July 15, 2003
FSM 379; Special Action FSM #13
A collection of Word studies, anecdotes, and activities to be shared with others
Copyright © November 2001 by The Family — CM/FM
Cover by Kristen.
Dear Family,
We love you and pray that your witnessing this Christmas 2001 will be the best ever! Since many of you now have Activated groups, Bible studies, and Active members coming over for classes or Word studies, we felt it could be helpful to offer some additional Christmas class/study material for your Bible classes and get-togethers.
This FSM is meant to be a teaching aid; it’s not meant to be given to your Active members or students in hand. Throughout this mag you’ll find notes to the teacher, with suggestions, tips, and some ideas of how to use the included material. Please feel free to pick and choose what best suits the needs of your study group, friends, and contacts, as the Lord leads. You may need to adapt some of the material or give more explanation, depending on your audience.
Along with this FSM, you’ll find a GP booklet entitled Christmas Celebration, which contains a fairly milky selection of the material in this mag. If you’re giving a Christmas Bible study class based on material in this FSM, you may want to photocopy the GP booklet and give copies to your students. You’re also welcome to give this GP booklet to your friends, contacts, and sheep, or mail it to those who you aren’t able to minister to in person this Christmas. (Be sure to read it yourself first!)
We pray that this FSM and the accompanying GP booklet, combined with the wealth of Christmas material already available to you from previous pubs, will provide a good variety of material for feeding your sheep this Christmas season.
We love you!
Love,
Your WS Family
Note: These first five Christmas messages can be used as the main sermon or Word portion of your class or Bible study.
Christmas Message #1
Topic: Personal message of unconditional love and care from Jesus, including a salvation prayer; adapted from Christmas Gifts for You GP tract
Audience: Good for all, but especially for new students or a group of people who are on different levels of feeding
(Jesus speaking:) Celebrations around the world! Happy holidays! Festivities! It is a time for giving, a time for gifts! And yet, what is this I see? I see people searching for love. I see people without any true Christmas gifts. I see people everywhere, running here and running there, desperately looking for some little ray of hope, a little love, a little mercy, a little relief, some kind of salvation. And amidst all this, I couldn’t help but notice you sitting there, wondering, Does anybody really care? Well, yes! I care! And I love you!
I’ve had My eye on you for a long time now. I’ve always loved you, and I always will. In fact, I care for you so dearly that I come with special gifts straight from My heart to yours. You won’t find these gifts in any shop or mall. They cannot be sold or bought for a price, and yet they are priceless and rare. Those who possess them are most richly blessed.
Love, joy, peace—these are My special gifts for you! Love that knows no boundaries. Love that does not judge you by the color of your skin, your place in society, the way you look, or how you speak. Love that gives. Love that shares. Love that cares. Love that is alive, vibrant, warm, and kind. Love that is unconditional and forever.
Love that is patient in a world of intolerance. Love that is understanding when others fail to see into your heart. Love that is kind and tender, when all else around you seems cold and hard. Love that comforts you in your sorrow, that consoles you when you’re lonely, that gives you a helping hand when you’re down. Love that is full of happiness and laughter. Love that brings peace in the midst of stormy weather. Love that always finds a way.
My love is always there for you—any place, any time, day or night. My love will descend to any depth to save, go any length to rescue. It knows no stopping place; it knows no limit in giving. I give you My love, infinite and true.
My love brings peace of mind when you are confused, rest when you are weary, and strength when you feel you cannot go on. My love will calm your fears and give you courage in the face of despair. My love can heal when your body is broken; it can soothe your heartaches and pain. My love will ease your mind when it is troubled and weary; it will melt away tension, worry, and strain.
My love is My Christmas gift for you. It’s always been there for you. Will you take it now?
I can’t promise you will never have heartaches, disappointments, or worries as you walk down the road of life. But I can promise that I’ll give you encouragement, instruction, guidance, wisdom, and the strength you need to come through. I promise to never leave your side. Together we’ll survive any difficulty, overcome any weakness, hurdle any obstacle. My love is power—power to do and power to be.
I know, I love, and I care for you, as if you were the only one in the world. That’s the reason I came to Earth on Christmas Day—to give My great love to you. I want you to have abundant love in your life. I want you to be free from sorrow.
You may ask, In these modern times so grim and bleak, who could possibly care for me so much? In these days when so many people’s love has grown cold, who can I really trust? Where do I look? Who do I believe? This sounds so good, but is it a sham? How could anyone have so much love, and all for free?
Well, all I ask is that you give Me a chance. Try Me and see. Just hold out your hand, and let Me place My gifts of love there. Don’t worry, but simply receive. And in the end, you will see just how happy you’ll be.
Come talk to Me, anywhere, anytime, anyplace, any way you prefer. Talk to Me out loud, or whisper softly if you like. Speak to Me in words, or just send Me your thoughts, signaling Me from your heart in the rush of the day or in the stillness of the night. Any way you feel comfortable is fine with Me. You can tell Me anything you want, and I will understand. I’m here for you, with a listening ear, sympathy and understanding.
All you have to do is say yes. Just open your heart, reach out and receive. Call on Me and I’ll come to your aid with My free gifts, My Christmas gifts for you. Just say, I take You, Jesus. I want all Your gifts, and a life that is full and free. Give me Your gifts of love, joy and peace. Show me the way. Show me how to live, and how to act along my way. It’s just that simple. I’ll do the rest.
Please don’t wait too long. I have wonderful things in store for you, if you’ll give Me a chance.
And when your life on Earth is done, I’ll bring you home with Me—home to My country, Heaven, where there is no pain, no sorrow, confusion or war. Here there is no fear, no hatred, no greed or strife, only My free, abundant gifts of love, and much, much more. All you have to do is say yes and accept them. I’ll be waiting.
I love you,
Jesus
Christmas Message #2
Topic: Jesus, the Giver of Peace, in light of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the U.S. and the ensuing conflict
Audience: Good for all; presentation is a bit more formal
Glory to God in the Highest! Peace on Earth to men of good will. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.
Although peace has been the goal of mankind for thousands of years—and the desire for peace is never so great as it is at Christmas—it seems that our ability to find or establish peace continues to elude us.
Today, after the end of the Cold War, bloody hostilities continue on nearly every continent, reaching global proportions once again after the terrorist attacks of September 11th in New York City, Washington, D.C., and near Pittsburgh. As Pete Seeger’s well-known folk song from the ‘60s asked, Where have all the flowers gone? When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?
True peace on every level—from international conflicts to our personal lives—has become more difficult than ever to achieve.
In the Bible, the word peace means much more than the absence of conflict. It carries with it the connotation of health and well-being. In the Old Testament, two Hebrew words, shalom (peace) and shalem (health or full), contained this concept of the word. Peace included inner (spiritual, emotional) peace, health, abundance, harmony with life on every level—even in the midst of storm, when life’s problems seem to snuff out any kind of peace.
In the New Testament, the Greek word eirene is used to describe peace over 100 times. For example, the expression go in peace means stay warm and eat well (James 2:16). On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus said to His disciples: Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27).
As in the Old Testament, peace means much more than the mere absence of conflict in society.—It means a very real inner sense of well-being that originates with God and is given as a precious commodity to each of us who receive the Prince of Peace—Jesus—without Whom there simply is no peace! This means peace for you personally, both in your own personal life and in your relations with others! The peace of God which passes all understanding is very real and practical! You can receive it today! There’s no need to wait for man’s fragile peace, which never lasts anyway!
Even though all around you is war and confusion, you can have peace in your own heart through the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. Even though there’s war and turmoil and confusion and chaos on the outside, at last you’ve got rid of it on the inside.—And the Lord is able to keep you right in the middle of it all. So you don’t ever have to worry!
Jesus never sleeps! He watches all the time, along with all of His angels! He knows every hair of your head. Everything is in His hands. As the old hymn goes, He hideth my soul in the cleft of the Rock [Jesus], that shadows a dry, thirsty land; He hideth my life in the depths of His love, and covers me there with His hand.
So the Lord’s able to keep you, no matter where you are! And if He decides He’d rather take you than take care of you, then you’ve got it made one way or the other! For our lives are hid with Christ in God (Col. 3:3), and You shall keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You (Isa.26:3).
He is your peace. Your help comes from Him. In Him is your confidence. You must put your confidence in Him—the soundest base in the world!—Jesus! Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast! There shall your heart be happy, there will you find sweet rest!
This Christmastime, Jesus is earnestly reaching out to every soul on Earth, offering true peace, comfort, and eternal life and love. He offers the priceless gift of salvation.
If you haven’t yet received Jesus into your heart, accept Him now. It’s His Christmas present to you. If you have already accepted Him into your heart, why don’t you in turn share the peace, comfort, and eternal life He offers with someone else this Christmas?
May we truly be the peacemakers He wants us to be this Christmas, spreading His message of love and hope.
Note: If there are people in attendance who have not yet received Jesus, be sure to allow ample opportunity for them to pray the salvation prayer with you.
Christmas Message #3
Topic: A message from Jesus, telling the story of the eternal chain of love, set in motion on the day of Jesus’ birth
Audience: Those who are already saved and can be challenged to give more of themselves to Jesus and others
Note: During the reading of this message, you can pause at key points where Jesus asks everyone to take a moment to ponder. This could make the reading more meaningful.—But don’t let the pause last too long.
