Christmas | Elizabeth - Speaking to Our Fear and Shame: Christmas in a Minor Key - Part 3

Send us Fan MailELIZABETH: SPEAKING TO OUR FEAR AND SHAMEChristmas in a Minor Key – Part 3Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith StewartDecember 18, 2022She’s just a minor character in the Christmas story but she has a major impact in how the saga unfolds. Elizabeth’s influence on the young, pregnant Mary is profound - speaking directly into her fear and shame. In fact, the conversation between these two women is the longest recorded between two female characters found anywhere in Scripture. It’s time we discover why.SERIES: Christmas in a Minor KeyIn truth, Christmas is both joyous, because of what it represents, and dark, because of the reality of the world into which Jesus was born. For people who are struggling, facing loss, or lacking in supportive families, Christmas becomes just another reminder of everything they lack. The original Christmas story is a message of hope for all people in all circumstances. Join us this December as we re-discover the real Christmas story in all its gritty, beautiful reality.DISCUSSION QUESTIONS1.) What surprised you in this message today?2.) Why do you think Mary wanted to see her relative Elizabeth? What do you think Mary hoped to get out of the visit?3.) How does Elizabeth respond to Mary and why? How else could she have responded?4.) Have you ever had someone like Elizabeth in your life? Studies have found that adolescents thrive when they have at least one strong, sustained relationship with a significant adult, this can be a coach, a teacher, an extended family member, a youth pastor, a small group leader, etc. Who besides your parents has made significant contributions to your life, especially in an area where you were struggling, growing, or learning? How did they help you? How are you different today as a result of their influence? Have you ever been that kind of person for someone else? Why or why not?5.) We often have the opposite view of blessing from Scripture. Too often, we equate blessings with money, health, and happiness. In the Bible, to be blessed was to be used by God for His kingdom purposes. How have you been Biblically blessed? Why are people so hungry to be blessed today?6.) Take a few moments to read and reflect on this quote from Henri Nouwen…“To bless means to say good things. We have to bless one another constantly…  In our society, so full of curses, we must fill each place we enter with our blessings. We forget so quickly that we are God’s beloved children and allow the many curses of our world to darken our hearts. Therefore we have to be reminded of our belovedness and remind others of theirs.” - Henri Nouwen, Life of the Beloved7.) Now take a few minutes and bless one another. Remind each other of their belovedness just for being who they are. Think beyond what people do or even what they do for you and think about what it is about them that makes them the kind of person they are. Praise and bless that quality.8.) Mary is emboldened by her time with Elizabeth and maybe even sees things about who she is and her purpose that are truly monumental – to usher in the Messiah Who would upset the status quo, reverse the warped value system of this world that elevates the rich and powerful, and deal a fatal blow to the enemy. Luke lays out a revolutionary theme in this story that is so unlike how we typically today tell the Christmas story. Even the song, “Mary, Did You Know?” is so absolutely incongruent with the understanding Mary so impressively demonstrates in Luke 1. Why do we do this to the Christmas story? What is lost when we do this? Take some time and read together the Magnificat in Luke 1.46-55. Share with one another what you glean from this passage.https://www.springcreekchurch.org/#realspringcreekchurch #christmasinaminorkey #christmas #elizabeth #mary #fear #shame