Love
(Luke 2 : 1 - 7)

"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, the young woman shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel"

Isaiah 7:14

Discussion Question

1. Ten days, a 145 kilometre upward hike, and lots of dry bread later, Mary, Joseph, and the unborn Jesus arrives in Bethlehem. How does Mary and Joseph’s obedience reflect their love for each other and for Jesus?

2. “Immanuel” means “God is with us.” Before Mary and Joseph travelled to Bethlehem, Jesus travelled to become man and be among us. How is his sacrificial love reflected in his incarnation and life as a human?

3. Have you experienced sacrificial love? Share an experience or a struggle you have with regards to giving and receiving love.

4. How can we share Christ’s sacrificial love this advent season?

Psalm 91

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 “Because he[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”