CONNECT: How could we grow in our service to others to be more like Jesus over advent?

WARM-UP

1. What do you think is the best thing about being human? What do you think is the most challenging?
2. Do you think people find it more challenging to acknowledge Jesus as human or divine?

Read Hebrews 2:14-16

1. As you think through the New Testament accounts of Jesus’ life, how do we see his humanity?
2. As you think through the New Testament accounts of Jesus’ life, how do we see his divinity?
3. What does it mean to you to know that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine?
4. What does the author mean by, “the children have flesh and blood”? Why was it necessary for Jesus to also share in our humanity?
5. How did Jesus ‘help’ us (along with all of ‘Abraham’s descendants’)? How can that fill us with wonder?
6. If Jesus is fully human, in what ways can he sympathise with us? How does that bring you comfort?
7. How did Jesus suffer when he was tempted? How can Jesus help us when we are tempted? Practically, how can we better: (a) recognise that we need help in those situations; and (b) come to him?
8. In your own devotional life, how does (or could) remembering Jesus’ humanity help shape your prayer?
9. If Jesus is fully God, in what ways can he know and help us? How does that shape your life as worship?
10. Who holds the power of death? How is it a form of slavery? How does Jesus break those bonds?
11. Have you ever thought of yourself as a slave? If so, in what way? What does it mean to you to be free?
12. Do you ever have a tendency to emphasise one aspect of Jesus’ nature over the other (i.e., you might tend to emphasise his humanity over his divinity, or his divinity over his humanity)? Why so?
13. What can it look like to emphasise Jesus’ humanity over his divinity? How might that be a problem?
14. What can it look like to emphasise Jesus’ divinity over his humanity? How might that be a problem?
15. As you prepare to celebrate Christmas, how can you be reminded that Jesus is both fully human and fully God?

APPLY: What is one way that your prayer life this week can reflect both Jesus’ humanity and divinity more richly?

On Your Frontline This Week: Ask someone what is the most challenging moment of Christmas?

Listen, Watch, and Read:          

• WATCH: Seminary Now: Talks on Advent
• LISTEN: “The Suffering Son” by William Taylor
• LISTEN: “And was made Man” by John Stott
• LISTEN: Handel’s Messiah
  

SERIES Resources:

• Series Overview (PDF & Audiobook)
• Read: “The God who Became Human” by Graham Cole
• Read: “On the Incarnation” by Athanasius
• Read: “What Christians Ought to Believe” by Michael Bird
• Read: “Is Christmas Unbelievable” by Rebecca McLaughlin
• Watch: “The Word Becomes Human” by the Bible Project
• Watch: “The Incarnation (Spoken Word)” by Humble Word
• Listen: A Carols Playlist (curated by the St Bartʼs staff team)