurting.

  • What wound in your life have you named to Jesus, and what wound do you need to currently name to him?

PRAY

  • We invite you to create space for the group to think through these two prompts as you pray together: 1) Who is someone in your life that has hurt you who you tend to respond with equal hurt? 2) Who is someone in your life that is hurting that God might be inviting you to support in this season?

Matt DeLano