Don't Leave Jesus Behind

In one paragraph

On the Sunday after Christmas, Pastor Mark walked the congregation through the one and only story of the boy Jesus in the canonical Gospels, Luke 2, covering the trip to Jerusalem for Passover when Jesus was twelve and the three anxious days his parents spent searching for him. The sermon pressed on a single honest observation: it is possible to leave Jesus behind without even noticing, and the...

Read together

1. Luke 1 Mary's song of praise, quoted at the opening of the service
2. Luke 2 The story of Simeon at the temple, used during the offering
3. Luke 2:40 The child grew and became strong, increasing in wisdom and the favor of God was upon him
4. Luke 2:41-42 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of Passover, and when he was 12 years old
5. Luke 2:43-45 The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem and his parents were unaware, going a day's journey before searching
6. Luke 2:46-47 After three days they found him in the temple sitting among the teachers, listening and asking questions
7. Luke 2:48 Mary says to Jesus, son, why have you treated us this way, your father and I have been anxiously looking for you
8. Luke 2:49 Jesus asks why they were looking for him and did they not know he had to be in his Father's house
9. Luke 2:50-51 They did not understand, and he went down with them and continued to be subject to them, and Mary treasured these things in her heart
10. Luke 2:52 Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and with people
11. Galatians 5:25 Used as the benediction, if we walk by the Spirit let us keep pace with the Spirit

Talk about it

1. Pastor Nathan pointed out that Mary and Joseph left Jesus behind without realizing it, and that all their relatives and acquaintances were with them but Jesus was not. Has there been a season in your own life when you assumed Jesus was with you and then realized he wasn't? What did that feel like?
2. When Mary finally found Jesus, she was upset and took personal offense, even though she knew who he was. Why do you think knowing the truth about Jesus did not protect her from that reaction, and what does that tell us about our own moments of frustration or fear?
3. Pastor Nathan described the 12-year-old Jesus as both listening to the teachers and asking them genuine questions, and said that all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. What does that picture of Jesus suggest about how we ought to approach learning and conversation in our own lives?
4. The sermon described the Greek word charis as God freely extending himself toward people because he is always leaning toward them, and said the Christmas story is God saying he will dwell among us. How does that image of God constantly leaning toward people affect the way you think about your relationship with him?
5. Pastor Nathan closed with the benediction from Galatians, saying we should keep pace with the Holy Spirit and not leave him behind. What is one practical thing that, for you personally, tends to cause you to fall out of step with the Spirit?