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Pastor Thomas
A. Lyberg of St. Martin's Lutheran Church in Archbold, Ohio,
shares how using Christmas:
The Real Story during Advent sheds light on the Nativity.
"Crossways International’s
Christmas: The Real Story is the focus of the Welcome Place
Wednesday family night small group Bible class during the
four consecutive Advent Wednesdays as a follow-up to the Alpha
program,” says Pastor Lyberg. “Alpha got them
excited about faith, so then they wanted to know the faith
story in some real depth. Christmas: The Real Story
helps us better understand the culture into which Jesus was
born, the full meaning of His birth, and the difference that
makes to us today.”
"Our family nights begin at 5:15
PM with a volunteer-prepared meal. At 6:00 the kindergarten
through sixth graders gather together for small group activity-based
Bible study. Grades 7 and 8 go to their confirmation
class where the Crossways The Divine Drama® is their study
focus. The adults (usually 40 to 50 of them) meet together
as a large group for an hour, where I begin with my own PowerPoint
introduction of Christmas-related cartoons and thought-provoking
questions, followed by our chapter by chapter study of Christmas:
The Real Story and its corresponding colorful graphics. Selected
video clips, maps, actual photos from the Holy Land , and
clip art are additional resources I use in my presentations.
"We then break into small groups,
and, during the next half hour, each group’s facilitator
uses a list of discussion suggestions that I prepare.
These include:
| Discussion Starters |
Each person is asked to introduce
him or herself and then to comment on ice-breaker
type questions. (15 minutes)
- Tell us about a favorite Christmas memory.
- Share about a time when Christmas meant more to
you than just presents and a Christmas tree.
- What is your favorite Christmas song or carol?
And why?
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| Discussion Starters |
They follow the theme of each
Christmas: The Real Story chapter and build on what
was heard and seen during the large group presentation.
(15 minutes)
- Have you ever really connected what happens in the
Christmas story with the rest of Jesus’ life?
If not, why do you think that is so?
- On December 26, we begin to see Christmas trees
on the curb, decorations coming down, and by New Years,
you will find hardly a sign that Christmas even happened. Why
does this happen in people’s lives?
- Looking at Luke’s Christmas story, what do
you think about the fact that the very first people
to be told of Jesus and to see Him were those considered
to be the most unworthy?”
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“Christmas: The Real Story allows us to go beyond the
traditional Western assumptions about Jesus’ birth –
to the story from a biblical viewpoint.” says Pastor
Lyberg. “It is powerful and eye-opening!”
For more on Christmas: The
Real Story, click here.
Please contact
us with your questions (& pictures!) and tell us about
your own experiences with Crossways International's materials
and resources. |
