Read Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:10-14; Micah 5:2-5a; & Matthew 2:1-12.1. These are the prophetic scriptures and the story from Matthew - to the Jewish people - to show from scripture Jesus was the Messiah. Write down how you are certain that Jesus is the Messiah.2. What new background information, regarding the time of Jesus’ birth, did you learn through today’s sermon?3. How have you seen God work in your life and in the life of others, amid government or work-related issues?4. Where did you find God this Christmas season?5. In what ways has God broken through to you, when you were going through the motions in worship, giving, praying, or serving in Jesus’ name?6. How will you share with non-believers, seekers, the unchurched believers, and the de-churched believers, the Good News of how Jesus has/is working in your life? Look at your answers above to find the words, if needed.Prayer for the Week:O Lord, I ask that you break through the various pieces and parts of my life which are closed to your presence. Allow me to see with new eyes how you are working and how you want me to participate in bringing others to Christ. Place inside of me the desire to find you, even amid life’s trials and tribulations. Instill in me the desire to share with others who you are to me. Amen.

Decide How You Want Your Holidays to Look:1. List words or phrases of how you’d like your life to look from Thanksgiving to the New Year:2. List words that describe how you do not want your holidays to be/ look:3. List what you like the most about the holiday season. What do you absolutely love or want to do?4. Consider/admit what you don’t like about the holidays. List them:5. I am thankful for these 20 things:6. Add to the list until you have at least 100 things you are thankful for.Prayer for the Week:O Awesome God, we thank you for your gifts seen and unseen. Help us be grateful for what we have. Help us to be still and reflect upon your amazing gift of Jesus, the real reason for the season. Help us find time to be still and rest in your arms of love, joy and peace. Help us reflect upon your presence in our lives this Christmas Season and every day of our lives. Amen.

1. Read John 14.2. Verses 1-4 are often read at funerals. In what ways do these verses give you comfort and assurance that Jesus will guide you to the place He is?3. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life; and the only way to the Father.” Do you believe this as a foundational Christian principle of faith?4. How would you explain this to a non-believer?5. Verses 15–19 are often read at funerals. What specifically gives you the assurance you are never abandoned, never alone?6. Verses 26-27 were the focus of today’s sermon. How do you find true peace?7. What does “God’s peace” mean to you?8. When you are troubled, how do you find the “peace that passes all understanding”?Prayer for the Week:Lord, in those times when I fear I am losing hope or feel that my efforts are futile, pour out upon me your gift of peace. Give me the courage and strength I need to be unafraid when I face challenges and struggles. Help me to depend more upon you each and every day. Amen.

1. Read Matthew 14: 13-21.2. What would you have said if Jesus asked you to feed 20,000 people?3. How did one offering become a miracle?4. Read Luke 14: 16-24. This parable is more than a meal; it’s about accepting God’s invitation to include others.5. When have you included people in your home gatherings that are not of your family or friends?6. Why does this feel or not feel comfortable?7. Read Luke 17: 20-35. Compare it to 2 Peter 3: 8-14. What is the same? What is different?8. Many Christians focus on remembering Jesus’ upcoming birth this time of year. Are you looking forward to the 1st or 2nd coming of Christ? Why?9. The 3rd verse of I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light says: “I’m looking for the coming of Christ. I want to be with Jesus. When we have run with patience the race, we shall know the joy of Jesus.” What joys do you anticipate in Jesus?Prayer for the Week: God of Advent, of waiting and hoping, keep our hearts expectant, ready for your coming among us. Amen.

1. What is your favorite Christmas memory?2. What is your least favorite memory?3. Why are the holidays so difficult for you or another?4. What is your focus regarding the holidays?5. Read Mark 13: 24-37. Jesus said to expect His return - at any time. If He comes at 5:00pm today, will you be ready? Why or why not?6. Have you done as He asked? In what ways?7. Read Revelation, Chapters 2 and 3. In what ways have you fallen short?8. What is the most difficult part for you in being ready for Christ’s return?Prayer for the Week: Merciful God, we confess that we do not know how to prepare for Advent. We have forgotten your miracles. We have ignored the promises of your kingdom. We keep getting distracted by all the busyness of the season. Forgive us, we pray. Grant us the simplicity of the Manger and the good news that a child has been born for us. We ask that you make us ready for His coming. Amen. 

