Life after Christmas

Study Guide

The following may help you reflect further on the message
(the points could also be used as a discussion guide at fellowship groups)

  1. How did you adapt to normal life after Christmas? How did Sunday’s message help put this in perspective? See Luke 2:21-39.
  2. If Jesus was the perfect Son of God, why was he circumcised and later baptised? Galatians 4:4-5 may help in your discussion. Notice too how many times it says in Luke 2:21-39 that Jesus or his parents fulfilled the Law (see vs.22, 23, 24, 27, and 39). Why is this significant for us?
  3. How important is it for us (living in so-called days of austerity) to reflect on the poverty of Jesus and his parents? See 2 Corinthians 8:9.
  4. How important was the work of God’s Spirit in the life of Simeon in Luke 2:25-32? How can we apply this to our situation today? How is this related to looking for life after Christmas… and longing for it?
  5. So far in Luke, we have reflected on God’s word coming prophetically to us via Gabriel, Elizabeth, Mary, Zechariah, Simeon, and Anna. Is this still necessary for us today? How is this viewed in Luke 2:30-32?
  6. Discuss the difference (if any) between having fun at Christmas and serious rejoicing in the light of Christmas (or after Christmas). How is this seen in your life right now?
  7. How does the ministry of Simeon and Anna relate to the recent case of the former Countryfile presenter Miriam O’Reilly and the BBC? How is this viewed in Psalm 92:12-15?
  8. Read John 1:10-12 and then discuss how you can begin to not only look for life after Christmas or long for life after Christmas, but to love life after Christmas… and live it!