Family/Group Study Notes for Week of December 27, 2020
Living the Incarnation

Over the last several weeks we have talked about the Incarnation, God becoming one of us through Jesus – being fully God and fully man. We have shown Jesus as God incarnate, Jesus as fully human, Jesus as crucified King, and Jesus as Savior for us. What does it mean that Jesus came to earth as a human to be with us? What does it mean for you personally?

In John 20:19-22, Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to the disciples and to us: Jesus said to them again, ”Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” In vs. 21, how did God send Jesus? Why did Jesus send the Holy Spirit and give us Peace in our sending? What stops us from going as Jesus went?

In what ways have you gone out to the world? What has stopped us from being sent out this year to our friends, neighbors, and the world? How has this year been different than others?

As one year ends and another begins, what are your hopes and concerns for 2021 as you look to live out the incarnation?

Read John 11:38-44. Jesus calls out Lazarus to be alive and unbound, to take off his grave clothes. We are often like Lazarus, living as if we are still dead. But Jesus calls us to take off our grave clothes and to be alive to go into the world. How does this story relate to our life living incarnationally? What are the grave clothes that you are wearing that hold you back from living incarnationally this coming year?

In a very practical sense, how can you live incarnationally in the midst of a pandemic? We all want to go back to “normal”, but it seems normal has shifted. How are you able to live your life more openly? How do you plan on taking the incarnation out into the world? What are three things you can do to live incarnationally?