Why Are You Here?Four traits explain the apostles’ witness in the book of Acts—boldness, humility, tenacity, and urgency; these same four traits should characterize our witness.Peter and John constantly went around reminding the religious leaders that they had killed Jesus, a fact they were less than thrilled to recount. Their boldness astonished the religious leaders, especially since Acts 4: 13 tells us Peter and John were not educated. When a fisherman stands up to the most powerful figure in the city, that is bold.But their boldness did not lead them to arrogance; they acted with incredible humility. The apostles were astoundingly blunt about who Jesus was, but not because they had figured things out on their own. They received salvation by grace, and those who receive grace know that they have zero ground for moral or intellectual superiority.But humility does not back down. A humble witness can still be a tenacious one. Peter and John shrug off threats of imprisonment and death. “Throw us in prison? Slander our names? Kill us? Fine, but we’ll keep preaching because itis a message worth sharing.” This tenacity comes from the resurrection. They believed that Jesus had risen from the dead and that Jesus was doing something to save people who could not save themselves. When we believe that, we cling to our witness in the face of opposition.We have to be urgent to spread the good news. We know that only Jesus offers salvation. The gospel was constantly on the apostles’ lips everywhere they went because they took the gospel’s implications seriously. Believing in Jesus means you will do something about the lostness around you. Share that belief, and you will have a movement on your hands.God owes none of us salvation. That any of us have access to it is an unspeakable act of grace. But what is unfair, is for those of us who know the gospel not to do all we can to bring it to others.As we prepare for Advent, what can you do to witness to others about the love of God that you have, as you offer people the chance to discover real hope for real life as we go out and make disciples, so that the world is transformed by God’s love? How can you invite someone into a loving relationship with Jesus and connect with the loving grace-filled community that we call Grand Lake United Methodist Church?

Scripture and Questions for Study and Reflection:1. Read Luke 10: 25-37.2. Who are you in this story, and why?3. Read Luke 17: 11-19.4. When all seems lost, who do you turn to for help?5. What do you need to give up control over?6. Why is this so hard?7. Where is our “Go?”8. Read Isaiah 40: 21-31.9. What are God’s promises to you?Prayer for the Week:Lord, far too often our plans for our life do not go as we wouldlike. Sometimes we are confused about the path our life is taking. Lord, give us the assurances we need. Remind us of your promises that you will never leave or forsake us. You are our rock and our foundation, so we know there is nothing to fear. Let us feel your presence no matter what is going on in our life. Thank you for loving us beyond all measure. Amen.

Scripture and Questions for Study and Reflection: 1. In what ways do you serve Jesus in and through Grand Lake United Methodist Church? 2. Are you aware there is a program in and through the United Methodist Church which helps equip and empower people in the church? Lay Servant Ministries has a multitude of classes that can equip and enhance your skills and understanding. These can be found at: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/lay-servant- ministries-catalog. Ray and Valerie Kramer have taken Lay Servant classes, Lay Speaker classes, and Ray is a CLM (Certified Lay Minister) which has equipped him in a variety of ways in service. For more information, go to: westohioumc.org/ search?search_terms=Servant+Ministries. 3. Each of us have been given at least one Spiritual Gift at our Baptism. We learned about Spiritual Gifts in our last sermon series. If you have not taken an assessment, you may want to try this one to better understand how God created you: https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/gbod-assets/generic/ Spiritual_Gifts_Inventory_Download2002.pdf. 4. Although God has given us Spiritual Gifts to uplift the church and its ministries for the common good, we are also able to serve outside our giftedness. What areas of interest might you have? 5. What has God brought to your attention that needs cared for, or has God laid a new missional/ministry outreach upon your heart? 6. The difference between an attender and a member can be summed up in one word: Commitment. Members commit ourselves to Christ and one another. We pray for one another, encourage one another, we bear each other’s burdens, we worship with each other, and we give and serve alongside one another. We witness only in positive ways that build up the church and the congregation. Our vows of prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness are our witness before God and to each other.If you are not yet a member, and are interested in more information, please talk with Pastor Debbie. Prayer for the Week: Thank you, Lord, that we are able to profess Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We thank you, Lord, for our baptism that is a public symbol of our faith. We thank you, Lord, that you have brought us to Grand Lake United Methodist Church, as part of this fellowship that prays, worships, gives, serves and witnesses together. Help me live into my vows, for your honor, glory and praise. Amen. 

Scripture and Questions for Study and Reflection:1. What stories have your heard that have given you the hope and promise there really is life after death?2. As Christians, we believe in the resurrection of the body, (stated in the Apostle’s Creed). Do you believe in the resurrection of the body or only a spiritual body? Why?3. Read 1 Corinthians 15: 12-14, 20-22.4. What stands out to you?5. What questions cause you to reflect and ponder?6. Read 1 Corinthians 15: 35-38, 42-44, 51-55.7. How does this give you peace in the face of losing friends and loved ones?8. Look up When We All Get to Heaven. Sing it with praise and celebration!Prayer for the Week: O Lord, when we all get to heaven, we will come in adoration, both with rejoicing and anticipation. We yearn to sing with the saints. We yearn to see our loved ones – healed and whole. We can only imagine what we will see. We look forward to you carrying us home, with you, forever. Amen.