INWARD PRAYER

QUESTIONS

1. What does it mean to value something?
2. What do you find harder: Valuing yourself, others or God? Why?
3. Apart from their humility, why do you think God chose to tell the shepherds first?
4. If you were entrusted with news like this, how do you think you would respond?
5. You have been entrusted with the gospel, how will your respond?

OUTWARD PRAYER

Our value is misplaced. But God is with us.

WEEK 2 November 23-29

WHAT’S THE POINT?
When we misplace value it can have an adverse effect on us and those around us. But the amazing thing about Jesus is that he is Immanuel [God-with-us] and in him all misplaced value can be restored.

1. Value is found in humility
2. We show value to whom we are vulnerable with
3. When we misplace value, Jesus can redeem it because he is with us.

WORD UP

Luke 2:1-20 Shepherds

At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.

6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

The Shepherds and Angels

8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,

and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

WAKE UP
Valuable Test: Name 10 different items and ask students to guess the cost (car, chocolate bar, cruise etc.)

OR Bill’s Grocery Bills Video.

 

WHY DO I CARE?

1. Value is found in humility

• The shepherds were the least important people, no social connections, few friends yet God chose to break the biggest news story in history to them.
• The shepherds were just doing their job faithfully
• God speaks clearly to the humble
• Humility brings honour

2. We show value to whom we are vulnerable with

• The shepherds were elevated by the angel’s message
• Showing value can unlock potential in people
• Valuing people leads to action

3. When we misplace value, Jesus can redeem it because he is with us.

• Immanuel “God with us”
• Through Jesus, misplaced value can is found
• True value for us and those around us can only be found in Jesus
• When our number one source of value comes from other sources it leaves us broken and longing for more.

“The mission we have been entrusted with is not about adding value to something worthless but restoring value to something priceless.” Pete Hughes – All Things New

WHAT DO I DO?

Sometimes we don’t know where to begin when valuing someone.
Valuing someone simply means you consider them important and worthwhile. Just like the shepherds, God saw them as important and worthwhile, just as he believes the same about you and me.

The first thing is realizing you have eternal value. The Christmas story is the coming of a King who stepped down from the glory and splendour of Heaven into the poverty of humanity. Jesus walked in our shoes and eventually died for our sins: an eternal God dying for us. This means that the value of your life is related to the cost paid for it… ETERNAL. Start by acknowledging you are a person of incredible value who is deeply loved by God.

Secondly, when we misplace value. When we devalue others or ourselves, know that Jesus can redeem all brokenness and calls us back to him again.

Finally, we are called to show this value and speak God’s truth and life into this around us.
Here are 10 simple ways you can value someone:

1 // OFFER ENCOURAGEMENT

Whether it’s to the waiter who accidentally messed up your order or to your passive-aggressive relative, a kind word can turn away anger for both parties.

2 // SMILE AND TAKE TIME TO ASK, “HOW ARE YOU?”

In our fast-paced world, investing a little time into hearing from another person values their story and what’s going on in his or her life.

3 // GIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT. DON’T ASSUME, ASK YOURSELF, “DO I KNOW THIS FOR SURE?”

Don’t assume the worst of others or their ill-intent towards you.

4 // GIVE OF YOUR RESOURCES

Be generous, especially towards people who could never repay you.

5 // ASK QUESTIONS AND LISTEN WELL

Often when we know more about a person, we can offer more grace and compassion.

6 // OFFER TO HELP

Instead of getting mad about someone inconveniencing you, offer to help by assisting or teaching.

7 // BE HONEST

Jesus was full of both grace and truth. Gracious honesty values others because it looks out for other’s long-term good.

8 // SERVE WITHOUT BEING ASKED

If you see a need, meet it. You’ll show others that you see and value their needs above your own.

9 // INVITE

Pursuing and inviting others reveals that you value them enough to think about them and create space for them in your life.

10 // BE PATIENT

Patience—offered to your siblings, friends, or others—shows you value someone over and above your own schedule.