Advent 2020

[The Conspiracy - 1] So, what happened? What was once a time to your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy celebrate the birth of the Savior has somehow turned Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you are to name him 22 into a season of stress, traffic jams, and shopping , for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord lists. And when it's all over, many of us are left with through the prophet: 23‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and presents to return, looming debt that will take bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel’, which months to pay off, and this empty feeling of missed means, ‘God is with us.’ 24When Joseph awoke from sleep, purpose. he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her 25 • Is this what we really want out of ? as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus. • Is this God’s intention for Christmas? Key Concepts • What if Christmas became a world-changing event again? Christmas is about giving presence, not presents!

Welcome to Advent Conspiracy! Worship Fully because Christmas begins and ends with Jesus The Advent Conspiracy is a movement by Christians to reclaim the true meaning of Christmas. It takes its name Spend Less free your resources from frivolous from the word advent meaning coming, God coming near in things for things that truly matter the birth and life of Jesus Christ. Conspiracy implies Give More give more of your hands, your words, something revolutionary, counter-cultural, and life changing. your time, your heart For many who embrace celebrating Christmas Share Hope because the story of Jesus’ birth is a differently, this is exactly what they have story of hope for all people experienced. Love All give Jesus a birthday present by This is your invitation to join the groundswell of helping the needy in ways that make a Christ-followers who are choosing to make Christmas real difference what it should be –a joyous celebration of Jesus’ birth, not a retail circus and scheduling nightmare. Goals This discussion guide is designed to help you, your family and your friends begin to reflect on and • Keep the focus on Christ. discuss how the celebration of Christ’s birth can look • No Debt Christmas-create a spending plan that and feel different this year. In it you will find is well within your means and stick to it. questions and ideas to help you build your plan. Choose the practices which will best prepare you for a • Give away as much to those you don’t know as more meaningful Christmas. you spend on those you do know.

Matthew 1:18-25 Getting Started 18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this In the following you will find practical tools as well as way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, questions appropriate for different age levels. Set but before they lived together, she was found to be with aside time to have conversation with those in your 19 child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a household, your friends, and maybe even your righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public extended family. You do not need to discuss every disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20But just when he question. Use the ones which best suit your household had resolved to do this, an angel of situation. the Lord appeared to him An in a dream and Important said, ‘Joseph, Reminder son of David, do We live in a not be afraid to take Mary as culture where

[2] DISCUSSION STARTERS Questions to help reflect one your practices leading through Advent

• What is your favorite Christmas • What makes a memory? Why is it your gift memorable favorite? and meaningful to you? • What does Christmas mean to you? • What would be the response Giving Gifts from your friends and • What does gift giving mean during Christmas? family if you were to suggest • Do you remember what gifts you they make a gave last year? Who received donation to your them? favorite charity • Who is on your list for this year? as their gift to Why are they on your list? you? Or if you totally released • Are they on your list out of them from obligation, joy, thankfulness...? giving to you? • Are there persons in your life who have supported, encouraged Spending and loved you who you want to • Does what we spend on someone thank this Christmas? Who are determine how we feel about they? What would be a them? Does gift giving have to meaningful way to thank them? cost a lot of money?

• How could you make gifts or buy • How did you spend your time last gifts which are more meaning- Christmas? (worshipping, gift full, thought-full, beauty-full, preparation, shopping, personal, and intentional this decorating, entertaining, serving year? others) How do plan to budget • What would be the significance of your time differently this year to buying fewer, more meaningful guard against busyness and gifts? stress? • Just as the wise ones gave gifts to Receiving Gifts Jesus, what is some thing you • Do you remember what gifts you might give to a poor child in received last year? Do you know need? where those gifts are? • What would it mean for your • Do you remember what you household to serve others asked for? Why did you ask for together as a family this it? Christmas?

• If you only received one gift this Christmas, what would it be?