(Jesus speaking:) I came to Earth because I love you. I gave up everything I had—all the power, glory and splendor of Heaven—to come and make the precious treasure of salvation and eternal life available to you. I had the whole universe in My possession, but I was incomplete without giving you My love and receiving your love. By choosing to come and live and die for you, I knew I could look forward to the most precious of all gifts—your love.
Long, long ago, on that first Christmas, I started an eternal chain of love, which I am depending on you to continue. My gift of salvation is for anyone who will receive it, and I long for every soul on Earth to come to know Me and My love for them. Yet I have chosen to work through other human souls. My message has always been and will always be passed on and shared by the mouths and hands and feet and deeds of those who have chosen to be My friends, My followers, My disciples.
Throughout the ages, hundreds of thousands of My followers have given of themselves to continue this chain of love. Some have given little, some have given much, and some have given all. Yet each gave something, as much as they would, as much as I led them to and as much as they had the faith and desire for, to continue this chain of love. Some spread My message to thousands or millions. Some taught the truth to just one or two. But all were a part, all were needed, and My great worldwide chain of love that is now growing and being strengthened would not have been complete without each one playing a part.
There have been times when I looked back and thought about how things might have been had I not chosen to come and live and die as a man on Earth. But never once have I looked back with regret or wished I had done anything differently. Even that first night, when I was born in that lowly manger, when the angels sang and the Christmas star beamed its message across the sky, I knew beyond all doubt that it was going to be worth it all.
Winning your love was worth sacrificing everything else. As God, I could have created you to automatically love Me, or I could have made you perfect and sinless and made it so that you would be guaranteed a place in Heaven. Yet I knew the deep truth all along that love which is forced and not freely given is no love at all.
Love is all about giving. Giving is not merely an act of love; it is the essence of love. There is no true love without giving. There is no true love without sacrifice. This is what I taught you on the day I came down from Heaven. This is the true spirit of Christmas—giving, caring, sharing.
Giving always costs, but giving is always richly rewarded. There is no satisfaction of spirit like that given to the unselfish and sacrificial soul. Those who are willing to give of their time, their possessions, and their very selves, are those who will find the greatest fulfillment known to mankind—here and now on Earth, and in the Heavenly realm beyond.
Time to reflect
During this Christmas season, I want you to think about giving. I want you to remember what I gave you by coming down to Earth, and what I have given to you personally since then—the little things and the big things; the prayers I answered quickly, and those that took some time in coming but which you can now see My hand in. Take some time to reflect on your life from the perspective of all that you have received from Me.
Now I want you to ponder what you have given to others. Think of all the times you chose to make the happiness and welfare of another more important than your own. Think of the times you sacrificed, the times you reached out to another even when it was difficult.
Then think of the rewards I gave you. You may not have always realized how you were rewarded, because the connection isn’t always so clear, or maybe in some cases the reward for your giving hasn’t been completed. But as you think and pray, you will realize that in each instance your giving was rewarded in some way, because I always reward giving. There are no exceptions.
Now I want you to think about the future. Think about the promises I have made to you that you haven’t yet seen fulfilled. Look forward to their fulfillment with anticipation, knowing that I love to give even more than you love to receive!
Now think about what you will give to others this year. Pray about who needs something that you have within you or beside you to give. Think of the positive, beautiful, wonderful effects that will come about, not only in the lives of those you give to, but in your own life. Think of how I will smile with joy when I see you doing your part to strengthen the great chain of love.
I don’t want My chain of love to simply exist.—I want it to grow longer and stronger. I want it to encompass the whole Earth! I want everyone to have a chance to be part of it. I want My Spirit of love to touch every life. I want the beauty of the gift of giving to be known to every person. For there is no greater joy than to truly give from the heart.
So give, My children, and it will be given to you. Give of Me. Give of yourself. Give of what you have to offer. Give My Words to others. Give the touch of My Spirit to everyone you possibly can. Above all things, give love.
Let your lights so shine in this world that grows darker and darker. Be one of My Christmas candles, shining its beam to pierce the darkness. The heat of My love can warm the darkest and coldest of hearts. This warmth of My Spirit is a part of you; it lives within you. You can make your very life a tribute to the greatest gift that was ever given—the gift that keeps on giving, and will never ever stop.
Note: This could be a good time to pose the oft-asked questions from our traditional New Year’s Candlelight Ceremony, to get your group thinking about the New Year, and how they will apply the above message in their lives.
New Year’s Candlelight Questions
What are you the most thankful for in the past year?
What is your desire or wish for the year ahead? Or, following the thread of the above prophecy: What do you want to ask the Lord to help you to commit to, as a gesture of love for all He’s done for you?
What verse would you like to claim for the year ahead to help strengthen you in your commitment to do your part for the Lord and others?
Christmas Message #4
Topic: Let Jesus adorn you with the gifts of His Spirit this Christmas; give Him the gifts He desires
Audience: Those who are already saved; encouraging them to give, to draw closer to Jesus, to spend extra time with Him during this season
During this Christmas season, let Jesus adorn your life with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It’s His birthday, but just as His being born on the Earth was a great gift to all of mankind, so He wishes to keep on giving His love, until it spreads throughout the Earth.
Just as the Christmas tree is adorned with lovely, bright decorations, let Jesus fill your life with the beauty of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God will light up your life, so that you overflow with the beauty of Christ on to everyone you meet.
Christmas is a commercial holiday in most parts of the world today. But Jesus calls us to rise above the commercialism, and to take extra time in meditation with Him during this busy month. Then, as you go on your way, as you work, as you shop, as you interact with friends and strangers, you can carry some of His Christmas glow with you no matter what you’re doing. This will touch other lives, and if you accompany the glow with a word or a tract, a poster or a song, then you will be doing your part to change hearts and lives with our Savior’s Christmas love this year.
You and Jesus are close and intimate friends. Let every day of this season be a wonderful cycle of exchanging gifts between you and Jesus. Each time He gives you a gift, give Him a gift in return. As you pause each morning to be filled with the gifts of the Spirit, you can then go throughout your day, giving Jesus the gifts He desires most by spreading His love to those you meet. This is the best gift that you can give Jesus. Then, not to be outdone, He will bestow even more gifts upon you—love, joy, peace, happiness, the resolution of problems, and the calming of your nerves. He has so much to give you, a never-ending supply of power and love to get you through the daily challenges of living.
Begin the cycle right now. Receive the renewed gift of Jesus’ love into your heart. Breathe deeply of the air of the Holy Spirit. Let this time be sacred between you and Jesus. Recommit yourself to Him this Christmas.
Christmas Message #5
Topic: Basic story of Jesus’ birth, mission, and the Christmas gift that He offers the world; includes a salvation prayer
Audience: Good for all, especially for new students or a group of people who are on different levels of feeding
Who is this Man of Love we see
Who cheers the children’s hearts?
So loving, kind and caring He,
What peace this Man imparts!
Although the story of His birth
Is told time and again,
Do we know why He came to Earth,
This Man from Bethlehem?
And of His Cross we’ve oft been told
How He was lifted high.
What mystery does His story hold,
Why did He have to die?
Witnesses said He rose from the dead,
Ascending to Heaven above,
And that in the sky He’ll return with a cry
To gather His children of love!
Who is this amazing Man of Love?—His name is Jesus, and He wants you to know that He loves you! Jesus is no ordinary man. Nor is He merely a great teacher, rabbi, guru or even a prophet. Unlike the other great religious teachers who came before or after Him, Jesus not only spoke about love and spoke about God, He was love and He was the Son of God, so He really knew what He was talking about!
The Bible tells us God is a Spirit and God is Love (John 4:24; 1John 4:8). God is the almighty Spirit of Love who created all things. He is the power of the universe, so great and so mighty that He is far beyond our limited human understanding! But He loves us very much and wanted us to be able to know and love Him. So to show us His love and to help us to understand Him, He sent His Own Son, Jesus, to Earth in the form of a man, so that we could see through Jesus what God Himself is like.
Jesus was miraculously conceived in the womb of a humble virgin named Mary, and took on the form of human flesh. Although the Child was ordained to be a King—in fact, the King of kings—He was not born in a plush palace with distinguished members of the court in attendance. Instead, He was born on the dirty floor of a barn, amidst the cattle and the asses, where He was wrapped in rags and laid to sleep in the animals’ feed trough!
Jesus’ earthly father was a carpenter, a humble hewer of wood, with whom Jesus lived and labored for the first 30 years of His life, conforming to our human ways, customs and language so that He might understand and love us better. He saw suffering and had great compassion, longing to not only heal people’s sick and broken bodies, but also to save their immortal spirits!
Jesus spent His life going around everywhere doing good—feeding people who were hungry, healing those who were sick, cheering and comforting those who were sad and brokenhearted. He loved everybody, even the poorest of the poor and those who everybody else looked down on.
His religion of love was so simple that He said, You must become as little children to receive it! (Matthew 18:3). As His message of love spread and His followers multiplied, the established religion and its jealous leaders realized what a threat this formerly unknown carpenter had become to them! They finally had Jesus arrested and brought to trial on false charges of sedition and subversion. And though the governor found Jesus innocent, he was persuaded by these powerful religionists to execute Him! But three days after Jesus’ lifeless body was laid to rest in a cold tomb, He rose from the dead, the Victor over death and Hell forever!
Have you received the original Christmas gift, God’s gift of love to you? His name is Jesus, and you can have Him and all He has to give right now, if you’ll simply pray this little prayer and ask Him to come into your heart: Dear Jesus, I thank You for living and dying for me. I believe that You are God’s Son Who was born to show His love for me. I need Your love in my life. Jesus, please forgive me for all my wrong-doing. I now ask You to please come into my heart and give me Your gift of eternal life! In Jesus’ name I ask. Amen.
