For our group, we will be doing five sessions this Summer, focusing our study on Christmas. Please find below the materials for our study. I have provided “Additional” questions to ask. These questions will challenge you to cross reference your Bible AND extra-Biblical sources.

Session 1 – June 22nd

Prophecies

Please select ONE of the below sets of passages.

  • What is the Messiah?
    • Ezekiel 34 – Complete chapter
      • Additional question to ask: “The LORD says ‘I myself’…a lot…what does this say about the priesthood?”
  • OR … Where is the Messiah?
    • Isaiah 7:14 – The Virgin Birth
    • Micah 5:2 – Bethlehem
    • Micah 3:1 – Will come to the Temple (JtB will precede)
    • Genesis 3:15 – The First Gospel
    • Isaiah 9:6-7 – The Nature and Identity of the Child
    • Jeremiah 31:15 – Destruction in Bethlehem (slaughter of children)
    • Additional question for these passages: “What are the odds?”
  • OR … Who is the Messiah?
    • Genesis 12:3 – Abraham’s Seed
    • Genesis 49:10 – Tribe of Judah
    • Jeremiah 23:5-6 – David’s Line
    • Hosea 11:1 – Out of Egypt
    • Numbers 24:17 – Star of Jacob
    • 2 Samuel 7:12-13 – David Covenant
    • Additional question for these passages: “Matthew and Luke have two different lineages, what gives? Are they contradictory?”
  • Additional reading (not required)
    • Isaiah 53 – Complete chapter – The Suffering Servant
    • Psalm 22 – Complete chapter – A Psalm of the Crucifixion
    • Isaiah 11 – Complete chapter – The Peaceful Kingdom

Session 2 – July 6th

Holy Family Messengers

  • Matthew 1:18-25
    • Additional question to ask: “How tough was Joseph?”
  • Luke 1:26-45
    • Additional question to ask: “What is the difference between Christian understandings of the incarnation and Mormon understanding?”

Session 3 – July 20th

Birth Narrative

  • Luke 2:1-21
    • Additional question to ask: “Where did Luke get all this information?”

Session 4 – August 3rd

Adoration of the Magi

  • Matthew 2:1-12
    • Additional question to ask: “How did they know to look for that star?”

Session 5 – August 17th

Escape to Egypt & Return

  • Matthew 2:13-23
    • Additional question to ask: “Was Jesus’ family ‘undocumented migrants?'”

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