Preparing for Christmas How do you prepare for Christmas? People get ready for Christmas in a variety of ways. Many people rush through the stores, looking for that great last-minute gift; lights and decorations can be seen on every street, and friends and families get together to enjoy the season. One could also imagine what the first Christmas was like for for God. For him, preparing for the first Christmas meant creating a miraculous event, ordering history in such a way as to fulfill a list of promises that He had made through His prophets, and entering into the world to bring us freedom and salvation. This Holiday season at Crossroads, join us as we get ready Christmas by celebrating God and the gift that he has given Our new series, entitled “Preparing for Christmas” will be encouraging and enlightening time of fellowship and growth everyone.
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Each week we will focus on a basic teaching that we will need in order to be a successful and fruitful follower of Christ. Six days each week we will spend time reading the Bible, answering questions and writing down what Jesus and His Word teaches us. We will have one memory verse per week to hide in our minds and hearts to help us grow, and we will spend time in guided and personal prayer.
The Series: Week One - December 5-11: Why Christmas? Week Two - December 12-18: Ready for Christmas? Week Three - December 19-25: Christmas Gift Week Four - December 26 - January 2: Prophecy Update
Week One: Why Christmas? Monday, December 5 Memory Verse: Romans 5:8 God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
Bible Reading for the Day: Romans 5: 1-11 I learned from my reading today:
Going Deeper: The Bible here says that Christ has given us the opportunity to have a restored relationship with God. Why do you think that people have become “separated” from God?
Question for Journaling: Why do you think that this restored relationship is an “undeserved privilege”, as the author of this letter elucidates?
Prayer: Praise for: Request for: Forgiveness for:
Tuesday, December 6 Memory Verse: Romans 5:8 God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
Bible Reading for the Day: 1 John 3: 1-10 I learned from my reading today:
Going Deeper: How is sin defined in this passage? To whom does this passage apply?
Question for Journaling: What do you think that the spiritual state of mankind was like during the times in which these passages were being written?
Prayer: Praise for: Request for: Forgiveness for:
Wednesday, December 7 Memory Verse: Romans 5:8 God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
Bible Reading for the Day: Romans 1: 18-32 I learned from my reading today:
Going Deeper: Paul has some descriptive words to describe those who live a life which seeks to reject or ignore God. Do you see any similarities between those whom he described in his day and the world as it exists in our day?
Question for Journaling: What do you think may be some reasons why people avoid coming to grips with the reprobate nature of the human race?
Prayer: Praise for: Request for: Forgiveness for:
Thursday, December 8 Memory Verse: Romans 5:8 God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
Bible Reading for the Day: Romans 11: 1-12 I learned from my reading today:
Going Deeper: Why do you think that attempting to become saved by doing good works is a futile endeavor?
Question for Journaling: If salvation by works is a fruitless pursuit, then what do you think is the real basis upon which people must be saved?
Prayer: Praise for: Request for: Forgiveness for:
Friday, December 9 Memory Verse: Romans 5:8 God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
Bible Reading for the Day: Genesis 3: 1-19 I learned from my reading today:
Going Deeper: Adam and Eve rejected God’s instructions when presented with the free moral choice to obey him or not. How did this affect their relationship with God and with the world around them?
Question for Journaling: Verse 15 of this passage is generally considered to be a messianic prophecy. In what way did Jesus fulfill this prediction?
Prayer: Praise for: Request for: Forgiveness for:
Saturday, December 10 Memory Verse: Romans 5:8 God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
Bible Reading for the Day: Isaiah 53: 1-12 I learned from my reading today:
Going Deeper: Isaiah gives us a glimpse of the coming Messiah - more than seven hundred years prior to his birth. How did Jesus fulfill the prophecies declared in this passage?
Question for Journaling: How does it make you feel to read these passages, knowing that Jesus actually lived out these words written by Isaiah?
Prayer: Praise for: Request for: Forgiveness for:
Week Two: Ready For Christmas? Monday, December 12 Memory Verse: Isaiah 9:2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.
