ZOOM Gathering - Recorded
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Overview
In our final stop along our Road,
Our final marker along the Advent journey is Radiance.
We will join the Wise Men as they have traveled far to worship at the feet of the now born Christ.
That as we encounter the incarnate Chris, who is radiant, we too shine God's message of hope for out shared future. This will involve moving between praise and purpose and between adoration and action.
How has the radiance of Christ touched our lives and filled us with light that we can reflect back to our world?
Due to the length of this topic, this is the first half of the message and will conclude next Sunday.
Scripture References
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Matthew 2:1-12
Discussion Reflection Questions
1. Where do you see yourself in the journey of the Magi from the East to see Christ? Imagine how this experience may have formed and changed the Magi. How have you been formed and changed by Christ in your life?
2. Reflection Exercise
Reflecting on 2020 will help to get ourselves in the right headspace to set effective and positively motivating goals. What were three Wins in 2020? List 7 events, people or memories you are grateful for in 2020. In what area of your life do you have the most momentum? How can you keep that momentum in 2021? What is the most positive habit in your life at the moment? What one habit do you wish you could change in 2021? Who is sharpening you to be the person you want to become, and how can you spend more time with them in 2021? What one thing, if it got better, would make the biggest difference in 2021?
3. Goal Setting Exercise
Set a specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time contained goal in as many of these areas as you wish. Post these somewhere you will see every day.
Area Objective Goal
Spirituality Eg. Grow closer to Christ Eg. 15 minutes each day in Scripture
Personal Health
Mind and Intellectual
Personal & Social
Family
Financial
Career/Work
