Read Isaiah 9:6-7. There is nothing more vulnerable than a child yet God chose to be revealed to this world as a new born baby. Because sin had brought and continues to bring chaos and devastation, God knew that a savior must come to bring peace and healing. And it was through this child Jesus that the Kingdom of God would be ever increasing and ever enduring.

• What qualities of the Kingdom of God do you see in a child?
• Describe a time from your childhood that you felt very vulnerable?

Read Ephesians 2:14-15. One thing that Jesus came to do was to save us from the 2-fold effect of sin: separation and selfishness. And we can literally see those characteristics in the events around us and even in our own lives. Jesus, however, came to heal that divide, to make us one and to bring justice and peace to a world longing to be whole again.

• How has sin caused separation in your life and relationships?
• Name some of the selfish tendencies you still fight against in your life.
• How have you seen your own selfishness effect the way you serve Christ?

However, before Jesus can become the savior of the world he must also become the savior of you and I. When we meet Christ, we suddenly have new insight into both our world and into our place in the world. We no longer see with blind and selfish eyes, but like putting on new glasses, see with the eyes and perspective of God to what’s truly happening in our world’s story.

• Do you tend to see the world through God’s eyes and perspective or through your own perspective? What is the difference?
• Like putting on new glasses, has God ever suddenly revealed the needs of people to you? Explain.

Read Matthew 2:13-15 and John 15:16. Once Christ becomes the savior of you and I, then he can become the savior through us to the world. Sometimes, like Joseph we have to obey God with seemingly irrational faith. At other times we need to adamantly examine and change our lives so that we can truly have great effect on those around us. God continues to call us to bear fruit of the kingdom so that this world can have hope, life, peace and love.

• Have you ever obeyed God with a seemingly irrational faith? What happened?
• Have you ever taken the time to examine the “effects” of your life in the world around you? What did you see?
• Name a person who has tremendously affected your life with their actions. Name a way your life has positively affected someone else’s life?

To have a truly wonderful life, a life worth living, we must continually be the hands and feet of Jesus, taking his kingdom to every part of this world. The future of many literally hangs in the balance on whether or not you will say yes to Christ.

• What life-change do you need to make to become the hands and feet of Jesus to this world?
• How will you help bring Jesus and the kingdom of heaven to our world this Christmas?