Bible Reading for the Day: Isaiah 9: 1-7 I learned from my reading today:
Going Deeper: How is the coming of the Messiah foretold (and described) in this passage?
Question for Journaling: What do you think is represented by the “glory” that Isaiah predicted would “fill” the region of Galilee?
Prayer: Praise for: Request for: Forgiveness for:
Tuesday, December 13 Memory Verse: Isaiah 9:2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.
Bible Reading for the Day: Luke 1: 26-38 I learned from my reading today:
Going Deeper: Why do you think that Mary responded to the angel in the way that she did?
Question for Journaling: Are you prepared to respond to God when he calls you? How?
Prayer: Praise for: Request for: Forgiveness for:
Wednesday, December 14 Memory Verse: Isaiah 9:2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.
Bible Reading for the Day: Luke 2: 36-40 I learned from my reading today:
Going Deeper: At this time, the Israelites labored under the oppressive rule of the Roman Empire. This passage mentions that people in Jerusalem were expectantly waiting for God to rescue them. What do you think that the political and social climate was like during the time that Christ was born?
Question for Journaling: Do you think that Jesus will return again? Why?
Prayer: Praise for: Request for: Forgiveness for:
Thursday, December 15 Memory Verse: Isaiah 9:2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.
Bible Reading for the Day: Galatians 4: 1-7 I learned from my reading today:
Going Deeper: In Paul’s analogy, the “child” is here represented by the requirements of obedience to the Jewish law. How did Christ’s coming usher in the “inheritance” spoken of in this example?
Question for Journaling: Do you think that God sent Jesus at “just the right time”? Why?
Prayer: Praise for: Request for: Forgiveness for:
Friday, December 16 Memory Verse: Isaiah 9:2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.
Bible Reading for the Day: Luke 2: 25-35 I learned from my reading today:
Going Deeper: Many people in Jerusalem were familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures, which foretold the coming of the Messiah. Yet, Simeon’s prophecy predicted that many would oppose Jesus. Why do you think that this was?
Question for Journaling: Do you think that our current world is ready for the return of Christ? Why or why not?
Prayer: Praise for: Request for: Forgiveness for:
Saturday, December 17 Memory Verse: Isaiah 9:2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.
Bible Reading for the Day: 1 Peter 5: 1-11 I learned from my reading today:
Going Deeper: Verse 6 of this reading reinforces the concept that God wills events in the world according to his own timetable. What does this say about his sovereign nature?
Question for Journaling: How do you feel knowing that God is ultimately in control?
Prayer: Praise for: Request for: Forgiveness for:
Week Three: Christmas Gift Monday, December 19 Memory Verse: Matthew 1: 20-21 “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
Bible Reading for the Day: Matthew 1: 18-25 I learned from my reading today:
Going Deeper: Do you take time to recognize Christmas as a time to celebrate God’s unique gift to mankind? In what ways can you do so?
Question for Journaling: What sorts of circumstances in your life can you be thankful for?
Prayer: Praise for: Request for: Forgiveness for:
Tuesday, December 20 Memory Verse: Matthew 1: 20-21 “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
Bible Reading for the Day: Matthew 11: 25-30 I learned from my reading today:
Going Deeper: Jesus appeals to his own humble and gentle spirit as he invites us into a relationship with Him. What do you know about Jesus that leads you to believe that he was humble?
Question for Journaling: Do you consider it unexpected to find that God would take on the humble nature of a human being? Why?
Prayer: Praise for: Request for: Forgiveness for:
Wednesday, December 21 Memory Verse: Matthew 1: 20-21 “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
Bible Reading for the Day: Psalm 145: 1-21 I learned from my reading today:
Going Deeper: From this reading, what ideas does the psalmist communicate about God’s character and attributes?
Question for Journaling: Do you often experience that God is “close” to you, as described in verse eighteen of this psalm? Describe how you feel about this.
