Practical ideas on how to hit the brakes and spend quality time with God:
Sermon Notes:
1. Schedule time to spend with God:
a. Wake up early
2. Find a quiet place
3. Prepare your mind and soul
4. Pray
5. Read God’s Word
a. Christmas passages, prophecies
6. Record your thoughts in the form of prayers.
7. Share
8. Expect some failure
9. In His presence we find peace, perspective, power, wisdom, clarity, love, rest, healing, and acceptance.
Follow-up Questions from Sunday’s Message:
Review:
Looking back on last Sunday’s message and your notes, what was the most meaningful part for you?
Digging Deeper:
1. What would you say are some of the biggest stresses that the Christmas season brings to your life?
2. What would you say were some of the biggest stresses that Jesus had to deal with in His life and ministry?
3. What does Jesus teach (in Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16, Matthew 14:22-23, Matthew 26:36-46, and Luke 6:12-13) about the importance of hitting the brakes on life and spending time with God? When, where, and how did he do this? How can these verses help you in practicing this discipline?
4. When you read Matthew 26: 36-46, what was Jesus struggling with before this time and how did this time with God change Him and prepare Him for the rest of the day and the cross? How do you think quiet times with God change you?
Taking it Home:
Commit to yourself and to God that this Christmas season you will intentionally spend time alone with God.
Read and study the Christmas teaching in Matthew Chapter 2. Notice all the Old Testament prophecies that Jesus fulfilled in His birth. Also read Luke 1-2 and enjoy the journey of Mary and Joseph as well as Elizabeth and Zechariah in the births of Jesus and John the Baptist. For the month of December, keep reading Luke’s Gospel and enjoy the person of Jesus your Savior!