First Sunday After Christmas: Lost at Home

Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, obviously, if there is a meal)

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In pairs or groups of three, have participants share a story about when their parents/guardians had to search for them or when they had to search for a child or friend (or something else precious that was lost and then found).

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes)

Read: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 and Luke 2:41-52

How would you have felt if you had been Mary or Joseph searching for Jesus?

Scared
Fearful
Assured
Confused
Other

What do we learn about Jesus and his family from this passage? [Mary was not required to travel to Jerusalem. The fact that she does displays the pious nature of the family.]
(R) What might this story suggest about Jesus’ views of family bonds?
How has this Advent and the preparations for Christmas helped us to desire being at home with God? What did you learn that will help you be a better disciple going forward?
(R) How might we notice how and when God searches for us? How might we be more concerned for the things of God?
(R) What habit (or habits) would help you more diligently search for God?

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End by praying the following or a similar prayer:

At the right time, you sent your Son into the world. Many sought after the Messiah then, and we continue to do so today. As we search, help us to realize more diligent than our search, God searches us out to bless us through the abundance of God’s grace. Amen.