Prayer: Praise for: Request for: Forgiveness for:
Thursday, December 22 Memory Verse: Matthew 1: 20-21 “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
Bible Reading for the Day: Ezekiel 36: 25-38 I learned from my reading today:
Going Deeper: How did the Lord say that he would change Israel’s spirit and circumstances?
Question for Journaling: Have you experienced the gift of a “softer” heart as a result of coming to faith in Christ?
Prayer: Praise for: Request for: Forgiveness for:
Friday, December 23 Memory Verse: Matthew 1: 20-21 “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
Bible Reading for the Day: Matthew 2: 1-12 I learned from my reading today:
Going Deeper: What two signs does Matthew record in this passage that “herald” the birth of Jesus?
Question for Journaling: What do you think that Matthew was trying to communicate about Christ through this passage?
Prayer: Praise for: Request for: Forgiveness for:
Saturday, December 24 Memory Verse: Matthew 1: 20-21 “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.
Bible Reading for the Day: John 4: 1-26 I learned from my reading today:
Going Deeper: In this passage, Christ mentions that God is “looking” for or “seeking” people who will worship him, and with authenticity. Why do you suppose that this is the case? What does this tell you about Him?
Question for Journaling: What things do you know about God that leads you to believe that He is seeking to have a relationship with us?
Prayer: Praise for: Request for: Forgiveness for:
Week Four: Prophecy Update Monday, December 26 Memory Verse: Amos 3:7 Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets.
Bible Reading for the Day: Amos 3: 1-15 I learned from my reading today:
Going Deeper: What do you believe is the main theme of this Bible passage?
Question for Journaling: For what reason do you believe that God has revealed his intentions through prophecy in the Bible?
Prayer: Praise for: Request for: Forgiveness for:
Tuesday, December 27 Memory Verse: Amos 3:7 Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets.
Bible Reading for the Day: Jonah 3: 1-10 I learned from my reading today:
Going Deeper: What was the nature of Jonah’s prophecy? How did the people of Nineveh respond?
Question for Journaling: Do you think that there can be implied conditions in some Bible prophecies? In other words, can they sometimes serve as a warning so that people may change, in order to avoid adverse circumstances? Why?
Prayer: Praise for: Request for: Forgiveness for:
Wednesday, December 28 Memory Verse: Amos 3:7 Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets.
Bible Reading for the Day: Proverbs 22: 1-16 I learned from my reading today:
Going Deeper: Does verse three of this proverb have any special meaning to you?
Question for Journaling: Have you ever experienced circumstances in which you felt unprepared to handle a difficult situation?
Prayer: Praise for: Request for: Forgiveness for:
Thursday, December 29 Memory Verse: Amos 3:7 Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets.
Bible Reading for the Day: Isaiah 46: 1-13 I learned from my reading today:
Going Deeper: In what ways did Isaiah remind the people of Israel about the differences between the false gods of the Babylonians and the one true God?
Question for Journaling: God admonished Israel to remember his past actions, especially those which he foretold. For what reasons might he have done this?
Prayer: Praise for: Request for: Forgiveness for:
Friday, December 30 Memory Verse: Amos 3:7 Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets.
Bible Reading for the Day: 2 Peter 1: 12-21 I learned from my reading today:
Going Deeper: What sorts of concepts does Peter communicate regarding the importance of scripture, especially of prophetic scripture? How does he say that scripture originates?
Question for Journaling: Are there any Bible passages that have special meaning in your life? How do they apply to you?
Prayer: Praise for: Request for: Forgiveness for:
Saturday, December 31 Memory Verse: Amos 3:7 Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets.
Bible Reading for the Day: Philippians 3: 12-21 I learned from my reading today:
Going Deeper: What is the “goal” that Paul speaks of in this passage?
Question for Journaling: Is there any specific “goal” that you can work towards in the coming year, in order to become a more fruitful follower of Christ? Develop a plan of action that you can use in order to achieve that goal.
Prayer: Praise for: Request for: Forgiveness for:
