Because this is the last meeting of the Fall Quarter, the Life Group Study Questions are shorter than normal. As usual, your final meeting will include looking back on how God has worked this past quarter and taking Communion as a group. If you haven’t already, you will also take some time to fill out an online Feedback Form about your group experience and your plans for the Winter Quarter. If you have not yet filled out the Feedback Form, look for the November 27 reminder email.

The Winter Life Group Quarter will begin the week of January 14, 2024. Have a great Christmas season celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior! Merry Christmas!

LEADER NOTES

ANNOUNCEMENTS

DISCUSS PLANS FOR THE WINTER QUARTER!

Confirm no changes, adds or drops within your group

Find out from your group if they know their plans for being part of the group next quarter. They can indicate their plans on the Feedback Forms. Also, let us know of any roster updates that you know of, or changes to your meeting day, time or location for the Winter Quarter when you submit your attendance. Click the “Confirm your roster” button when you log in to your group details.

Let your group know next quarter’s dates

• Winter Sign-Ups: January 6-14
• Winter Quarter: January 14 – March 9

PRAYER FOR NEW Winter LIFE GROUP LEADERS & HOSTS
Take some time to pray for new leaders and hosts to launch new groups next quarter.

LEADER INFO

Remember to get COMMUNION SUPPLIES for the last meeting.

ONLINE FEEDBACK FORMS:
If you did not do Feedback Forms at your last meeting, please make sure to have your group complete them this week. Reminder emails went out on November 27 to those who had not yet submitted their form. If anyone does not see that email, they can fill out their feedback at: lifegroups.northcoastchurch.com/feedback/  

ATTENDANCE
Submit your group’s attendance online at northcoastchurch.com/attendance. If you’re not sure how to post attendance, you can check out the guide here: lifegroups.northcoastchurch.com/how-to-post-attendance 

NOTE ABOUT THIS WEEK’S STUDY: This week’s Study Questions celebrate how God has worked this past quarter. Most of your time should be spent in the My Story and Remembering sections. Listen to the Leader Podcast for more details.

As we prepare for Christmas, here are a few fun questions to help get you in the holiday spirit!

Have fun with these questions and have everyone respond.

1. When it comes to Christmas…

• Was Santa real growing up? If so, for how long?
• When and what’s your favorite meal during Christmas?
• You typically have a good idea of what at least one present will be. (True or False)
• What’s a memorable present you received when you were young?

2. What are you looking forward to during this Christmas holiday season?

This is a good question to have everyone answer.

You can transition directly to the Remembering section to have people begin to share their experience of how God has worked and then set up Communion.

The hope and good news we have during this Christmas Season is that Jesus did not remain a child but came to be our savior, offering us grace, forgiveness, and hope. How does Isaiah 9:6-7 expand our understanding of who Jesus is and His role in our lives?

If you have time, this question will work well in conjunction with asking the questions in the next section and can further help set up your Communion time.

Isaiah 9:6-7
⁶ For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.

What about this description is similar to and different from how you typically view Jesus?

There is much we can be thankful for. As you look back on this quarter (and year), what is something in your own life and Life Group experience you are thankful for? (It can be a specific way God encouraged you, something new you learned, time spent together in your group, how your group has helped you to continue living your life for Jesus, a service project, spiritual breakthrough, growth, challenge, etc.)

Have everyone respond to this. It will also set up your Communion time. 

Option: Advent Candle lighting: This creates a great Christmas theme for this question. Use this instead of having everyone share around the circle like you normally do.

Have six to twelve candles on the table in the middle of the group. Have the middle candle lit as the Christ Candle. Before someone shares, they take a candle and light it with the Christ Candle and then share what they are thankful for from this last quarter and/or what Jesus has done for them. Once all candles are lit, they represent the light of Christ we have in us and the impact it has on the world we live. You can also add the Christmas Carols and Scripture reading after your group shares if you like. It sets up a good transition into Communion: Advent

As followers of Jesus, we are able to celebrate the Christmas season because of the amazing gift God has given us – the gift of His son Jesus, born that we might have life through His death and resurrection! Communion is about remembering just that. Our time together this week will conclude by taking Communion and remembering this great gift God has given us through His son Jesus.

To prepare for Communion, read Luke 2:1-7, Luke 22:19-20 and John 15:12-17. If you’ve been following Jesus for quite some time, chances are you’ve seen these verses many times over the years… and know the story. But remember, it’s an incredible story! As you read, take your time, and don’t miss the value and importance of remembering who Jesus is and what He has done for you.

Luke 2:1-7 New International Version (NIV)
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register. ⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 

Luke 22:19-20 New International Version (NIV)
¹⁹ And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁰ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.  

John 15:12-17 New International Version (NIV)
¹² My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other.

Option: Send this out to the people in your group to help build the setting and focus on these verses. Listen to these songs by our North Coast Worship Team while you’re reading these verses to help you reflect on the passages.

What are you most thankful for about who God is and what He has done for you in 2023?

Have this question set up your Communion.  

COMMUNION

IDEAS: You may want to involve others by asking them to read Scriptures. The bread and juice can also be set on a table in the middle of the room, and people can take Communion after you read the Scripture and pray, or while the group sings or listens to a worship song. Note the Advent candle option referred to below. 

1. PURPOSE: Introduce Communion by sharing that it’s about being intentional in remembering the great love God has for us by sending His son Jesus to die that we might have life.

2. READ: Luke 2:1-7, Luke 22:19-20 and John 15:12-17. You can have others read it or you as a leader. You could insert the sub-question above here and have people reflect on what they are thankful for about God in regard to what Jesus has done for them them in 2023.

Read I Corinthians 11:24-26 and have everyone take a Communion.
“This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.              

Music / Worship Option – Play Joy to the World while your group takes Communion – You can play it while you pass out the Communion
* Video Option – If you would like, you can use this video to lead your group in Communion. But please feel to lead it yourself if you desire to. northcoastchurch.com/communion 

3. DISTRIBUTE: As a leader/host team, you may want to serve each person as a symbol of Christ’s love and service to us. Pass the bread, thank the Lord for it and eat together. Pass the cup, thank the Lord for it and drink together.

4. PRAY: Move into prayer time, thanking Jesus for His commitment to love us and how He is working in our lives. Close your time in prayers of praise.

*If you would like to take Communion individually, feel free to use the video at northcoastchurch.com/communion to help lead you through a time of remembrance and thankfulness for what Jesus has done for you.