Week 1: Christmas Invitations: Invited in Advance – Mark 1:1-8
Mark 1:1-8 tells us about two people that were part of God’s plan for redemption: Isaiah and John the Baptist. God invites people into His great story and mission. You are invited into the story as well…and maybe you don’t that yet. God has long had a plan for you to be included as well. You are invited to find His plan and find your purpose, so you can find your place in God’s great story and God’s great mission.
LIVE OAK CONNECTION POINT:
Live Oak is excited and honored to partner with our local Salvation Army by Registering to Ring! We are inviting Live Oaker’s to grab some friends, your family or your small group and sign up to ring the bell this holiday season.
You can register to ring here or at Sign Up & Events on our Live Oak App & website.
DISCUSSION/REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
- What was a highlight from your Thanksgiving week?
- What is something you are looking forward to about the Christmas season?
READ: Mark 1:1-8 (Malachai 3:1; Isaiah 40:3-5)
Spend some time SOAPing this passage. You can either spend time SOAPing individually and documenting for a several minutes and then spend time sharing with each -OR- SOAP in real time with each other. Either way make as many observations as you can.
- Observations: What are the things that stand out to you about this passage?
- How would you summarize this passage in one sentence?
- What does this passage tell me about who God is?
- What does this passage tell me about who I am?
Doug said, “700 years before John showed up to part of God’s story of redemption God planned the arrival of Jesus in advance. God planned on inviting John into the story in advance…700 hundred years before Jesus would show up in Mary’s womb and a manger in Bethlehem, Isaiah was invited into the story, as were John and others…John’s parents Elizabeth, Zechariah…but they didn’t even know it yet. You are invited into the story…and maybe you don’t that yet. You are INVITED into God’s great story and mission. And, you have a PART to PLAY in God’s great story and mission.”
- What part do you think you have to play in God’s great story and mission?
READ: Psalm 139:16; Jeremiah 1:5; Ephesians 2:10.
- Discuss these verses and what it tells you about who God is and who you are?
- What are some ways we can discover God’s plans for us?
God made plans for you IN ADVANCE to be part of His great story and His great mission.
- What are some ways you can say “YES” to God’s invitation to be part of His great story and mission?
Doug suggested planning in advance how you will do “Christmas on purpose”. How will you be intentional this Christmas season in the following ways in these 3 areas:
- Festive Fun: How can you be merry, festive and get into the holidays in some fun ways?
Example: Christmas decorating, make a fun Christmas playlist, go look at Christmas lights, watch a Christmas movie, etc.
- Focusing on Jesus: How can you focus on and celebrate Jesus?
Examples: Read the Christmas story in the Bible, Attend and invite to the Christmas Eve services, reflect on the meaning of the Christmas Carols you sing, etc.
- Serving Others: How can you give of your time, money and attention to those in need?
Examples: Give money at a Red Kettle and/or sing up to Ring the Bell for the Salvation Army,
- What else stood out from this week’s sermon?
- APPLICATION: What is your big takeaway from this week’s sermon? Be specific.
NEXT STEPS:
Everyone has a next step to apply what we have learned. What is your next step?Be specific.
*** 3 SERVICES (8:30am/10am/ 11:30am):
>What service will you be ATTENDING starting January 11, 2026?
>If you already serve on Sundays, what service will you be SERVING starting January 11?
>If you not already serving on Sundays, would you pray about serving on Sundays to allow us to create a service for us to make room for more?
*Go to SIGN UP & EVENTS to let us know which service you will be attending and serving, or to sign up to serve, and to help us decide which sermon series will kick off the 3 services era of Live Oak.
MEMORY VERSE: *Challenge yourself or your group to commit this verse to memory:
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
PRAYER:
Spend some time praying for each other.
Scripture References:
Matthew 1-2; Luke 1-2; John 1:1-18; Mark 1:1-8; Malachai 3:1; Isaiah 40:3-5; Isaiah 9:6; Psalm 139:16; Jeremiah 1:5; Ephesians 2:10; Mark 16:15