ICEBREAKER
Take a moment to welcome everyone to the group, have everyone introduce themselves with their name, grade, and favorite part of high school so far.
Once everyone goes we are going to play a game called the 5 “H’s”
Have everyone go around one at a time answering these 5 “H’s”, after you get done with the 5 H’s have a one minute “Hot Seat” where anyone in the group can ask a question for 60 seconds.
For sake of time, you might only do part of the group this week and continue next week.
HERITAGE (YOUR FAMILY HISTORY)
HERO AND WHY
HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR LIFE
HARDSHIP
HOPE (FOR THE FUTURE)
— HOT SEAT —
Chapter 1 ends at 5:30 on the video
QUESTIONS
1) Why do you think Matthew included the list of all the names at the beginning of the chapter?
2) In verse 23 it reads that the baby will be called Immanuel. Immanuel is a Hebrew word that means. “God with us.” What is the significance that in that time and that place in history that God was with them?
3) We are reading about the birth of Jesus. In what ways have you experienced Jesus and his followers in your life?
– Has Jesus followers represented him well?
– When you hear the words of Jesus, do you have a good or bad image of Jesus?
4) What is a word or phrase to summarize Chapter 1 of Matthew?
1) Why do you think Matthew included the list of all the names at the beginning of the chapter?
Have students pick up their bible and read each verse mentioned below:
Genesis 12:3 says the Messiah will be a descendant of Abraham and Abraham will bless all the families of the world.
Jeremiah 23:5-6 says the Messiah will be a descendant of David
That is why Matthew 1 states that Jesus was the Son of David and the Son of Abraham
ALSO
This may just look like a list of names, but for the Jewish reader, this is a list of stories, a list of broken people. God can use broken people to bring the Messiah (Jesus)
2) In verse 23 it reads that the baby will be called Immanuel. Immanuel is a Hebrew word that means. “God with us.” What is the significance that in that time and that place in history that God was with them?
There are many religions where people are trying to “get to God” trying to live a perfect life, trying to work there way to heaven. Yet Christianity is the only religion where God came to us to rescue us. God with us, means that God came down from Heaven to be with us, to save us
…. but let’s spoil the end of the story just yet…
3) We are reading about the birth of Jesus. In what ways have you experienced Jesus and his followers in your life?
– Has Jesus followers represented him well in your life?
– When you hear the words of Jesus, do you have a good or bad image of Jesus?
Be open, maybe share examples when people weren’t “Christ-like” to you
4) What is a word or phrase to summarize Chapter 1 of Matthew?