Darkness did not Overcome the Light!
Discipleship Group Questions
for December 25, 2005
Scripture Readings:
John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
John 1:9-14 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
Discipleship Questions:
John 1:1-5 “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.” Now who IS “The Word?” Yes, Jesus. So we can read that verse this way:
“In the beginning was Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ was with God and Jesus Christ was God. 2 Jesus Christ was in the beginning with God the Father.” Reading on now verse 3:
3 All things came into being through Jesus Christ, and without Jesus Christ not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in Jesus Christ was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light of Jesus Christ shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not – and WILL never - overcome it.” Now let’s read on verses 9 through 14:
John 1:9-14 “The true light – Jesus Christ, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him.” Did you hear that – the world did now know Him! The world not only did not know Him but did not want to know Him! The world likes shadows and darkness. Reading on: 11 “Jesus Christ came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. The Jewish religious leaders rejected Him.” Reading on – verse 12
12 “But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.” Now listen carefully to this concluding verse – verse 14:
14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Let me say repeat the verse once again but this time from the Message translation by Eugene Peterson:
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and blood,
and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
the one-of-a-kind glory,
like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
true from start to finish.
“Our culture doesn’t need any encouragement to be more self-centered and narcissistic or to stay at home on Sunday. It’s already that way. Christmas above all else should be a day when we come together as the body of Christ to worship and adore the Lord Jesus. Christmas should be the day above all days where we don't stay home and open all those things we bought for ourselves INSTEAD of going to church. Christmas should be the day when we forget about ourselves for a few hours and go and honor the birthday of the great King, our Savior.
It’s time for them to realize that they have simply capitulated to the larger culture's agenda on issue after issue, in this case in supporting the worship of the idol called family in place of the worship of Jesus. The church doesn’t exist to serve the world, but rather to save the world. The church doesn’t exist to serve the physical family but rather to redeem it and make clear that if it is a Christian family it has a larger and more primary obligation to the family of faith and to its Lord. Christmas is one of two days in the year when we should especially make that clear to our culture and our country.”
3. Please read the following and discuss it together: “We must not compromise with our culture but rather inform and transform it. We must lead our culture to the source of all life and ultimate freedom – this is what Christmas is really all about – It’s about discovering anew our living and ever present Emmanuel – God with us!
Can you see what our Lord is telling us on this most important day? He’s telling us that we must join Him in His rescue mission to earth not by compromising with the culture but by transforming it by HIS love .”
4. This is what God wants to say to us:
“Jesus Christ came into this world 2,000 years ago and the darkness did not overcome His light. Ever since, the darkness has tried to overcome His light but has and will always fail! Darkness will never overcome His light!”
Can you hear it? God wants to give us His Christmas Cheer this morning! He wants to encourage us! Are you encouraged by this? Please discuss.