The sermon describes how names in the ancient world declared both spiritual identity and destiny — in what ways does the name Emmanuel or Jesus speak into your own identity and sense of purpose today?
The preacher contrasts God’s presence in the Old Testament — fire, smoke, and cloud — with God becoming flesh in Jesus, suggesting that Jesus puts a face to the name of God; how does seeing God through the person of Jesus change the way you relate to him personally?
The illustration of a parent sitting on the bed with a frightened child is used to describe God’s presence in Jesus — in what area of your life right now do you most need to experience God not just speaking reassurance from a distance but sitting beside you?
The sermon draws a connection between Joshua leading Israel into the promised land and Jesus as the greater Yeshua who leads us into true rest — what does it mean in practice for you to stop striving and enter the rest that Jesus offers?
Colossians 2 is referenced to show that Jesus disarmed spiritual rulers and authorities through the cross — what stronghold, guilt, or oppression are you currently trying to overcome in your own strength rather than surrendering to the one who has already won that victory?
The preacher points out that the words Saviour, Lord, and Messiah were politically charged in the Roman world, challenging the authority of Caesar — in what ways do we still look to worldly systems, leaders, or comforts for the peace that only Jesus can provide?
Jesus consistently moved toward those considered unworthy or unclean — the lepers, the tax collectors, the woman caught in adultery — what does this pattern in his life reveal about the kind of people God considers worthy of his attention and love?
The sermon challenges the congregation to begin building genuine friendships now rather than waiting until Christmas to invite people into faith conversations — who is the surprising or unlikely person in your life that God might be calling you to draw closer to?
The preacher suggests that reading the four Gospels is one of the most accessible ways to become a theologian, since seeing Jesus is seeing the Father — how intentional are you currently about spending time in the Gospels, and what might change if you devoted even eight minutes a day to that practice?
The sermon closes with three reflective questions — recognising Emmanuel, surrendering to Yeshua, and extending the table to outsiders — which of these three do you sense is the most urgent invitation for you personally in this season, and why?
MEN
- “God with us” — not just God above us
The sermon compared God’s presence to a parent sitting on the bed with a frightened child, not just shouting advice from the corridor.
Question: Where do you most need to know Emmanuel — God with us at the moment: work, family, health, loneliness, decisions, grief, stress? - What name of Jesus do you need today?
Jesus was given the name meaning “the Lord saves”, and Emmanuel means “God with us”.
Question: Which speaks to you more right now — Jesus as the One who saves/delivers, or Emmanuel as the One who stays close? Why? - Where are we looking for peace?
The sermon challenged us: are we looking for peace in what the world offers — money, success, comfort, Amazon, social media, politics — or in Christ?
Question: Honestly, where are men most tempted to look for peace instead of Jesus? And what helps you return to Christ? - Making the table bigger
The shepherds were outsiders, yet they were the first to hear the good news. Jesus kept welcoming the unlikely, the rejected, and the written off.
Question: Who are the “unlikely” people around us that God may be calling us to befriend, include, or invite in — long before Christmas comes round? - Knowing God by looking at Jesus
The sermon encouraged us to read the Gospels because Jesus shows us what God is like.
Question: If you had to describe God using something you’ve seen in Jesus’ life — his mercy, courage, holiness, patience, compassion, authority — what would you choose and why?
WOMEN
- Emmanuel — God with us
The sermon reminded us that God doesn’t just call from a distance; in Jesus, He comes close and sits with us in our fear, sorrow, and uncertainty.
Question: Where in your life do you most need to know “God with me” this week? - What name of Jesus speaks to you today?
Jesus means “the Lord saves”, and Emmanuel means “God with us”.
Question: Which name feels especially precious to you at the moment — Emmanuel or Jesus/Yeshua — and why? - Mary treasured and pondered
After the shepherds came, Mary “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
Question: Is there something God has been doing or saying in your life recently that you need to treasure, ponder, or make space to notice? - Come to Me and I will give you rest
The sermon reminded us that Jesus gives rest not because we’ve achieved enough, but because we come to Him.
Question: What burdens do we often try to carry in our own strength — and what might it look like to surrender them to Jesus? - Making our table bigger
The shepherds were unlikely first guests to the Christmas story, and Jesus welcomed outsiders throughout His ministry.
Question: Who might God be inviting us to notice, befriend, encourage, or welcome more intentionally in this season?
FAMILY
- Names matter
In the sermon, we heard that Jesus was given names with meaning: Emmanuel means “God with us” and Jesus means “the Lord saves.”
Question: Do you know why your name was chosen? If you could choose a name that described you, what would it be? - God with us
The sermon said God doesn’t just shout advice from far away — He comes close to us, like a parent sitting with a frightened child.
Question: When do you feel scared, worried, or lonely? How might it help to remember that God is with you? - Where do we look for peace?
We all try to find peace in different places — screens, toys, shopping, food, being liked, winning, or having everything go our way.
Question: What helps you feel calm when life feels stressful? How can we remember to talk to Jesus when we need peace? - Jesus welcomed outsiders
The first people told about Jesus’ birth were shepherds — people others often ignored. Jesus also spent time with people who were left out or looked down on.
Question: Is there someone at school, work, church, or in our neighbourhood who might feel left out? What could we do to include or encourage them? - Don’t wait for Christmas
The sermon ended by saying we don’t have to wait until Christmas to know Jesus as Emmanuel, “God with us.”
Question: What is one way our family could make space for Jesus this week — praying together, reading a Bible story, helping someone, inviting someone round, or showing kindness?
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