Jesus can turn an empty Merry Xmas into a joyous Christmas!—And your Happy New Year wishes into happy new life realities! So receive Jesus now!—Then you can enjoy Him and Heaven forever!
Christmas Bible Studies
Note: If your classes are based around an Activated mag, it’s helpful to put copies of the Activated mag in the hands of your group. That not only helps them to follow along, but it also reminds them of how good the mag is. It gives them incentive to sell it to their friends, and it shows them how they can use the Activated magazines to feed others.
Topic: The Announcement of Jesus’ Birth to Mary (Luke 1:26-38)
Reading material needed: Luke 1:26-38
Audience: Good for all
Icebreaker #1: If I told you that you (or your parents) were to have a child this year, how would you react?
(This is to get people starting to imagine how it must have been for Joseph and Mary, as well as to share interesting details of their own lives.)
Icebreaker #2: What is a recent surprise that you have experienced: A job promotion? A new addition to the family? Your child did above what you expected in school? You joined this Bible study?
(This is to hit on the surprise factor, to help them feel how Mary must have felt.)
When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary of Nazareth (Luke 1:26-38), she was a young girl—perhaps no more than 16 years old. His startling announcement—that she would soon bear the very Son of God—meant the end of a normal life. Mary’s name would forever be on the lips of gossips and rumormongers. Joseph, her husband-to-be, could decide to end their betrothal through a public, humiliating denunciation and repudiation of the betrothal vows. Even if he put her away secretly (Matthew 1:19), she would still have to return in shame to her father’s home or else survive on her own by whatever means she could as a single mother.
Faced with these discouraging prospects that she had neither caused nor sought, Mary would have had plenty of reason to balk at Gabriel’s message. Instead, she yielded and accepted her assignment: Let it be to me according to Your Word (Luke 1:38). Her response was submissive obedience to the clearly revealed will of God. She simply saw it as her duty as one of the Lord’s people (Romans 12:2), as difficult as she knew it would be.
* Read Luke 1:26-38 aloud and discuss the following questions in your group:
What was Mary’s initial reaction to the appearance of the angel?
fear
curiosity
confusion
doubt
faith
concern
If you had been Mary, what would have been hardest to comprehend?
being chosen by God
becoming pregnant while remaining a virgin
believing Who her child was going to be
knowing how to explain this to others, especially to Joseph, and his and her families
How do you think Mary felt about giving birth to Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah?
scared
honored
burdened
overjoyed
lonely
clueless
My understanding of Who Jesus is:
came as an explosive insight of inspiration
came over time
has begun and is still coming
hasn’t come very clearly yet
other: ________________
What point about Jesus sticks out to you the most?
His conception—of the Holy Spirit and a virgin
His nature—God’s only begotten Son
His authority—as the King of kings
His mission—as Savior (Jesus means the Lord saves)
His love—that He would love me so much as to die in my place
If an angel was to reveal God’s will for my life today, I would:
ask a lot of questions
wonder if I had any say in it
be amazed that God could use me
worry about my ability to do it
run away scared
tell the angel I would rather not know my future, thank you
Who was the angel or instrument the Lord sent to help explain the truth about Jesus to you?
In what area of your life do you need the faith to believe that nothing is impossible with God? What keeps you from believing Him?
What did you think of Jesus and His birth when you were younger? What do you think of Jesus and His birth now?
How do you feel about being in a Bible study group and learning what it means to believe in Jesus?
eager
nervous
out of place
embarrassed
cautious
comfortable
How would you describe your relationship with or commitment to the Lord at this point in your life?
I have lots of questions
I’m still recovering from bad experiences in the past
I feel attracted to Jesus but I’m not sure what that involves
I’m committed to the Lord and want to find out all I need to know
Other: ______________________.
Topic: Mary Visits Elizabeth
Reading material needed: Luke 1:39-56
Audience: For women
Icebreaker #1: Who do you usually call first when you have good news to share?
Icebreaker #2: (To parents:) How did you announce your pregnancy or the birth of your first child?
The angel Gabriel had already appeared to Mary, telling her that although she was a virgin, she would become the mother of the Messiah. The angel also reported that Mary’s relative, Elizabeth, was also pregnant. Elizabeth was six months pregnant with the child who would later be known as John the Baptist.
Mary took practical action by visiting Elizabeth at this time. It wouldn’t be surprising if she helped Elizabeth by preparing items for the coming baby, even as she made or acquired what she would need in her new home with Joseph. We can imagine that Mary learned much from this older, spiritually mature woman as she listened to her and observed her marriage to Zacharias.
* Read Luke 1:39-56 aloud and discuss the following questions in your group:
Why did Mary go to Elizabeth’s house?
for a little female bonding
to share her exciting news
to have some inspiring fellowship with another pregnant mom
to get some advice from an older and wiser relative
to get away from the gossip of her illegitimate pregnancy
Why did Elizabeth’s baby leap in her womb when Mary arrived?
he was obviously a hyperactive child
he was overjoyed
the Lord was showing how special these babies were
it was all in Elizabeth’s imagination
Why did God choose Mary to give birth to His Son?
she was at the right place at the right time
she earned the honor by her love for the Lord and good sample
God had her in mind from the beginning
only God knows why He did
How do you think Mary saw herself?
a lowly servant
a surrogate mother
an ordinary person
greatly blessed
deserving of her recognition
as someone who would never be forgotten
What do you need to share with an Elizabeth in your life right now?
a victory I’ve been wanting to share
a trial or burden I need to counsel about
some questions or doubts about the Word or myself
just a good time
Which of the words in Mary’s song (the Magnificat) best describes how you are feeling about your spiritual life?
full of praise
humble
blessed
proud
lifted up
filled
hungry
empty
* Closing questions:
What do you most appreciate about Mary?
she had a humble background
she had a humble spirit
she was very thankful to the Lord for all her blessings
she had the faith to believe that the amazing things she heard would all come to pass
she didn’t let what others might think about her (like getting pregnant out of wedlock) control her
In what ways would you like to be more like Mary?
Do you have someone to share your heart with like Mary had with Elizabeth?
Topic: There Is Born a Child!—The Birth of King Jesus!
Reading material needed: Luke 2:1-20
Audience: Good for all
Icebreaker #1: When does your Christmas tree go up? Who trims it? How? What other traditions do you observe from your childhood?
Icebreaker #2: What dawn of a new day are you looking forward to in the coming year?
The birth of Jesus was anything but routine! Christmas is the time to celebrate the day that the great Creator of the universe sent His greatest gift to the world, in the form of a tiny, weak, and helpless infant. With that baby came a message of love, hope and salvation for all people everywhere.
This holy child was born to a simple, humble girl, who conceived miraculously, having never slept with any man. And though He was ordained to be a king—in fact the King of kings—He was not born in a plush palace with prestigious members of the court in attendance. There was no honor and praise accorded Him from the establishment of the day. Instead, He was born on the floor of a barn, amidst the cattle and asses, wrapped in rags and laid to rest in the animals’ feed trough.
His birth brought no great fanfare or official recognition from the institutions and governments of man. But that night on a nearby hillside, a motley crew of poor shepherds were awestruck as a brilliant light burst upon them from the starry sky and a multitude of angels filled the night with their heavenly declaration and song: Glory to God in the highest! Peace on Earth to men of good will! For unto you this day is born a Savior, Christ the Lord! (Luke 2:11-14).
Wouldn’t it have been much more respectable and acceptable for the King of kings, Jesus, to have been born in a palace, with illustrious members of the court in attendance, and with all the honor and praise of the System—instead of on the dirty floor of a barn under the cows and asses, and the smell of all those animals, wrapped in rags and lying in a feed trough, with a motley crew of poor little shepherd boys kneeling on the floor beside Him?
The manger has been so glorified by Man since then, that they’ve forgotten what it was used for!—Nothing but a rough bin for the cows to eat out of!
Wouldn’t it have been better for His father to have been a prominent potentate, instead of a humble hewer of wood? Wouldn’t that have made it easier on Him and His followers, and advanced His work a little more rapidly, to have the approval of the established order?
Wouldn’t You have made easier progress, Jesus, if You’d done it man’s way? Wouldn’t You have gotten off to a better start, Jesus? Don’t You think You could have improved Your tactics, Lord? Don’t You think that was really making it a little too rough from the beginning?
Did God make a mistake? No! His ways are not our ways! (Isaiah 55:8-9). Sometimes God’s way up is down—usually, in fact!—Just the opposite of what we think! God loves to do things contrary to natural expectation, because that takes a miracle, and that shows it’s God, and not man!
