A simple perspective is powerful.

1. Love beyond.

"For God so loved the world..."

2. Spend less.

"...that He gave His one and only son."

3. Give more.

"For God so loved the world that He gave..."

START TALKING – GET THE CONVERSATION STARTED!

1. What is a part of your Christmas traditions that can get overly busy or overly complicated? Shopping? Decorations? Visiting friends and family? When have you chosen to or been forced to simplify this, and how did it change things?

START THINKING

1. Read 1 John 3:16-18. Define love based on these verses as if you were explaining it to someone who didn’t know what love is. Include what love does as part of your definition!
2. Read Isaiah 55:2. What are the things that we spend money on – for ourselves and for others – that (if we’re honest) don’t really satisfy?

START SHARING

1. When has someone loved you beyond themselves in a way that showed 1 John 3:16-18 coming to life? How did that impact you in a way that you wanted to ripple that

2. What. are you favorite Christmas memories from your childhood or adult life? (answer this before reading on!) Now…how many of those memories are because of how much money that was spent or because of a gift you received, versus the people you were with?

START DOING

1. Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-4. If we follow the example of this generous group of people from Macedonia, what will we do? How will this challenge you? How will it grow your faith? How will it stretch you even when you feel like you don’t have enough to give?

2. Read Luke 6:38. How does this verse illustrate the principle that our joy and generosity are linked? When have you experienced generosity help you to experience joy?

3. If everyone in this mirco church – and in our combined church – gives their biggest and best gift to Jesus this year through today’s Christmas missions offering, what will the result be? What will the impact be that is so much greater than what we can do on our own?

START PRAYING

Each person share honestly where you feel the most stressed and complicated this Christmas. Share which of the three simple steps to a simple Christmas perspective would be the biggest need for you. Then pray for each person to experience that!