Small Group Discussion

Take time in your small group this week to look at Jesus’ childhood. Most of what we read in these passages is descriptive – they give the facts of what happened. But if possible we’d like to go beyond just knowing the facts. What can we infer and apply to our own lives based on what we read? Is there anything prescriptive? From our passages this week you can discuss with your group: 

  • The trip to Bethlehem
  • Jesus’ dedication at the temple – the role that his parents played in bringing him to the house of God, and the sensitivity of Simeon in recognizing the significance of this special child 
  • Jesus’ growth and development
  • The challenges Jesus’ parents faced as he went AWOL to pursue His calling
  • The significance of Jesus’ (and our own) baptism
  • For the next few weeks, the devotional material will be light so we can put more emphasis on using the passage with the HEAR method. Use what you glean from your personal devotion time to share in the discussion with your group. If you aren’t in a group we’d love to help you connect with one. Contact jon@mybelmont.org or go to mybelmont.org/smallgroups

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

Today’s post is by Jon Price

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Baptized

Matthew 3:13-17

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:
  • Jesus’ baptism was a testimony to His obedience and confirmation of His identity. What similarities can you draw from your own baptism?
  • If you haven’t been baptized yet, what is your hesitation? We love to talk to you more about it! Just reach out to jon@mybelmont.org 

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you?
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

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Challenges in Parenting the Messiah

Luke 2:41-52

“Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:
  • As a parent, where should the balance lie in protecting your child and keeping them close, and giving them space to grow into who they were created to be?
  • How would you have handled the situation if you were Joseph or Mary? Would your behavior change if you were raising a ‘normal’ child?

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

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Jesus’ Growth

Luke 2:39-40

“And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.”

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following question:

  • How does the development and growth of Jesus affect your thinking about your own? 

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

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Jesus Dedicated at the Temple

Luke 2:22-35

“And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”

And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

While using the HEAR method (see below) consider the following questions:

  • Simeon was sensitive to the appearance of the promised messiah. What are ways that you can be diligent in listening for a word from God?

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you?
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

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Our Focus for the Week

Luke 2:1-7

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn.”

For the next several weeks we are going to focus on aspects of the life of Christ. These devotions will lean heavily on the passages. We may insert our thoughts from time to time, but we want the Bible to speak for itself through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

So, as you read these passages use the H.E.A.R. method to work through them. Allow the Spirit to speak to you and teach you about Jesus. This will help us all as we learn to live and love like Him. 

Each Monday, I will give an overview of our focus for the week and prayerfully prepare our hearts for each day, as well as our Sunday gatherings. 

This week our focus is on the Childhood of Jesus. You would think that every moment of the Son of God would be captured and shared, like grandma’s photo album or Instagram feed, but the Bible doesn’t say much about His childhood. One would also wonder why some things were part of the story, while others left out. For example, there are several chapters on Jesus’ birth, several verses on hiding in Egypt for two years, dedication at the Temple, and hanging with the religious crowd at 12 years old.

Only God knows all the reasons, but one is clear. The point of the Bible and Jesus’ life is not to fill up Instagram with stories for us to admire. The point is the death, burial, and resurrection of the sinless Son of God to forgive sinful humans. So, all other highlights merely prove that Jesus is the Son of God and has the power to save. These passages are amazing and speak God’s power into us today. So, work through each passage and hear God speak.

Use the HEAR method while spending time with today’s passage. 

Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you?
Explain – what does the passage means
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?

Today’s post is by Pastor Stephen Williams

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