The Summit Church

Use this space to take notes.

What’s the most memorable surprise you ever received at Christmas—good OR bad—and what made it so unforgettable?

In the sermon we heard that “life is full of surprises—welcomed and unwelcomed.” How do you tend to respond when something catches you off guard? What does that reaction reveal about what you value or what you fear?

James 4:14 reminds us that we don’t control tomorrow. Where in your life right now do you feel a strong need to stay in control, and what makes it difficult to release that to God?

Ephesians 3:20 says God can do “immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.” Can you share a time when God surprised you in a good way—doing something you didn’t expect? What did you learn about God through that moment?

The Christmas story is full of unexpected twists—Mary, Joseph, the manger, the shepherds. Which part of that story speaks to you the most this year when you think about how God works in unexpected ways? Why?

In the message Pastor Jonathan said: “What is a surprise to us is never a surprise to God… He is in it with you and working through it.” If you’re walking through an unwelcomed surprise right now, what does trusting God practically look like for you in this season? (And if it’s a welcomed surprise, what does gratitude look like?)

Closing Prayer
Father, thank You that nothing surprises You. You see our lives fully—our joy, our confusion, our fears, and our hopes. Help us live with open hands, trusting Your purpose even when we don’t understand the path. For the surprises that delight us, may we be grateful. For the surprises that shake us, may we grow ever more dependent on You. Remind us that You are with us, working in all things for our good. Give us peace this week as we follow You. In Jesus’ name, amen.