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Study Guide: Lighting the Way Home

Saturday December 24, 2016 | Greg Boyd

Focus Scripture:


Brief Summary:

Jesus is the Light of the world, and this Light has always been at work within us, whether or not we've been aware of it. Once we surrender to that Light, we find ourselves swept up into the greatest love story of all time!


Extended Summary:

According to John 1, Jesus is called the Light of the world, and this Light has always been shining on us, whether or not we’ve been aware of it. This Light has been working in every human heart from the beginning of time, seeking to set it free that it might find its home in God.

Every human has known what it’s like to have deep yearnings, to long for something that’s greater than this world. That can’t be fulfilled by any worldly mean. This is the Light at work within us. We were designed to find our home, our rest, and our fulfillment in God, and the Light seeks to bring us home.

Because of these human longings, we find glimpses of the Christmas Story throughout mythological literature. This shouldn’t surprise us since we know the Light of the world has been at work in human hearts from the very beginning.

But in Christ, myth has become history. Christ becomes the very thing mythology has been pointing to all this time. And because of Christ, the Christmas Story can be called the greatest love story of all time!

If love can measured by the depth of sacrifice given by a lover, then God paid the highest price, crossed the farthest distance, and made the greatest sacrifice when he came as a baby to demonstrate his love for us. Truly, it is the greatest story ever told! But one that is true and not a myth.

Our hearts ache for this kind of love, and nothing satisfies it apart from God. This is why we don’t feel totally at home until we find that Love and Light. So when we surrender to that Light, we find ourselves swept up into the greatest love story for which our hearts have always hungered.

Jesus, the Light of the world, has come and this is good news!


Reflection Questions:

  1. What longings have you had that you’ve been unable to fulfill by worldly means alone?
  2. What dreams do you have that show you that the Light is at work within you?
  3. How can you start turning to God as the fulfillment of your deepest yearnings?
  4. Understanding the depth of God’s love for you, how can that not only change your holiday weekend but the trajectory of your life as well?
  5. Where in your life do you see evidence of Love and Light transforming you?

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