—Adapted from Did God Make a Mistake? and Love Came Down at Christmas
* Read Luke 2:1-20 aloud and discuss the following questions in your group:
Pregnant before marriage. Broke. Homeless. If you were Mary and Joseph’s friend, what chance would you have given them in their marriage?
none
50/50
uphill all the way
a great way to begin
Why do you think the Savior of the world was born in an obscure village and laid in a manger—which is a food trough for animals?
to fulfill Old Testament prophecy
to show He was an ordinary person
it just happened that way
He demanded no special favors
God didn’t want to draw attention to His Son’s birth
no place would have been as grand as He deserved
What effect do you think the angelic visit had on the shepherds?
they wondered if they had been dreaming
they saw God in a new way
their lives were changed forever
life was soon back to business as usual
What do you think the shepherds were most excited to tell others?
about hearing the angels sing
about seeing the newborn baby
God’s plan for their salvation
that the angels’ words were true
that the wait for the Messiah was over
Do you think Mary and Joseph understood the big picture regarding the child they brought into the world?
probably not
up to a point
Mary could have
they must have
they couldn’t have
What effect has the news of Jesus’ birth had on you?
business as usual
a spiritual commitment in your life
a new sense of happiness
hope for the future
thankfulness for the Lord’s forgiveness
confusion about God’s plan
How would you describe your relationship with the Lord at this point in your life? (Or, if in a group of brand new people where you’re not sure who knows the Lord yet, you can ask something like: Who is Jesus to you?)
If you were to tell others about what Jesus has done for you, who would you speak with first?
* Digging deeper:
Have you ever been in an impossible situation that the Lord used for good? How did He do that? What does that show you? (Romans 8:28).
The Lord appeared to Mary and the shepherds when they were just being themselves in a normal situation. What does that imply about when to hear from the Lord or what it means to be spiritual? How has the Lord spoken to you in your normal day-to-day life?
Note: The following are questions for couples only, if you have several in your group, or if you have a special couples group.
How would Mary and Joseph’s humble beginnings prepare them for parenting?
it gave them a dose of reality
it made them grow up fast
it made them depend on the Lord right at the beginning of their marriage.
it taught them to become fighters and that trials are good training
all of the above
How would you compare the start of your marriage or relationship to Joseph and Mary’s?
we were also very young
we didn’t have much either
we were also under much stress
our start was much easier
If you have children, what was your reaction when you found out you were going to have your first baby? Reflecting back, how prepared were you to be a parent?
totally prepared
basically prepared
basically unprepared
totally unprepared
Topic: The Birth of Jesus Foretold: Proof at Last!
Reading material needed: Activated mag #3, pgs. 9-11 or Treasures, page 26-35
Audience: Good for all
Instructions: Read the section from Activated #3 in full, or if you want to shorten this class, you can read just the section pertaining to the prophecies about Jesus’ birth and birthplace. The Treasures article is a more detailed class, covering additional prophecies and events.
* Additional reading:
—Do They Prove Jesus is Messiah?
By Charles Colson, The Daily BreakPoint
In a murder trial, a single fingerprint can make the difference between guilt or innocence, freedom or prison. That’s because the ridges on our fingertips are unique—no two sets are alike.
Former journalist Lee Strobel knows this firsthand. He’s covered more than one murder trial in which a killer was convicted because he left his fingerprints at the scene of the crime.
But a few years ago, Strobel was chasing an exciting new story, and all those murder trials started him thinking. He was searching to see if the claims of Jesus Christ would hold up under rigorous investigation. Is there, he wondered, a type of historical evidence that’s analogous to fingerprints—evidence that could establish that Jesus is, or is not, the Messiah?
For the answer, Strobel went to a man you might call a biblical fingerprint expert: theologian Louis Lapides. Born in a Jewish home, Lapides had grown up rejecting Jesus as the Messiah. But later, he became a Christian. During his spiritual journey, he carefully examined the Old Testament prophesies about the Promised One.
What he found stunned him. For example, Psalm 53 says, He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering he was led like a lamb to the slaughter he was assigned a grave with the wicked he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
As Lapides told Strobel, Here was the picture of a Messiah who would suffer and die for the sins of Israel and the world—all written more than seven hundred years before Jesus walked the earth.
Fascinated, Lapides kept hunting. He ultimately found some forty-eight major predictions. In Isaiah, he read that the Messiah would be born of a virgin; Micah identified Bethlehem as His birthplace. The Psalms foretold His betrayal, the accusations by false witnesses, and how (in Psalm 22) he would die—even though crucifixion hadn’t been invented until long after Psalm 22 was written.
The specificity was impressive. But Strobel asked Lapides: Is it possible that Jesus fulfilled these prophecies by accident?
Not a chance, Lapides replied. The odds are so astronomical that they rule that out. Statistical calculations by mathematician Peter Stoner confirm this. He found that the probability of any one person fulfilling forty-eight messianic prophesies is one chance in a trillion, trillion, trillion and seven more trillions!
The odds alone say it would be impossible for anyone to fulfill the Old Testament prophecies, Lapides declared. Yet Jesus—and only Jesus throughout all of history—managed to do it.
Christians sometimes feel awkward about asking unbelievers to accept Jesus as their Savior. But as Strobel demonstrates in his book, The Case for Christ, there’s plenty of hard evidence to back up the claims of Christianity—including statistical probability.
If an unbelieving friend says there’s no solid evidence that Jesus was the Christ, tell him about the forty-eight Old Testament prophesies and invite him to do the math. It’s a kind of historical fingerprint—a fingerprint that identifies Jesus as the one and only Messiah.
Motivational messages about keeping the right priorities during the busy Christmas season
A newlywed couple is taking a weekend off to celebrate the husband’s birthday. They have looked forward to this for months. It’s their first vacation together since the honeymoon. The new bride wants it to be perfect. She wants him to have everything good she can provide.
Once they’re situated in their cozy cabin, she immediately takes off to town. She spends hours driving and walking around, scouring the shops for her beloved’s favorite foods, drinks, desserts, and lovely knick-knacks to decorate the cabin just the way she knows he’d like it. Certain things have to be done certain ways—it’s traditional—and no expense is spared.
Then on top of all this, she seeks high and low until she finds the right gift. Well, she’s not even sure it’s the right gift, but she thinks it’s beautiful, and hopes he will too. The day is nearly over, the sun is setting, the little resort cabin is quiet. As she walks in the door, her husband approaches her warmly, but is met only with a casual quick embrace, because she has to hurry into the kitchen to continue the preparations.
He sits on a chair in the corner of the sitting room and watches as she races back and forth from the open kitchen to the dining room—stirring a pot, then lighting a candle, then slicing some vegetables, then turning on the ambient music. Finally everything is ready, and she retreats to the room to decorate herself as well. As she emerges, she expects to be met with gratitude and appreciation for all her efforts to get everything right. Instead she finds a look of pain and loss on her lover’s face.
What did she do wrong? It’s easy enough for us to see. But sometimes we’re all a little like that foolish young wife. She didn’t even notice that she had left him behind in all her flurry. All he wanted was time—to be with her, to talk, to laugh, to be held and loved. Everything was perfect, but he missed out on the day he could have had with her. That would have been what made it perfect for him.
Christmas is Jesus’ birthday. Think about how He wants to celebrate it, what He wants from you, and what would make it perfect for Him.
Like most everyone, you’ve got a full calendar for December shopping, presents, parties, plans, preparations, cooking, cleaning, hosting, visiting. But stop for a minute and reflect: Why am I doing all this? Who am I trying to please? Or just impress?
This holiday is meant to be a celebration of the purest, simplest and most complete love ever known—the love of a Heavenly Father who sent His Son to live among us, to teach us how to love, to make our lives better and happier. He eliminated the need for complex rules and rituals, and taught us that we didn’t have to be perfect, get everything right, and live up to unrealistically high expectations. All we had to do was love Him and love our neighbor, and with that, we’d please Him and find happiness.
Why not try something different this year and strive for simplicity in your Yuletide celebrations? Clear out some of the unnecessary clutter of events and expenses that won’t really mean much to anyone anyway. Leave yourself time to concentrate on the things that will truly mean something to you and to others: spend time with the people you care about; get gifts that will show not merely your good taste, but your care and concern; find someone with fewer blessings than you, and reach out to fulfill some need he or she has.
If Christ were here today, I believe that is how He would celebrate Christmas.
Why is it that the occasion that celebrates God’s great love is for many one of loneliness and sadness? Is it because we forget the true meaning of Christmas? Sometimes we lose it in the baubles and lights, the presents and the celebration. When we forget the real purpose of Christmas we lose the happiness that comes with it. Preparations crowd out the purpose of Christmas—showing thankfulness and appreciation for what God gave mankind on this night.
Christmas is ultimately a celebration of love—God’s love for each one of us. The best way we can celebrate Christmas is by giving our gifts to Jesus, gifts of love and thankfulness. It is a time when we can stop and remember those who are often forgotten. We can reach out to help those in need. We can show our thankfulness by reaching out to those whose need is greater than ours.
These are the things that not only make God happy, but help us find deep satisfaction. Christmas is not made special by presents, decorations and parties, but by what we give to Jesus and to others from our hearts. Giving from your heart demonstrates true gratitude and appreciation for what God has given to us during this Christmas season.
Short messages from Jesus about the true meaning of Christmas, and what He wants most
I was very excited about being able to come down to Earth to be with mankind, with people like you who I knew would become My friends and loved ones. I had seen people on Earth from My place of residence in Heaven, yet to get to know people intimately, on a personal basis, in the flesh, as friends—that was almost more than I could imagine.
The Father had so much love to arrange this, because it meant so much to Me. Oh, I knew there would be a great deal of suffering involved in this mission, and I didn’t look forward to that. Yet still, I was willing to go through with that, because it meant that eventually I could become your special Friend, and you, Mine.
That is My greatest treasure—aside from My Father’s love and the love of the Holy Spirit—your love and friendship. I have not considered you My servants, but My friends—My friends who I will spend eternity with.
