Sermon Series: In My Father’s House

Text Study for Dec 29, 2024

printable version

Reading: Luke 2:25-35

Connecting Question

· Who is an elder who spoke into your life?

· What is one thing you want to “see happen” in your lifetime?

Prayer for Illumination

by Howard Thurman

When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with their flocks,
the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry,
to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among the people,
to make music in the heart.

CONTEXT

Merry Christmas, Jesus is born! Now what? The Bible shares only a few stories of Jesus before he starts public ministry. Our next sermon series, In My Father’s House, will explore these stories of Jesus’ childhood and youth. We hope you will learn more about Jesus. How can we use the lessons to raise young people up in faith, grow in our own faith, and listen together for God’s promises among us? Join us as we focus on God’s greatest gift, love in human form.

From Dr Matt Skinner at EntertheBible.org:

In Luke’s prologue (1:1-4) the author addresses a person named Theophilus. Some people think that this Theophilus was an actual historical figure for whom the author prepared a new Gospel. The designation “most excellent Theophilus” may indicate that he was powerful, perhaps a wealthy patron who commissioned the writing of the book. Others suggest, because this common name from the ancient world means either “lover of God” or “beloved by God,” that Theophilus could be the author’s generic designation for any reader. Whether the prologue indicates a real or symbolic reader cannot be known, yet clearly it reflects the author’s purpose for the book–that it was meant to fortify the faith of people who already had been instructed about Jesus Christ.

Look at the Book

Merry Christmas! What Christmas song speaks to you?
Open to Luke 2:25. What happens just before this?
Why do you think we know so little of Jesus’s childhood?
What was a joyful memory from your childhood?
As a young person, who was someone you looked up to and inspired you?
Anyone can explain the downsides of being an elder, but what gifts does age give us?
Simeon was in a posture of waiting. Why? Waiting is also a key theme of Advent. Why?
In Luke, 2:25-27, someone else has been showing up and helping Simeon. Who? Is this surprising?
Remember, Luke and Acts are parts one and two of the same book scholars believe. The Holy Spirit is present. What is the spirit doing in this passage?
Google Martin Luther’s Small Catechism and find Article III of the Apostle’s Creed. What does it say? What surprises you about it?
Read Simeon’s song starting in verse 28. What is he saying? What does that say about the character of God?
What would you like to talk about that we have not yet?

Taking it Home

We learn about the prophet Anna—she is named! What inspires you about Anna? Why?

God of the promise, you call your people together into your one mission in Christ’s name. Make us brave, grant us peace, challenge our expectations, and empower us to truly follow your Spirit’s lead. You are our one God who calls us together as one people, and we thank you in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Grow Guide | Dec 29, 2024