[3] Week One WORSHIP FULLY

OPENING QUESTIONS them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had 1. Most of us have very specific memories about the been told them. Christmas season, both positive and negative. What are some of those positive memories? How would you describe 1. The shepherds are well-known participants in the the best Christmas you ever had as a child? What made it Christmas narrative. Think about images you have seen on special for you? traditional Christmas cards, nativity scenes, or even the way shepherds are portrayed in a typical church 2. Do you still look forward to the Christmas season? If so, Christmas program. How have we been led to picture these what do you enjoy about the season? If you no longer first visitors to the manger? Christmas, why not? In this passage, we are told that the shepherds were a 3. What word would best describe what you want to socially despised group (poor, criminal, outcast). Can you experience this year during the Christmas season? What think of any parallels to this group today? are some obstacles that get in the way of that happening? The shepherds are the first ones to whom the angels VIDEO DISCUSSION: Talking About Worship announced the birth of Christ. What does that tell us about the heart of God toward social outcasts? How does this 1. What works, makes it unique, for you in corporate relate to the message of Christmas? worship? What helps you engage in corporate worship? What are you missing during the Pandemic? 2. In what ways does the worship of the shepherds differ from our celebration of Christmas? What are some specific 2. What gets in the way of your worship in community? ways in which our contemporary celebration of Christmas 3. How do you find the time to be with God, or know God’s moves us away from the worship the shepherds presence, outside corporate worship? experienced? What can we do to recapture that sense of wonder and gratitude? ENGAGING THE WORD 3. What could you do differently this Advent? Read Luke 2:8-20 together as a group. UNWRAPPING THE MESSAGE In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of We see the shepherds not only approaching the manger in the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord a spirit of worship, we see them moving into their world to shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel proclaim the good news. The announcement that God has said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you given us his Son changes everything. Who still needs to good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born hear this good news? Think of some specific people and this day in the city of David a Savior, who is ways that your family, group, or church can bring this the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign announcement to the world? What might that "Understand what look like this Christmas? for you: you will find a child wrapped in you're doing and bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And why you're doing 2. God has drawn near. He was born as a baby suddenly there was with the angel a it. This is not that night in . Through Jesus, he multitude of the heavenly host, praising about anger, walked among us and the story forever changed. God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the disgust, or This is what we celebrate each Christmas. This is highest heaven, and on earth peace guilt-it is about what the songs proclaim. This is the story we tell among those whom he favors!’ When the entering the story of Jesus to the world each year. What If the choices that angels had left them and gone into we make this year about our spending and the heaven, the shepherds said to one more deeply with a desire to way we give gifts to one another were a part of another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and worship more our worship? see this thing that has taken place, which fully. It is not the Lord has made known to us.’ So they enough to say no The Advent season IS our chance to celebrate the went with haste and found Mary and to the way wondrous moment when God entered our world Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. Christmas is to make things right. It is a season of worship. When they saw this, they made known celebrated by This is the foundation for our conspiracy. Close what had been told them about this child; many; we need to this session by praying as a group for a fresh and all who heard it were amazed at what say yes to a encounter with God during this season of the shepherds told them. But Mary different way of Advent. Pray for a desire to worship more fully celebrating." treasured all these words and pondered and for opportunities to enter into the ongoing story of Jesus and his work in this world. [4] Week Two SPEND LESS OPENING QUESTIONS something, only to discard it soon after because it had lost its luster? Share an example with the group. 1. "What do you want for Christmas?" This is a question that many of us have been asked since we were children. But often we don't get what we want. Share with one another about a time (Christmas or otherwise) when you didn't get what you wanted. How did you respond to the disappointment? 2. Now talk about a time when you got exactly what you wanted. How long were you satisfied with the gift? How long did the joy last? What can we learn from these experiences?

DVD DISCUSSION 1. The authors suggest that the fastest growing religion in the world isn't Islam or Christianity, but "radical consumerism." Do you agree or disagree with this statement? In what ways are we drawn to this kind of worship? 2. Consider all of the advertisements you are exposed to every Christmas. What are some specific examples that have affected you? What emotions do they arouse in you? How might they contribute to a sense that you are lacking something in your life? How can we become more aware and less susceptible to such messages?

