Miracles: The Little Town of Bethlehem
Group Leader Guide
Sermon Recap 🎬
Pastor John Mark Caton explores the miraculous nature of fulfilled prophecy, focusing on the significance of Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah. He highlights how God provides a trail of prophetic clues throughout the Old Testament, leading to the miraculous arrival of Jesus. By examining key figures like David and the prophecies of Micah, Pastor illustrates that God's plan transcends human expectations and government actions. Ultimately, the talk emphasizes that God's overarching purpose unfolds through each breadcrumb of prophecy, culminating in the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
Ice Breaker 🧊
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, but it had to be a dessert, what would you choose?
Discussion Questions 💬
Why do you think God chose Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus, and how does that connect to the prophecies mentioned in Micah 5:2?
In the sermon, Pastor talks about how Bethlehem, referred to as the 'house of bread,' was prophesied to be the birthplace of the Messiah 700 years before Jesus was born.
How might understanding the significance of Jesus' birthplace help you in recognizing God's plan in your own life?
Pastor mentioned that sometimes God performs miracles through the natural, like in the case of Zechariah and Elizabeth. What are some examples of natural miracles you have witnessed or heard about?
The sermon highlights how God can use natural events, such as medicine and doctors, to bring about miracles in people's lives.
Reflect on a time when you saw a situation in your life or someone else's life improve in a miraculous way. How did that affect your faith?
How does the idea of 'breadcrumbs of prophecy' throughout the Old Testament help you understand God's preparation for Jesus' coming?
Pastor emphasized how through various prophecies God left clues about the coming Messiah, pointing to Jesus long before His birth.
In what ways do you see God laying out plans and clues in your own life that lead you toward a better understanding of Him?
According to the message, governments and people have their plans, but God has the ultimate plan. What are your thoughts on how sometimes our plans don’t align with God’s?
Pastor explained that both pagan governments and individuals like Joseph had plans, but God's plan ultimately prevailed in guiding them to Bethlehem.
Have you ever experienced a time when your plans didn’t work out, but something better came from it? How did that situation impact your view of God's plan?
How does the concept of fulfilled prophecy strengthen your faith in the Bible and God's promises?
The sermon describes how many Old Testament prophecies have been fulfilled through Jesus, showing that God’s word is reliable.
Is there a specific promise from the Bible that you hold on to during challenging times? How does that promise encourage you?
Prayer 🙏
• Ask for prayer requests from the group.
• Pray for God to help us recognize the "breadcrumbs" He has laid out in our own lives.
• Ask for strength to refer back to fulfilled prophecies in the coming week as a source of encouragement.
• Pray for opportunities to share the message of hope and fulfillment that comes from our faith.