And I am so glad that, even though we did not live on Earth during the same time period, we can be close. We can know each other’s hearts and thoughts and dreams and desires. We can truly be friends.—All because My Father sent Me to Earth, as a little baby, on that Christmas night so many years ago. He did it knowing the great joy it would bring to both Me and you—and I’m so glad. I’m glad you are My friend, and that I can be your Friend forever.
I’d like to explain what Christmas means to Me, and what it is that I need at Christmas. Even though I am the Lord of the Universe, I long for something else. The best way you can honor Me is by giving Me your heart as a gift for Christmas.
Palaces I have; riches untold are at My fingertips. I have it all, but the one thing that would touch My heart, the one thing that would make Me weep for joy would be if you gave Me your heart for Christmas. I want to be your sweetheart, I want to be your family, I want to be your lover, your companion. That would touch My heart more than anything else you could give Me.
Some people try to give Me anything they can to keep from giving Me their heart, but having their heart is the one thing that would make Me the most happy. I want your heart this Christmas. Will you share it with Me? I’ll share Mine with you. Let’s exchange gifts. I’ll give you My heart and you give Me yours. That would be the best Christmas gift ever.
Christmas is My favorite time of the year. You have seen how excited a child can become, knowing that Christmas Day is approaching. The child is so happy, knowing that it’s a time when he can receive gifts from his parents. The child receives gifts from his parents all year in the way of their loving care, but the visible gifts at Christmas seem to seal that love in his heart.
Here is a secret to giving Me joy at Christmas, and what makes it My favorite time of year. Throughout the year, you, My faithful and loving children, give Me gifts of your love. You do loving deeds for each other, and therefore for Me. You shower Me with praise. And I love every bit of this! I breathe in and live off of your praises, much as you breathe in and live off of My Spirit.
When Christmastime arrives, you give Me even greater gifts of love by sharing Me with others. Though you have been sharing Me with others throughout the year, you give even more in this way during the Christmas season. You give extra in your time of praising Me for My birth, and in your time of sharing Me with others. It’s much like that special gift a parent gives his or her child at Christmas. That gift is often the most visible gift of the year. It’s the same with the gifts you give Me at Christmas.
Yes, Christmastime is My favorite time of the year! Merry Christmas!
#1: You are God and man, king and servant. You left Your throne of immortality and encased Yourself in human flesh. You became one of us, so that You could save us. Inexpressible joy comes to me when I think of how You quietly and humbly came into our world and changed it forever.
When You were born among us, You gave us the greatest gift of salvation, of peace, of hope, of love. Who could have imagined the transformation that would come through a little baby, born to commoners, wrapped in rags, sleeping in a feeding trough?
Thank You for what Christmas means—that whether or not I have family and friends, good times or bad, I will always have You. I will always have Your love—love that has stood the test of time, love that saved me and so many others like me. Thank You for making the choice to experience both the joys and sorrows of Earth. Thank You for enduring the tears, pain, frustration, loneliness, exhaustion, and death so that You could truly say that You understand us. Never has there been a more perfect love than Yours.
#2: Christmas praises fill the air! Listen, our wonderful Savior, as we lift our grateful hearts and voices in praise to You. We want to fill Earth and Heaven with the sound of our praises to You for the greatest Christmas gift ever given—Your life for ours, Your gift of eternal love and life with You forever. We want to fill the universe with the symphony of our praises. We want our praise to be music to Your ears, music that thrills Your heart.
Thank You for loving us so much that You were willing to become one of us, and experience everything we experience, feel everything we feel, suffer everything we suffer, and live the life we live. Then You died for the world and took on our sins so we could have eternal life. What commitment! What humility! What love! What freedom! What resurrection! What life! What Heaven!
Let the conductor’s baton rise! Let the angelic orchestra begin! Let the violins play, the trumpets sound, the drums thunder, the cymbals clash, the bells ring! Let the whole Heavenly orchestra raise the roof of the universe with tremendous, majestic, musical praise to You, Jesus, our wonderful Savior and King.
Note: For additional Christmas praises, see the attached praise flier of ready-made Christmas praises, which can be cut out and read by all.
Note: It can help to break the ice and get everyone comfortable at the start of your class or gathering by reading an anecdote or quote. Here are a couple of Christmas stories which are both enjoyable and meaningful.
Author unknown
The sides of the path were covered with a carpet of white snow. But in the center, its whiteness was crushed and churned into a foaming brown by the tramp of hundreds of hurrying feet. It was the day before Christmas. People rushed up and down the path carrying armloads of bundles. They laughed and called to each other as they pushed their way through the crowds.
Above the path, the long arms of an ancient maple tree reached upward to the sky. It swayed and moaned as strong winds grasped its branches and bent them toward the earth. Down below a haughty laugh sounded, and a lovely fir tree stretched and preened its thick green branches, sending a fine spray of snow shimmering downward to the ground.
I should think, said the fir in a high smug voice, that you’d try a little harder to stand still. Goodness knows you’re ugly enough with the leaves you’ve already lost. If you move around anymore, you’ll soon be quite bare.
I know, answered the old maple. Everything has put on its most beautiful clothes for the celebration of the birth of Christ. From here I can see the decorations shining on each street corner. And yesterday some men came and put the brightest, loveliest lights on every tree along the path—except me, of course. He sighed softly, and a flake of snow melted in the form of a teardrop and ran down his gnarled trunk.
Oh, indeed! And did you expect they’d put lights upon you so your ugliness would stand out even more? smirked the fir.
I guess you’re right, replied the old maple in a sad voice. If there were only somewhere I could hide until after the celebrations were over, but here I stand, the only ugly thing among all this beauty. If they would only come and chop me down, he sighed sorrowfully.
Well, I don’t wish you any ill will, replied the fir, but you are an eyesore. Perhaps it would be better for us all if they did come and chop you down. Once again he stretched his lovely thick branches. You might try to hang onto those three small leaves you still have. At least you wouldn’t be completely bare.
Oh, I’ve tried so hard, cried the old maple. Each fall I say to myself, ‘This year I won’t give up a single leaf, no matter what the cause,’ but someone always comes along who seems to need them more than I. He sighed once again.
I told you not to give so many to that dirty little paper boy, said the fir. Why, you even lowered your branches a little bit, so that he could reach them. You can’t say I didn’t warn you.
Yes, you did, the old maple replied. But they made him so happy. I heard him say he would pick some for his invalid mother.
Oh, they all had good causes, mocked the fir. That young girl, for instance—colored leaves for her party indeed! They were your leaves!
She took a lot, didn’t she? said the old maple, and he seemed to smile.
Just then a cold wind blew down the path and a tiny brown bird fell to the ground at the foot of the old maple and lay there shivering, too cold to lift its wings. The old maple looked down in pity and then he quickly let go of his last three leaves. The golden leaves fluttered down and settled softly over the shivering little bird, and it lay quietly under the warmth of them.
Now you’ve done it! shrieked the fir. You’ve given away every single leaf! Christmas morning you’ll make our path the ugliest sight in the whole city!
The old maple said nothing. Instead he stretched out his branches to gather what snowflakes he could that they might not fall on the tiny bird. The young fir turned away in anger. It was then he noticed a painter sitting quietly a few feet from the path, intent upon his long brushes and his canvas. His clothes were old and tattered, and his face wore a sad expression. He was thinking of his loved ones and the empty, cheerless Christmas morning they would face, for he had sold not a single painting in the last months.
But the little tree didn’t see this. Instead he turned back to the old maple and said in a haughty voice, At least keep those bare branches as far away from me as possible. I’m being painted and your hideousness will mar the background.
I’ll try, replied the old maple. And he raised his branches as high as possible. It was almost dark when the painter picked up his easel and left. And the little fir was tired and cross from all his preening and posing.
Christmas morning he awoke late, and as he proudly shook away the snow from his lovely branches, he was amazed to see a huge crowd of people surrounding the old maple, oohing and ahhing as they stood back and gazed upward. Even those hurrying along the path had to stop for a moment before they went on.
Whatever could it be? thought the haughty fir, and he too looked up to see if perhaps the top of the old maple had been broken off during the night.
Just then a paper blew away from the hands of an enraptured newsboy and sailed straight into the young fir. The fir gasped in amazement, for there on the front page was a picture of the painter holding his painting of a great white tree whose leafless branches, laden with snow, stretched upward into the sky. While down below lay a tiny brown bird almost covered by three golden leaves. And beneath the picture were the words, The Most Beautiful Thing Is That Which Hath Given All.
The young fir quietly bowed its head beneath the great beauty of the humble old maple.
By Gaye Willis, adapted
One Christmas we had an interesting experience. Halfway through December we were doing the regular evening things when there was a knock at the door. We opened it to find a small package with a beautiful ceramic lamb inside. We looked at the calendar and realized that the 12 days of Christmas were beginning! We waited with excitement for the next night’s surprise and only then, with the gift of a matching shepherd, did we realize that the lamb was part of a nativity set.
Each night we grew more excited to see what piece we would receive. Each was exquisitely beautiful. The kids kept trying to catch the givers as we slowly built the scene at the manager and began to focus on Christ’s birth.
On Christmas Eve, all the pieces were in place, except for the baby Jesus. My 12-year-old son really wanted to catch our benefactors and began to devise all kinds of ways to trap them. He ate his dinner in the mini-van watching and waiting, but no one came.
Finally we called him in to go through our family’s Christmas Eve traditions. But before the kids went to bed we checked the front step—no baby Jesus! We began to worry that my son had scared them off. My husband suggested that maybe they dropped the Jesus and there wouldn’t be anything coming.