ENGAGING THE WORD Read James 5:1-6 together as a group. Come now, you rich people, weep and wail for the miseries that are coming to you. Your riches have rotted, and your clothes are moth- eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days. Listen! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts on a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous one, who does not resist you. 1. What are some of the specifIC sins that James condemns In this passage? What are some of the consequences that will come to those who put their trust in wealth and riches?

In what ways have you experienced the truth of this passage in your own life? Have you ever purchased

[5] Week Two SPEND LESS Read Matthew 6:19-24 together as a group. ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where The Song of Mary Magnificat Luke 1:46-55 thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, ‘The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; * your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If From this day all generations will call me blessed: * then the light in you is darkness, how great is the the Almighty has done great things for me, darkness! and holy is his Name. ‘No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either He has mercy on those who fear him * hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one in every generation. and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. He has shown the strength of his arm, * 2. In verses 19 and 20, Jesus draws a comparison between he has scattered the proud in their conceit. earthly and heavenly treasures. What are the differences He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, * between the two types of treasure? What do you think and has lifted up the lowly. Jesus means by verse 21? In what way is our spending He has filled the hungry with good things, * during the Christmas season a reflection of our heart? How and the rich he has sent away empty. can you encourage one another this Christmas season to He has come to the help of his servant Israel, * stay focused on the worship of God alone? for he has remembered his promise of mercy, The promise he made to our fathers, * UNWRAPPING THE MESSAGE to Abraham and his children for ever. 1.We hear noted that "Christmas is a season of excess." Unfortunately, this is more accurate than most of us want to admit. In what way does this season become a "season of excess" for you? Food? Drink? An overstuffed schedule? Overspending? How does this leave you feeling after the holiday is over? 2. As parents, teachers, and adult role models, what does your approach to gift-giving at Christmas teach children about worship? What does it teach them about contentment? What are some practical ways that you can use this season as an opportunity to teach children how to handle money responsibly? What are the important lessons that you would like to teach them? Perhaps you come to the end of this session feeling a sense of frustration or even defeat. The struggle against wanting more and more is very real indeed. The unrealistic expectations we place on things that rust and fall apart is a truth that each of us must face. This is the heart of the Advent Conspiracy. More than just an invitation to say no to overspending and mindless gifts, we're asking you to say yes to a new way of celebrating Christmas. When we resist the empire of consumerism, our time and money are freed up and we are able to give relational gifts to others.

