Big Idea: The Christmas story can heal the pride within us.

The Christmas season can reveal the pride within us.

The Christmas story can heal the pride within us.

An apocalypse is an unveiling of the spiritual reality behind what can be seen and observed.

            Revelation 12:3-4, 7-9

            Isaiah 27:1

The Way of the Dragon

• The Dragon is powerful

  Revelation 12:3-4a

• The Dragon is a murderer

  Revelation 12:3a, 4b

• The Dragon is a liar

  Revelation 12:9

  John 8:44

  Revelation 12:7-8

The Fall of the Dragon

            Ezekiel 28:17

• Pride Blinds Us

• Pride Isolates Us

• Pride Destroys Us
  James 4:6
  Revelation 12:11

 The Way of the Lamb

            Philippians 2:5

How is pride harming the relationships in my life?

Follow the way of the Lamb, not the way of the Dragon.

MESSAGE QUESTIONS

What comes to mind when you think about Christmas? The music, the nativity, the presents under the tree, the lights in your neighborhood, and Christmas cookies are a part of it for all of us. But what if there was more? In Revelation, God reveals to us the spiritual reality behind his grand plan for all of creation. And right in the middle of that book is a Christmas story – but not a Christmas story like any you have heard before. This is the cosmic story of Christmas—the story of a woman, a dragon, and a child. And through it, God is telling us how underneath all the familiar aspects of Christmas, it is actually the beginning of the end of God’s epic war against the forces of evil and the hope for all creation. This week we will be in Revelation 12:3-4, 7-9. The big idea is—The Christmas story can heal the pride within us.

Use these questions to discuss the message from Sunday, focusing on how you can grow as an everyday follower of Jesus and how you can go accomplish what Jesus calls you to do. 

1. Read Revelation 12:1-9. Have you heard this nativity story before? What stood out to from this week’s message?

2. Read Revelation 12:3-4 again. How is the dragon described in this passage? Where did the dragon stand and how did he use his tail? Have someone read Isaiah 27:1. What powerful symbols do you notice?

3. Have someone Revelation 12:7-9. What is the ancient serpent's name and how is he described? What does the ancient serpent do? How did the war end? Have someone else read Ezekiel 28:17 to help better understand the dragon.

4. Pastor Jack shared that pride blinds, isolates, and destroys us. Which one of these is showing up in your heart this Christmas season? How is this area affecting your growth in your relationship with Jesus?

5. The Christmas story can reveal and heal the pride within us. How does the imagery of a dragon and a lamb give you confidence to go to the relationships around you with the message of Christmas? Who are you bringing with you to Christmas at Alderwood? Spend a few minutes praying for the people God is putting on your mind.