Somehow something was missing that Christmas Eve. There was a feeling that things weren’t complete. The kids went to bed and I put out the Christmas presents, but before I went to bed I again checked to see if the Jesus had come.—No, the doorstep was empty.
In our family the kids have to wait to open any presents until Dad wakes up. So one by one they woke up very early and I also woke up to watch them. Each child checked to see if perhaps during the night the baby Jesus had come. Missing that piece of the set seemed to have an odd effect. At least it changed my focus. I knew there were presents under the tree for me, and I was excited to watch the children open their gifts, but first on my mind was the feeling of waiting for the ceramic Christ Child.
We had opened just about all of the presents when one of the children found one more for me buried deep beneath the limbs of the tree. I was handed a small package from my former teaching companion at our church.
In the time we spent together, I learned that her family didn’t have much for Christmas. It sounded like she didn’t get many gifts to open, so I had always given her a small package—new dish towels, a book—not much, but something for her to open. I was touched when at church on the day before Christmas, she had given me this small package, saying it was just a token of her love and appreciation.
As I took off the bow, I remembered my friendship with her and was filled with gratitude for knowing her and for her kindness and sacrifice in giving me a gift this year. But as the paper fell away, I began to tremble and cry. There in the small brown box was the baby Jesus. He had come!
I realized on that Christmas Day that Christ will come into our lives in ways that we don’t expect. The Spirit of Christ comes into our hearts as we serve one another. We had waited and watched for Him to come, expecting the dramatic knock at the door and scurrying of feet but He came in a small, simple package that represented service, friendship, gratitude, and love.
This experience taught me that the beginning of the true spirit of Christmas comes as we open our hearts and actively focus on the Savior. But we will most likely find Him in the small and simple acts of love, friendship and service that we give to each other. This Christmas I want to again feel the joy of knowing that Christ is in our home. I want to focus on loving and serving. More than that I want to open my heart to Him all year that I may see Him again.
Note: Here are some ideas of witnessing activities that you can invite your friends, contacts, and Active members to get involved in. While most require some organization and participation on your part, some can be initiated and organized by your Active members on their own.
You may want to pick one or two of these activities to major on as a group. Try to get as many of your friends and Active members involved as possible. There’s nothing more inspiring for them than to see the Lord’s love and miracle-working power in action firsthand—and what better time for them to see people’s hearts being touched than at Christmas?
Let your friends know what activities are available for them to participate in well in advance, and encourage them to commit to giving their time to at least one witnessing activity. Explain the activity in detail, giving them as much background as possible, so they feel more comfortable beforehand. Challenge them to give Jesus His most prized Christmas gift—others won to the Kingdom!
* Go Christmas caroling!
Even if you sing a bit off-key, there’s nothing more fun than going door-to-door in your neighborhood singing Christmas carols! Nearly everyone opens his or her door and heart to small choral groups spreading Christmas cheer in music. This tradition, established centuries ago in England, continues to be widely accepted in Christian countries around the world and is an excellent opportunity to witness!
Note: The articles entitled General History of Christmas Carols and How Was Silent Night Born? (CLTP #23) provide a good explanation and class base on how the tradition of Christmas carols began. You can find this CLTP on the MO site.)
* Visit institutions
Visit hospitals, children’s hospitals, old folks homes, etc., and carol. Bring Christmas gifts. Distribute posters and tracts, and pray with the people to receive Jesus. In these situations where people—especially children—are feeling sentimental and lonely at Christmas time, a little bit of love goes a long, long way!
* Plan a Christmas benefit dinner!
This can be a year-end celebration with any combination of people, involving just your Home or local Bible study group, to a citywide happening that requires a united effort, with music, skits, emcees, a Family presentation video, etc. In any of these situations, everyone can participate and help make it happen!
Pray and see what level the Lord would like your Christmas celebration to reach for, without getting everyone stressed out in the process. Christmas events can largely be delegated to your Active members and close sheep, who are excellent at reception, decoration, planning, even finding the appropriate location (restaurant, hall, or large room in your house), doing the books, etc.
* Babysitting for pressured parents
During the Christmas season, parents with young children often struggle to find time for holiday shopping. Your Home and Active members can turn this need into an outreach opportunity. On a Saturday in December, offer free babysitting at your Home or at the home of one of your Active members. Here are some steps to make this an effective ministry:
Plan early. December calendars fill quickly. Pick a date at least a month in advance, and reserve adequate space at your location of choice for this event.
Recruit helpers. This is the key to success: Many hands make light work. Don’t overlook the teens in your Home and the Active members’ teen children. They often love helping, and young children enjoy being around them. Make sure you have some adults available to give guidance and adequate supervision. Have adults on hand to talk with parents when they drop off and pick up their children. What begins as an informal friendship can end up in a powerful witness to the parents!
Organize activities kids will enjoy, such as games and crafts. The Activity Books and Christmas pubs are full of them!
Advertise. Get the word out so many people can take advantage of this opportunity. Post notices in local supermarkets, in the newspaper, even on-line.
Ask parents to sign up. This will give you an idea of how many children to expect—and how much help you’ll need. Don’t, however, turn away those who did not sign up. Plan accordingly.
Give an information packet to every parent who brings a child. Provide a list of activities and services (Bible classes, Sunday school for children, monthly Church of Love, etc.) offered by your local Home (or by your work in the city or area), plus the dates and times for each.
Pray for unsaved people to come to your Home and area Christmas festivities (banquet, presentation, caroling, etc.) as a result of this activity.
* Video stands
Video stands (or booths) are very fruitful, giving credibility and making the videos available for people to see. Videos are displayed in a public place and two or more people stand by for sales and to give more information as requested. Enlist the help of an Active member who has children to help you sell your product with his or her personal testimony and experience.
Record in a book the names, addresses, and phone numbers of those interested, and follow up on them to sell them video sets. Often when people don’t buy videos on the spot, they buy them later when followed up on. When you begin to follow up and phone these people, one comment you will probably hear time and again will be, Where have you been? I’ve been looking all over for you! Some people will go all over the city to stores and video clubs searching for our videos! Make it easy for potential buyers to contact you by giving out contact cards or brochures with a GP phone number or address designated for that purpose.
* Kindergarten referrals
Ask private kindergartens or other schools to write up their testimonies and reactions to the Kiddie Viddies. Referrals are a helpful tool in getting into other places. Have a testimony sheet with the names of all the private kindergartens that have had a favorable reaction. A collection of letters of recommendation from friends and Treasure Attic users is very effective.
* Christmas parties—Put on a kiddie show!
A Treasure Attic Christmas party can be organized, similar to a Tupperware party, where ladies in the neighborhood are invited. In some neighborhoods they have a center that is used for such community activities. Mommies of small children usually can find time to attend with their children, and when attending, people often feel they should buy at least one product.
Ask your friends and Active members to help you get a gathering together. Have a video display booth, and show a short segment of a Treasure Attic video. Play games with the children, perform a clown show, make animal balloons, etc. Serve snacks and refreshments. Make it a fun occasion for the kids and parents.
You can offer a free video to anyone who refers you to five or ten people who might want to host a party, which could lead you to other neighborhoods. Find out who in the area is the community head, who are the people with influence. If you can get them turned on to the videos, they may organize or sponsor a Treasure Attic Christmas party for you.
Some other ideas for Christmas parties are:
Arrange to have a Christmas party for all the parents of children at various private kindergartens.
Get invited to Christmas parties (for teens, companies, institutions, etc.) and give a simple presentation in song, after which you can distribute tapes, videos, posters, etc.
Check out apartment buildings that have community rooms for activities or events, and plan a Christmas show and video sale there.
* Christmas cards!
Encourage your Active members and friends to offer our beautiful Christmas CD card set to their friends and acquaintances. Everyone needs at least a pack of six Christmas cards! Ours are beautiful!
Since people often leave their Christmas cards to the last minute, it’s good to always have some on hand at your Bible studies, seminars, and any group events.
* Plans, goals, and prayer!
Hold a special meeting with your Active members and closest friends to plan your Christmas outreach. Have fervent prayer for your ideas, goals, and plans.
* Sponsorship of Activated subscriptions!
What better way to brighten up someone’s Christmas than to sponsor a one-year subscription of the Activated mag! Many people, especially those who cannot afford to subscribe, would be eternally grateful for such a valuable gift!
* Minister to work colleagues and neighbors
Remember those people you see in the elevator every day, but don’t exchange more than the usual good morning with? Or the people you live next door to?
Take a step of faith this Christmas and make it a point to look your neighbor or colleague in the eye and say, Merry Christmas! How are things going with you? Then wait for the answer, giving an opportunity for him to answer sincerely, and for you to see if the Lord is doing something special in his life. Perhaps you could invite him to your Christmas dinner, event, Bible study, or to participate in your local CTP project alongside you.
Many people want to do something to help others at Christmas, but simply don’t know how. Many are feeling lonely, but won’t take the first step to confess it! Let the Lord use you to bring a co-worker or neighbor into the Kingdom this Christmas.
Here’s a group project you can do with your family or those at work to usher in the meaning and spirit of Christmas.
Put all the names of your family, or your workmates at work, or your friends at school, or whatever group you are a part of into a hat and draw names. Each person picks someone else’s name and becomes that person’s Christmas angel. (They should try to keep it secret.)