[6] Week Three GIVE MORE

OPENING QUESTIONS God was here in flesh and blood and by his life, death, and resurrection, we now have hope. This is what the 1. Everyone makes jokes about the infamous , Incarnation means to us. All the prophecies, all the that sweater you'd never wear in public, or any number of promises, came down to this one very relational gift. The other gifts that didn't really have you in mind when they Father gave the most personal gift ever-his Son. were given. Without naming names or getting in trouble with anyone in your group, what's the most impersonal gift Now we can creatively give to one another the gift of you've been given? ourselves. It becomes more about "presence" than "presents." And it is in these moments that others begin to 2. Now let's be even more honest: what's the most get a sense of who God is. Perhaps even a watching world impersonal gift you've ever will take notice as we worship given? Is there a story him and love one another. behind it you can share? In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, Perhaps as we now take this and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with Conspiracy outside the walls of God. All things came into being through him, and without VIDEO DISCUSSION our own churches and homes, him not one thing came into being. What has come into the world itself will be loved What are some of the ways being in him was life, and the life was the light of all that you have chosen to people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness and served. celebrate Christmas? did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, Even as you consider the whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to personal aspects of what it will What are some of the the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself mean to express love to those dangers when we associate was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The who are close to you, love solely with the giving of true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the material objects? What are world. He was in the world, and the world came into being remember that God is calling some other ways that we can through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to us to love the world outside give that dearly what was his own,[c] and his own people did not accept our current relationships. If communicate love? him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, the Incarnation is at the heart he gave power to become children of God, who were born, of the Christmas story, it is not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, ENGAGING THE still at the heart of our story. but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among In other words, God still wants WORD us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s to move into the Read John 1:1-14 with fresh only son, full of grace and truth. neighborhood ... every eyes and fresh ears. neighborhood. Be sure to read Chapter 6 of this book before 1. How does this passage your group gathers next. bring us back to the miracle of Christmas? Share with one another an aspect of the As you go into the next few days considering the invitation Incarnation that you don't want to forget this Advent. to enter the story with us, listen to the words of William Wilberforce, a follower of Jesus who was instrumental in Read Matthew 1:18-23 and Isaiah 7:14. ending the slave trade in England. Listen to his strong 2. Discuss the significance of the name "Immanuel" What words that call us to do more than talk about doing things are some ways that you hope to experience God as differently: "Immanuel" in your own life this Christmas? How can you Get going. Be useful, generous, moderate and self- give the gift of God's presence to others? Think of some denying in your manner of life. Treat the lack of specific ideas for giving relationally. positive action on your part as sin. If God chooses to bless you with material prosperity, don't use it on UNWRAPPING THE MESSAGE the absurd task of keeping up with the current 1. As you consider what it means to give relationally, what trends and fads. By using your money modestly and is it that most excites you? What part of this kind of . without display, show that you are not a slave to giving will be the biggest challenge for you? What's the fashion. Be an example of someone who uses his or biggest risk? her wealth for purposes that are more important than showing off or making a big impression. 2. How could you engage Christmas differently? Are there Demonstrate through the way you live that worldly any ideas that seemed to fit you? Did reading about other things are not even close to the value of heavenly approaches to gift-giving stir up any thoughts for the gifts things. you'll give this year? Is there a way for your group or church to encourage one another wIth such an approach?

[7] Week Four LOVE ALL

OPENING QUESTION 1. If your church or small group were to "love all" this Advent season, what would that look like? We've all heard the rally cry to make a difference in this world, but do we really believe that it can happen? When Is there something your family or friends could do together you hear people talk about addressing global issues like to love those who might be considered "the least of these"? poverty, disease, and hunger, what's your reaction? Are 2. How do you respond when you hear stories of churches you overwhelmed? Skeptical? Excited? Apathetic? partnering with other churches? How does this type of partnership express unity in the body of Christ? VIDEO DISCUSSION What are some ways that churches in your community 1. What is your reaction to the story of the village chief and could partner together? his response to "good news"? Have you ever met anyone with a similar response? Can Christmas still change the world? Hopefully by now you're realizing that we believe the Advent of our Savior is 2. When you hear the latest statistic or book that tells you the moment on which all our hopes rest. We believe that how the world views Christians, what is your honest first Christmas really did forever change the world. But we reaction? Do you get defensive? Angry? Are you are asking you to consider the possibility that the way we indifferent? celebrate the birth of Jesus can also change the world. Like never before, our world is in dire need of good news. And ENGAGING THE WORD we can share the very good news of God coming to earth. Read Luke 2:7 -24. We can tell that story in both word and deed. The hope, the restoration, the forgiveness, the compassion, and the sheer 1. Perhaps you and your friends or family have often read generosity of God- this is what people need to see and know Luke 2:1-24 as a Christmas tradition. But consider the and trust. As we laugh and celebrate and mourn and grieve dirty manger, the seemingly indifferent community of and serve and notice and touch the lives of others, we Bethlehem, the not-too-impressive first visitors after reflect the very love of God. And we believe that when we Jesus' birth, and the temple sacrifice of two doves or love as we have been so outrageously loved, Christmas can pigeons (a provision made in Leviticus 12:8 if a lamb was still bring change to the world. too expensive) ... all of these are subtle clues that Jesus was born into poverty. Imagine reading this passage through the eyes of someone lacking the same resources as you. How might reading it this way change the way we worship this Christmas? Read Luke 4:16-21. 2. In what sense are each one of us "the poor" to whom Jesus brings his good news? In addition to this deep spiritual truth, what are some of the practical ways that we can understand Jesus' words? Read Matthew 25:34-40. 3. In the book Advent Conspiracy, the authors suggest: "This Christmas, one of the things that could distinguish a Christ-follower is a love that reaches out to the hungry and thirsty and sick and imprisoned, the unclothed and completely forgotten . What an act of worship this would be. What a glorious gift to those in need, but somehow such love is a gift to Jesus himself." In what sense are our acts of mercy and kindness a gift to Jesus? Do you believe that he takes such actions (or lack of them) personally? Does this motivate you to reach out to others? Why or why not?

