Jesus’ coming to earth is a turning point in God bringing peace to humanity. But this peace is not just the absence of war. It is far more as we will discover today.
Opening
- What is the one gift you are really hoping for this Christmas?
- If you could receive any “non-tangible” gift…meaning something you receive in life that you can’t actually touch (so think of an ability, or something to happen in your life, like to become a famous actor)…what would that gift be?
- What are some of the things that cause chaos in life?
Give each person some Post-It Notes and have them write on them things that cause “chaos” in their live. As they write them, have them put them on the large paper you will have been given.
Talk about these.
Talk About It
Have someone read Isaiah 9:6
Isaiah told of the coming of Jesus 700 years before Jesus was born. Isaiah was told by God what to the Jewish people about the coming of Jesus, the Messiah.
- Why do you think Jesus was being described as the Prince of Peace?
- What are the things that you have done in your life that have cause chaos to others?
(Really get the group to think about the things they have done that have hurt others…or the things that we do that hurt others
Read Ephesians 2: 14 – 18
This passage is talking about how Jesus came to bring all of humanity together. At the time that Paul wrote this, Paul was talking about how Jesus came to bring the Jewish people together with the non-Jewish people (the Gentiles). One goal of Jesus when He was walking the earth was to bring people together in unity and harmony.
- There are a lot of things in the world right now that are separating people. What are some of those things?
- What are some of the things that separate the people at your school and in our community?
- How can Jesus bring those together? (One answer to make sure the group mentions, is that when Christians live like Jesus, meaning in a loving/caring way, the world is better off).
Read Psalm 34: 14
- How do we turn from evil and do good?
- What does it mean to seek peace (meaning…look for peace)?
- What are some ways that we can pursue peace?
Closing
There are many in our world…in far off places, right here at home, and in our schools, who do not know peace. Their world is filled with chaos.
As a closing…have the group share prayer requests for people they know are in chaos. If things are sensitive, make sure they do not mention names of people.
Close with the Lord’s Prayer.