Pray for that person that week. Do extra deeds of kindness for him or her—things you wouldn’t normally do. Show extra appreciation and love. Give a token gift. Give some thought to how Jesus feels about that person, and see if you don’t come up with something special to do for him or her.
True giving can touch the giver as much as the recipient, and as you give, you’ll find the joy and happiness of Christmas welling up inside of you!
Note: Christmas is a good time to set a united goal for your group, or to encourage each person to set himself a personal goal. You may want to ask the following question (or a similar one) to your group, and then open the floor for discussion after the reading.
Q: What can you give to the Man Who has (in fact, has made!) everything?
What can I give Him, as small as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I’d give Him a lamb.
If I were a wise man, I’d do my part.
I know what I’ll give Him,
I’ll give Him my heart!
—Christina Rossetti
That’s what you can give to Jesus, the Man Who has everything, on His birthday—your heart! What an ideal time to re-dedicate ourselves to Him, the Author and Finisher of our faith, the One Who gave His life for us, that we might be connected to God! He longs for that sweet communion, that union of HEART with HEART. What a goal for each one of us this Christmas—to give our whole heart to Jesus! Shall we?
Another good goal would be to bring Jesus the presents that most make Him happy on His birthday—winning the souls of the lost! If you’ve received His gift of eternal life yourself, then share the real meaning of Christmas with others by getting out and giving them the love of the Lord and the Word of Jesus! So many need our message and the Gospel of salvation. So give them a truly Merry Christmas by bringing them the peace and happiness and joy of the love of Jesus Christ! Give Jesus to others so you can give the Lord the gifts that He is most pleased with: The lives and hearts of men!—The souls you have freed from the Enemy! Then you can really celebrate Christmas and sing, Happy Birthday, dear Jesus!
Wouldn’t it be funny if on your birthday all your friends and family decided to celebrate it by giving each other presents, and never gave you a thing?—Well, if Christmas is Jesus’ birthday, why don’t we give Him presents instead of each other? And if it’s His birthday, instead of singing songs like Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and a lot of other crazy songs, why don’t we sing Happy Birthday, Dear Jesus! or Silent Night or some other beautiful Christmas carol that causes us to love and adore Him, the One Who gave His all that we might live? Shall we? (DM 1:360).
During the Christmas season, most people become more open to others and to their needs. It’s a time of reflection, and many stop to think about the true values in life. Call it what you will: sentimentalism, nostalgia, or simply a good excuse to have a party. In any case, Christmas is a time when people gather to celebrate, and everyone is usually more receptive to the story of Jesus and why He came to Earth.
Don’t let this golden opportunity pass you by! Make it your personal goal to bring another soul within the circle of Jesus’ love.
This Christmas, I will
Mend a quarrel.
Seek out a forgotten friend.
Dismiss suspicion, and replace it with trust.
Write a love letter.
Share some treasure.
Give a soft answer.
Encourage youth.
Manifest my loyalty in word and deed.
Keep a promise.
Listen.
Apologize if I am wrong.
Try to understand.
Examine my demands on others.
Think first of someone else.
Appreciate.
Be kind.
Be gentle.
Laugh a little more.
Express my gratitude.
Welcome a stranger.
Gladden the heart of a child.
As we are gathered in remembrance of Your birth, we lift up our arms in praise to You. Thank You for being willing to leave Your Heavenly home. Thank You for coming down to Earth to take on a mortal frame. Thank You for living and dying for us, for making the greatest sacrifice ever. We know we don’t deserve it, but we stand humbled in gratitude that You love us so much.
During this Christmas season, help us to pass on Your love. Help us to take advantage of this time, when people are more open to You, to spread Your love and truth. We don’t want to fail You, Lord. We want to shine and give out the true message of Christmas to all that we possibly can.
Thank You for this time that we can celebrate Your birth. Thank You for the blessings You have poured out on us. You’ve taken such good care of us. You’ve given us wonderful friends and loved ones to be close to and fellowship with. You’ve supplied all of our needs, and even some of our wants.
We know that the beauty of this season is not the material gifts that we give or receive, the parties we go to, or the decorations that we put up. The beauty of Christmas is in Your magical love which encompasses us. Help us to share Your love with others, and take time to appreciate all that You’ve given us.
By Van Varner
Heavenly Father,
Christmas began
With the gift of Your Son,
Who in turn gave the world
The gift of His life.
Let me remember, O God,
That Christmas remains
A matter of giving,
Not parties, not presents,
Not material wealth,
For Christmas is Christmas
When I give of myself.
Long ago on a bed of hay,
A little newborn baby lay.
He lay quite still and didn’t cry,
But looked around with curious eye.
A little baby, sent to Earth,
A very special kind of birth.
But this is just a child we see.—
Isn’t He as human as you and me?
Yet something’s shining in His face,
A sweet and tender look of grace.
What is it in Him we see there?
His mother sits, and though we stare
And try to understand this wondrous child,
She only pats Him with a smile.
She has been told by Heaven’s own
Of what will happen when He’s grown.
How He will teach and help and share
With all who love God and who care
To learn how they can love more, too.
He will have much work to do.
And He will leave her, this she knows,
As to His destined task He goes.
And then one day His life He’ll give—
So those who trust in Him can live.
She knows all this and sighs within.
But His sacrifice will conquer sin
And pain and death and so much wrong.
This future promise makes her strong.
So she and we look at His face,
Smiling gently in His place,
And contemplate all that will be done
By this little One, God’s Child, His Son.
—Chloe West
Jesus wants to wrap each one of us in eternal love and joy, and give us as a present to His Father.
Jesus was born into our world so that we could be reborn into His.
Jesus, my Christmas gifts to You are the souls who have accepted You this year because of the testimony You’ve given me.
The best present in the world is love—God’s love—Jesus.
To be touched by the true spirit of Christmas is to be kissed by God.
Christmas is more than a day. It is more than a season. It is the key to the whole meaning of life.
If You were a man of this world, I would search high and low to find the most priceless treasure to please You with on Your birthday. But You are not a man of this world, and Your greatest delight is when I give You myself. So why should I be sparing with that gift?
Christmas celebrates a moment that changed the course of history. But it remains meaningless until it has changed the course of your life.
Christmas is when we celebrate the day You were born, Jesus—the day You left the beauty and safety of Heaven to live in a world of sin, and die at the hand of sinners. Help us to make that day worth it.
Who knows maybe the Lord would like to establish the base of your local Family church through this year’s Christmas witnessing! The way most booming works begin is with a prayer like: Lord, lead me to people You have prepared. Break my heart for them. Then lead me by Your Spirit to feed them Your Word and help them to grow.
Here are nine practical steps for getting started in fishing for men—and starting your local Family church—this Christmas season:
1) Pray in faith and use the keys to the Kingdom! Remember the disciples’ unsuccessful attempt to heal the epileptic boy with a demon (Mark 9:14-32). After Jesus healed him, the disciples asked Him why they weren’t able to drive the demon out. He said, This kind cometh not out except by prayer and fasting. Jesus later added, O ye of little faith. Verily I say unto you, if you had the faith of a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Be removed’ and it will be removed. Nothing is impossible to him that believeth! (Mat.17:20).
Ask the Lord in faith, with the keys of the Kingdom in your hand, to open a door that no man can shut, and to give you great boldness. Pray this prayer daily and watch the Lord put sheep in your path. He said, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few. And it really is!
2) Get your whole city together to stand with you in prayer! Whether you realize it or not, you are involving yourself, your Home and your Active members in a spiritual battle with the powers of darkness who do not want to lose control of any territory. (In this case, territory means sheep.) Keep your Christmas witnessing push in your daily prayers, and enlist the support of your entire area and city. This is a good sample to your Active members that you depend on the Lord for everything.
3) Expect the Lord to do a mighty work in your midst—greater than anything He has done in previous years. Even establish a work! (John 16:23-24). If you aim for the sky, at least you’ll hit the ceiling! Claim Joshua 1, that wherever the soles of your feet touch ground, the Lord will give it to you! (Deut.11:24).
4) Try to form semi-permanent witnessing teams with your Active members. You’ll need to find out everyone’s schedules and availability in order to do this, but this can be very practical in the overall flow of your Christmas push. You’ll be surprised to find that some of your Active members will give more of themselves if they feel they are being effectively and efficiently mobilized, with respect for their family and professional lives. It’s also good to train them in the concept of going two by two! The key is to put veterans with new people, as we do in Babes’ ranch situations (Eccl.4:9-12).
5) Cultivate your Active members’ contacts. Have your Active members make a list of all the relatives and friends they know on a first-name basis. Then pray to see who they should invite to which event. Have them think through all their family and professional relationships, as well as neighbors, people they know at the local gym, country club, etc. Pray over your list regularly, asking the Lord for guidance and wisdom—action through prayer!
6) Add to your list by attending or creating fishing pond events to establish new contacts. Many Active members have a ton of Christmas season social events they are expected to attend, and if they look at them as fishing ponds, they can get inspired and catch some wonderful Christmas fish!
7) Be sensitive to people who are at crisis points in their lives (divorce, birth of a child, job transfer or move, death of a family member or friend), especially at Christmas. It could be the Lord having you meet them right when they need you most. Let the Lord lead.—Our job is to follow His leading and find His sheep!
8) Commit yourself to building friendships with the people you meet during your Christmas witnessing, and teach your Active members to do the same. It’s one thing to meet them; it’s another to really follow-up and consolidate your relationship with them!
