Week Four

Part 4: The unexpected visitors turn up again — Extracts from Mary’s Diaries

This month all of our readings come from the first two chapters of Luke’s Gospel as we take time to enter the story of the Nativity anew, eyes open to the interplay between the expected and the unexpected. If you are using this material for personal study or as part of a group you may want to make time to read all of the first two chapters of Luke (perhaps prior to meeting if in a group) before returning to look at particular verses in the questions below.

Read Luke 2: 1-5

Life with Jesus doesn’t remove us from stress. Take time to think about stress levels and the strategies we see in scripture to help us manage them.

Read Luke 2: 6-7

Learning to make the most of what you have is a powerful lesson. Mary’s manger solution will never be forgotten. 

What have been some ‘manger solutions’ in your life? Can you share them? Times when you’ve had to improvise on the spot. 

Read Luke 2: 8-20

The Shepherds believed and went to Bethlehem. Our lives have our own ‘Bethlehem visits’ — not literally going to Bethlehem, but moments when God calls us to see something for ourselves. Have you ever had that experience of feeling called by God to go see something?