A Wonderful Life Discussion Guides

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"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it…The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world." John 1:5,9

"She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!" Luke 2:7-11

The Wonderful Light Of Christmas Means...

 1.  I don't have to live in fear of the darkness.

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear…" 1 John 4:18

"Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

 2.  I don't have to live without hope of brighter days.

"Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!" Psalm 42:5-6 

 3.  I will have great joy that will last forever.

"I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, 'Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.' And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light." Revelation 21:3-4, 23

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"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

"She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them." Luke 2:7

 1.  Believe and receive the gift.

"But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12

 2.  Take time to understand the meaning of the gift.

"For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 

 3.  Express daily thankfulness for the gift. 

"As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with 

 thanksgiving." Colossians 2:6-7 

4.  Share the love of the gift.

"…for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9

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"In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, 'Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!' Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 'Don’t be afraid, Mary,' the angel told her, 'for you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!' Mary asked the angel, 'But how can this happen? I am a virgin.' The angel replied, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For the word of God will never fail.' Mary responded, 'I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.' And then the angel left her." Luke 1:26-38 (NLT)

 1.  God's plan doesn't always seem so wonderful at first.

"You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus." Luke 1:31

 2.  God enjoys using not so wonderful people in his plan.

"'Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!' Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean." Luke 1:28

 3.  Life often doesn't feel so wonderful waiting for God's plan to be fulfilled. 

"Mary responded, 'I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.'" Luke 1:38

 4.  We can have wonderful joy today knowing God will never fail.

"...For the word of God will never fail." Luke 1:37