9) Invite everyone to your Christmas events and Word studies, especially those you think won’t come! You’ll often be pleasantly surprised at who shows up, especially at Christmas. Teach your Active members that their job is to sow the seed as widely as possible and not be premature or judgmental as to who is who. Who is good earth and who isn’t is between the person and the Lord (Mark 4:1-20).
In a very positive way, you and your Active members can invite them along these lines: Next week at __ o’clock we’ll be having a short Bible study (or get-together) on the topic of the First Christmas. I’m inviting my friends, and I’d like to know if you could come. You may also want to mail announcements or make a poster advertising the event.
Note: You can pull this four-page insert out of this mag, to keep with the rest of your follow-up how-to material.
How Long Should a Meeting Be?
It depends on your crowd, but many have found that one and a half to two hours is about all the average crowd can take. It’s often better to close on the brief side. You may wish to break your meetings down something like this:
*10-15 minutes for opening prayer and inspiration (two or three songs)
*10-15 minutes for icebreaker (each person has two minutes max)
*45 minutes for reading of Word and discussion questions
*15-20 minutes for closing prayer
Event Atmosphere and Etiquette
*Prepare your Bible class, meeting, or event. Study well.
*Remind those you’ve invited to come. A follow-up phone call a few days or hours before the event is often very helpful. If you live nearby, you even may want to offer to go pick them up.
*Create an inviting atmosphere. Have refreshments at the beginning of an event. This establishes a friendly atmosphere and enables the latecomer to enter in without feeling left out, as people are still fellowshipping and settling down.
Your First Group Meeting
When your group meets for the first time, you will probably find it helpful to accomplish these three things:
Establish a relaxed atmosphere, making sure everyone is acquainted and at ease with you and each other. Singing a few songs and asking an icebreaker question or two are good for this. If your group does not know each other well, spend a few minutes having each person give information about himself, such as his name, his home city, where he lives, and his occupation. If you give this information first, as the group leader, it will set the others at ease, letting them know how much to say. You can also share how you got there, and what makes you want to know more about God and His Word.
Tell them a bit about the Family and how you hope your group will operate, that the goal is not only to study the Bible, but to grow spiritually.
Make sure each group member has a Bible, and a copy of the booklet or handout of the Bible study. Read the introductory article, each one reading a paragraph or two. (Skip people who don’t feel comfortable reading in public.) At the end of a page, ask if they have any questions. You may want to recap the main points in summary form, to get a chance to see who’s tuning in, lagging behind, etc.
Leading Discussions and Icebreakers
As the leader, take charge in an inoffensive way. The group is looking to you for good leadership. Before launching into a discussion or icebreaker question where people will answer with their personal opinions and feelings, make it clear that there are no right or wrong answers.
You may want to experiment with various methods for discussing questions or icebreakers. One simple approach is to start the session question by question. You can do this by going around the group in order, with the first person giving his answer to question number one (followed by discussion), the second person answering question two, and so on. This method can be a good way to introduce Bible study discussion to those who have never been part of a Bible study group. The obvious structure gives them a sense of confidence, and they can easily follow the direction of the discussion.
Another discussion method is the subject-by-subject approach. This can provide more spontaneity. Pick a block of questions that deals with the same basic subject and start the discussion by asking the group for its impression of the first subject in the study (which may be the topic of the first three or four questions).
Say something like: What impressed you most about Mary’s first reaction to the angel’s visit? Remember to direct your question to the entire group, rather than to a certain person. Then, to discuss the answers more thoroughly, ask one or two thought-provoking questions which you may have prepared beforehand.
For example, someone in the group may have said that the most impressive thing about the angel’s visit to Mary was the fact that she didn’t pass out! A few others may want to comment on getting spooked by spiritual experiences, and then you could ask something like, If God sent a messenger to you like He did to Mary, what would probably scare you more—the messenger’s awesome presence, or the message he brings that would reveal your mission (which could obviously interrupt your current lifestyle and agenda!)? You can then ask the others what most impressed them on this subject. After talking about these and asking questions to stimulate further discussion, go to the next section of questions.
Leading Newcomers to Salvation in a Larger Group Setting
In a Church of Love or large group meeting, you may want to ask those who are attending for the first time to raise their hands; then give them a warm round of applause. After an introduction and general witness explaining salvation, you can lead the group in a united salvation prayer, everyone repeating together so as not to put the minority of newcomers on the spot. (In a setting like this, you may need to explain beforehand to those who are already saved that they are participating in leading the others in prayer. It is not that they need to pray the prayer again themselves. Once saved, forever saved!)
Many have found that after the salvation prayer, it is a good time to give a mini-sermon about follow-up—how now that the seed is planted, it is our part to water the seed by reading the Word. You can also explain how participating in a local Activated group will not only facilitate the process of firming up a decision to receive the Lord and growing further in Him, but how it is also an excellent opportunity to make new friends with people who are headed in the same direction.
When brethren from different Homes common-pot their sheep in a larger Church of Love or seminar situation, it is good to establish ground rules beforehand as to any open invitations to Bible study groups, and these guidelines should be agreed upon by all Homes involved.
Q: Some of these main sermon or Word study messages are in prophecy form, with Jesus giving the message. What if my sheep (or new friends that may come) aren’t familiar with prophecy? How do I handle that?
A: If some of your sheep are not yet familiar with prophecy, you may want to either wait until later when approaching a totally GP audience, or the Lord may show you to take the plunge and go ahead and read a prophecy message, adding at the end that the preceding message was received in prophecy for them, or that it was a special message from Jesus. Some in your group may be somewhat familiar with prophecy, especially if they are an Activated subscriber, as each issue has a From Jesus — With Love prophecy on the back page. Many people, even if they aren’t familiar with the concept of prophecy, are respectful of it and touched by it.
Those who hold regular Bible studies and Church of Love meetings have testified on both sides of this question. In more spiritually minded Third World cultures, the idea of hearing from Heaven is not strange to them culturally. For example, in Brazil, the Caribbean, and other countries, spiritism is quite common. The people in these cultures seem to absorb the concept of prophecy with unusual ease, as they have grown up in the midst of spiritual phenomena and hearing voices, so this doesn’t distract them from the message. However, to more Westernized minds, or those who have the I’ll believe it only if I see it mentality, you may want to be prepared for questions galore. Even if they don’t ask outright, you can be pretty sure they are wondering about it in their minds.
The ready-made answer and God-sent explanation for this topic is the Activated booklet entitled Hearing from Heaven. It is one of the simplest, clearest, and most convincing explanations of the gift of prophecy available. It will not only answer a new person’s questions and satisfy his or her curiosity, but it will inspire him or her to want to hear from Heaven as well. You may want to give your group a six-week Hearing from Heaven course based on the Activated booklet, or on the 12 Foundation Stones class on prophecy.
This would be the proactive approach to the Jesus speaking question. Many have found this open and direct approach to be better than slipping and sliding on the prophecy issue, but it depends on your audience, their culture, and what instruction the Lord gives you for your specific situation. Most have found that the earlier you teach and train newcomers about the reality of the spirit world and the need to establish a link with the Lord, the better! Then when things get a bit more advanced and the messages start saying Dad speaking, they’ve already tasted the good fruits of hearing from Jesus, and the concept of hearing from good ministering spirits is easier to accept.
To conclude on this issue:
*Ask the Lord what He wants you to do and how fast you should go with your group in presenting prophecy. He may want you to go straight through the warm-up and on to the heart of things! Most of our tracts nowadays are straight prophecy and this has borne excellent fruit.
*Check out your audience. If your crowd has some people with skeptical backgrounds (i.e., on the flatlander side), they may need an explanation. The Lord may actually use that to arouse their interest in spiritual things. If they have a churchy background, they may question you as to the source of Jesus speaking, in which case, it’s good to be prepared with some Bible backup. 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 are good introductions to the subject.
*Sock it to ‘em! Although some may not get it at first—the fact that the message they are hearing is actually a prophecy—they may not need to! They usually pick it up in the spirit, are edified, and, like the housewife in Sex Works, they simply find out that IT WORKS! They can find out the details later!
You may want to have a Christmas Witnessing Committee meeting with your Home’s (or area’s) Active members about how to best divide up the Christmas witnessing responsibilities. This doesn’t have to be a big, formal meeting if it only involves your Home, but it’s good to pray about what the Lord would like you and your Active members to embark upon in your Christmas witnessing.
It’s a good opportunity to let your Active members and friends learn how to hear from the Lord before making decisions, as He often has a bigger or different vision. Christmas witnessing can be an excellent opportunity to teach them to become our witnessing partners throughout the year ahead. Starting a couple of Activated groups as a result of your Christmas witnessing can be an excellent overall goal to ask the Lord to help you with.
At your Christmas witnessing planning meeting, you could:
*Hear from the Lord, and receive His overall vision for your Christmas witnessing
*Go over the various witnessing activities and brainstorm to see who has the gifts, burdens, open doors, and contacts for these activities, in light of what the Lord has said
*Reconfirm with the Lord as to where He’s leading once you’ve had your brainstorming session
*Delegate responsibilities accordingly
*Schedule your next meeting, along with a checklist of agreed-upon responsibilities. Start early! Active members are very new to the all by faith concept, and we can learn a lot from them about coordinating events, being on time, planning well in advance, etc.
*Have a post-Christmas powwow to evaluate how things went, and organize the results (new Bible study groups, contacts to follow-up on, etc.)
Note: The above procedure can be used any time you would like to make a witnessing push with your Active members.
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