STUDY GUIDE – Happy Christmas?

Icebreaker: Share your favorite thing (e.g., food/drink, activity, event) that brings you temporary happiness.

Sermon Title – Happy Christmas? – Luke 2:8-14

Group Discussion

Read Luke 2:8-10 – Happiness is rooted in your happenings, but joy is rooted in the Savior: King Jesus. How does the message of the angel to the shepherds in these verses challenge our understanding of joy versus happiness? How can the Savior’s arrival redefine where we find our lasting sense of fulfillment and peace in our world today? If you have examples of joy vs. happiness, please share with the group or study partner.

Read Luke 4:38-44 – Joy comes when we understand that Jesus is the ultimate healer. How can recognizing and embracing Jesus as the ultimate healer physically, emotionally, and spiritually transform the way we view our deepest needs and challenges? Practically speaking, how can this mentality bring joy even when our circumstances can appear hopeless? (Perhaps discuss this considering Justin’s sermon illustration of Caden).

Read Luke 5:27-28 – Joy comes when we understand that Jesus is the ultimate friend. How can embracing Jesus as our ultimate friend help us in times of loneliness? How can it shape the way we extend friendship to others, especially those who are marginalized? Consider ways you, or your group, may be able to minister to someone in need of friendship and compassion, and make a plan to follow through.

Read Luke 14:16-23 – Joy comes when we understand that Jesus is the ultimate prize. What barriers might prevent us from fully embracing Jesus as our greatest treasure? How can we overcome those obstacles in our lives? What might it look like in our lives to acknowledge Jesus as the greatest invitation and the most valuable prize, especially when other distractions or priorities distort this truth? Discuss potential distractions and strategies to overcome those distractions and likely setbacks we may experience in life.

Spiritual Discipline: Take time to study our other sermon resources that support this message on “good news of great joy” at: Church Center / Home / Sermon Resources

Action Steps: The problem with the pursuit of happiness is this: it is temporary. But, when you look into that stable and see the Savior in that manger, and you surrender to King Jesus, you find something better than happiness; you find great joy. So, (1) Seek Jesus Daily: Spend time in prayer and scripture to root your joy in His presence, not your circumstances, (2) Shift Your Focus: Identify areas where you rely on temporary happiness and ask Jesus to help you prioritize His eternal joy, and (3) Share the Joy: Look for opportunities to extend Jesus’s love and invite others to experience His lasting joy.