UNWRAPPING THE MESSAGE

[8] SCRIPTURE

Luke 2:8-20

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’ 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ 16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

James 5:1-6

1Come now, you rich people, weep and wail for the miseries that are coming to you. 2Your riches have rotted, and your clothes are moth-eaten. 3Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days. 4Listen! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts on a day of slaughter. 6You have condemned and murdered the righteous one, who does not resist you.

Matthew 6:19-24

19 ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 ‘The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; 23but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

[9] 24 ‘No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

John 1:1-14

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The 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. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who 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.

Matthew 1:18-23

18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ 22All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel’, which means, ‘God is with us.’

Isaiah 7:14.

14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.

Luke 2:7-24

7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you:

[10] you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’ 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ 16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 21 After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’), 24and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle- doves or two young pigeons.’

Luke 4:16-21

16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 18 ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ 20And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’

Matthew 25:34-40

34Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” 37Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” 40And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

[11] Christmas Budget Worksheets Estimate what you spent on the following items related to the holidays last Christmas. DO IT DIFFERENT Here are a few ideas for celebrating Gifts Christmas differently Decorations The ideas provided are just that –ideas. You don’t have to do Hospitality all the activities or give to all the causes. The point is to (parties, holiday meals, etc.) make the holidays more meaningful, not busier or more Travel stressful. Pick a couple, have fun and remember that the Cards focus of Christmas is Christ. Other Worship Fully TOTAL * Set aside time for devotions and quiet during the season • Did you incur debt last year? How long did it instead of overloading your schedule take to pay off Christmas? * Set aside time for worship and special services • From what you remember, was it worth it? * Read the Christmas story as a family • Can you imagine spending less so that you could give more? Spend Less – Give More • What would it mean to spend half of the * Come up with a spending plan for a no debt Christmas household Christmas budget on those in need? * Give presence instead of presents (time) * Give meaningful gifts (simple, thoughtful, personal, AMOUNT GIVEN GIFTS FOR AMOUNT SPENT maybe even homemade gifts) TO THOSE IN THIS YEAR ON THOSE I KNOW NEED * Throw a gift making party * Your family, friends or coworkers could decide to skip a ex: Uncle Roger $20 ex: Heiffer Int $20 gift exchange and instead give collectively to a charity.

Share Hope * Play and give Christmas cards that share the real story of Christmas * Decorate your home or office in simple ways that tell the real story of Christmas * Go caroling * Read the Christmas Story at a holiday event or party * Invite unchurched friends and family members to the church Christmas production, Services, and/ or Christmas Day Service

Love All * Take the money you would have spent on 1 gift and give it to a charity instead. * Instead of buying something someone doesn’t need, give the money you would have spent to a charity in honor of that person as their gift. Match the charity to something that is important to that person. (If they are passionate Decorations about animals, give it to an animal related charity Some ideas for trustworthy charities doing important work are listed below.) Hospitality * Ask family and friends to make donations to your favorite charity as your Travel * Talk about different social action issues and chose one or more to invest in personally or as a household. Take time to Cards discuss who will benefit from your spending less on frivolous gifts. Pray as a household for those who will be Other receiving life-changing gifts for Christmas as a result of your decisions. TOTAL *Serve a neighbor or a local charity together as a household

[12] UPSIDE DOWN WORSHIP FULLY - SPEND LESS SHARE HOPE - LOVE ALL

[13] TURN YOUR CHRISTMAS