STUDY GUIDE – Thunder from the Manger

Icebreaker: Briefly share a time/instance when you were thunderstruck by the majesty of Jesus.

Sermon Title – “Thunder from the Manger” – John 1:1-17

Group Discussion

Read John 1:1-3 & John 1:14 – How do these verses reveal the majesty and mystery of Jesus as both the eternal Word and the Word made flesh? How can reflecting on these truths help us celebrate Jesus and deepen our awareness and thought processes (i.e., cerebration) regarding His significance?

Read I John 1:1-3 & Acts 4:13 – Jesus: The thunder of glory! How can we, like John and the apostles, pursue Jesus in a way that helps us see, hear, touch, and experience His glory in deeper ways in our lives? And what practical steps can we take to cultivate the courage to boldly share what we have experienced with others?

Read John 1:16-17 – Jesus: The thunder of grace and truth! John had anger issues and a self-righteous temperament; but he was transformed into a humble apostle of love by Jesus’ grace and truth. How can Jesus’ perfect balance of grace and truth help us in areas where we struggle? What are some practical ways we might embrace His grace and truth to experience life transformation. Note: You might discuss this considering a culture that embraces confusion as a virtue and considers certainty and truth to be unfounded.

Read John 1:18, John 14:6-11, & 1 John 4:12-16 – The thunder of God; a deeper understanding through Jesus! When you look into the manger, what do you see or hear about God’s character, His love, and His purpose for you through the gift of Jesus and salvation? How does this deepen your own understanding of who Jesus is and how you are called to respond to Him? What do you see or hear about your purpose in discipling others (e.g., family members, friends, others…)?

Spiritual Discipline: Take time to study our other sermon resources that support this message on “Thunder from the Manger” at: Church Center / Home / Sermon Resources

Action Steps: Start by (1) Cerebration: Reflect on the truths shared in this study guide considering how Jesus reveals God’s glory, grace, and truth, (2) Transformation: Identify areas in your life where you need Jesus’ grace and truth, and pray specifically for Him to transform those areas as He did for the Apostle John, and (3) Celebration: Look at the manger with fresh eyes, celebrating Jesus as the “thunder of God” by sharing His love and truth with others through acts of kindness and engaging in meaningful conversations about His glory.