Crazy Love: Introduction

Week 1: Introduction

Ice-Breaker: (Fun activity/or question)

Your Name

1. What place would you go back to tomorrow
2. When was the last time you had to say I’m sorry to someone?

Prime the Pump(On the note card)

1. What do you think it means to be a Christian?
2. How do you think people grow in their relationship with God?
3. How do you know you are growing in your intimacy with God?

Video Clip

Discussion/Prayer(Break into small groups)

1. How do you hope to grow in your relationship with God through this study?
2. Is there a person(s) that you think/know would benefit from what you learn in this study?

Challenge/Activity

Have a discussion with someone about what they think it means to grow in their relationship with God.  Share what you’ve learned in our discussion about the concept of a vibrant love relationship with God stemming from a greater knowledge of Him.  

Volunteer Roles:

1. Ice Breaker: Plan and lead the group in a short fun activity or question

1. Whenever possible try to link icebreaker to topic of the day

2. Discussion Leader: Facilitate asking questions during breakout time and move the conversation through the questions.
3. Prayer Recorder:  Record prayer requests from the week.  Give the list to the group leader.  Follow up with prayer requests next week.
4. Set-up/Prayer team:  Come 15 minutes before 6pm to set up the T.V. and pray for the group and study.  
5. Fellowship:  Help coordinate going to dinner or an activity for the group to do in the week.  

Luke 2:1-20: God revealed

Storyteller:  Tim Salomon

Key Points to Know 1.  God reveals Himself 2.  God wants us to have experience with Him 3.  God wants us to tell others about what He’s both revealed and done

Key Passage(s)

Passage: Luke 2:1-20 Key Themes: A census is taken in the Roman Empire Joseph and Mary go to his home of birth to register for the census Mary is pregnant and gives birth in Bethlehem Mary’s firstborn son sleeps in a feeding trough because there is no rooms available An angel appears to shepherds and tells them a Savior is born and how to find Him A heavenly army appears and praises God The shepherds find the Savior then glorify and praise God for everything they’d experienced

Reflective Discussion Questions: What is something new you’ve learned from this story? What do we learn about the shepherds in this story? What do we learn about God in this story? What do we learn about Mary in this story? How did the shepherds react  to the news from the angel? What is the good news of the gospel? How do do you hear or know the good news of the gospel? What do you do with the gospel? How does the gospel affect your relationship with God? Why did the shepherds tell other people about what they’d seen and heard? What was so amazing about what the shepherds experienced? Do you have experiences with God?   What kind of things has revealed to you about Himself?   What kind of things has God done in your life?

Application

Individual Challenge Tell someone about what God has revealed to you about Himself and what He’s doing in your life.

Community Vision If everyone here told someone about what God is doing in their lives how would that change people’s perspective of who God is?  How would people’s attitudes change towards God and Christians?  How would our attitudes change about God and the church?