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H2H: Light In The Shadow Of Advent

H2H: Light In The Shadow Of Advent (December 8th) Opener Read Take turns reading passages through the Luke 1:5-25 & 57-80. If you have children involved, this is a great time to include the readers. [57] Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. [58] And her neighbors and […]

December 8, 2025/by Benjamin Leonard

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H2H: The First Christmas Carol

H2H: The First Christmas Carol (December 1st) Opener Read Take turns reading passages through the section. If you have children involved, this is a great time to include the readers. [39] In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, [40] and she entered the house […]

December 1, 2025/by Benjamin Leonard

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H2H: Light In The Shadow Of Advent

December 8, 2025/by Benjamin Leonard

House2House, Resources

H2H: The First Christmas Carol

December 1, 2025/by Benjamin Leonard

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House2House, Resources

H2H: Light In The Shadow Of Advent

H2H: Light In The Shadow Of Advent (December 8th)

Opener

Have you ever had someone tell you something with words, but you doubt it was true? Why?

Read

Take turns reading passages through the Luke 1:5-25 & 57-80. If you have children involved, this is a great time to include the readers.

[57] Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. [58] And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. [59] And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, [60] but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” [61] And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” [62] And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. [63] And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. [64] And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. [65] And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, [66] and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.[67] And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
[68] “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people
[69] and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,[70] as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, [71] that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; [72] to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, [73] the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us [74] that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, [75] in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.[76] And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, [77] to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,[78] because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high [79] to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
[80] And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
(Luke 1:57–80, ESV)

Watch Video

Encourage participants to have a pen and paper to write down questions they may have. Then, if they are not answered throughout the study, they can ask them.

Talk About It

Luke 1:5-25-Zechariah Who?

Zechariah’s circumstances, particularly his age, led him to question the promises the angel communicated to him. As you consider your own life, are there promises in Scripture that your circumstances cause you to doubt?
By the grace of God, he didn’t remove the promise because of Zechariah’s disbelief, but he did suffer a consequence for it. Has there ever been a time in your life when your lack of faith caused you to suffer a consequence?
FOR THE KIDS: Can you tell us a time you had bad consequences for not believing and obeying what your parents said? This is a reminder of why we believe in God and obey His word.

Luke 1:57-66—Zechariah’s Moment

When Zechariah gets the opportunity to obey, he doesn’t delay. Despite the traditions of others around him and the lack of a voice, he cannot help but obey. His obedience not only freed his tongue and glorified God, but it also inspired awe in all who saw it happen. What kind of obedience do you think we could do as individuals or the church that would inspire awe in those around us?
FOR THE KIDS: It what ways could your behavior help other people to obey, worship, and be encouraged?

Luke 1:67-80—Zechariah’s Heart

His initial concern with the angel Gabriel’s message was the birth of a son at his age, but by the time he could sing again, it was Gabriel’s message of salvation that was his most significant concern. What is the thing that brings you the most joy during the Holiday season? How can we grow our joy more in salvation than in other things?
Zechariah declares that the goal of this glorious salvation is that we “might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.” How is the salvation message inspiring you to serve the Lord more?
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY: Zechariah states that the purpose of John would be to light the way for other people to find Jesus. Who would you like to help find Jesus? Spend time praying for them together.

Bring It Home

Mary’s response to this great news was to sing a song! What is your favorite Christmas song about the birth of Christ? Take time to sing a few together (It’s ok to use a YouTube video to help).

Download Printable Copy

December 8, 2025/by Benjamin Leonard

House2House, Resources

H2H: The First Christmas Carol

H2H: The First Christmas Carol (December 1st)

Opener

What things amaze you most? Or what has been the most amazing experience you have ever had?
Why doesn’t the Christmas story seem as amazing to us? Or why don’t we act like the Christmas story is amazing?

Read

Take turns reading passages through the section. If you have children involved, this is a great time to include the readers.

[39] In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, [40] and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. [41] And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, [42] and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! [43] And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? [44] For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. [45] And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
[46] And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
[47] and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
[48] for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
[49] for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
[50] And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
[51] He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
[52] he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
[53] he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
[54] He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
[55] as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
(Luke 1:39–55, ESV)

Watch Video

Encourage participants to have a pen and paper to write down questions they may have. Then, if they are not answered throughout the study, they can ask them.

Talk About It

Luke 1:39-45

“This is how everyone should respond to Jesus Christ: by trusting in him as Savior and rejoicing in him as Lord. We have even better reason to believe in Jesus than John and Elizabeth had. They rejoiced over his conception, but we also rejoice for his crucifixion and resurrection. This is why Luke wrote his gospel: so we would know for sure that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was raised again to give us eternal life. Now everyone who believes in Jesus leaps for joy and calls him Lord.”
Phillip Ryken

In today’s text, Elizabeth and John the Baptist(pre-born) meet Jesus for the first time. Share how you came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Elizabeth was filled with the holy spirit and responded with great joy. In the same way, if you have come to faith in Christ, then you have been filled with the Holy Spirit. How has your life been transformed since coming to Christ?
FOR THE KIDS: How has knowing about Jesus and His Bible helped you?

Luke 1:46-50

Magnify or minimize, those are the options when we encounter the big realities of God’s gift of Christ Jesus. In what way do you tend to minimize the miracle of Christmas? In what ways could we intentionally do better at magnifying them?
FOR THE KIDS: What is the most amazing thing about the Christmas story that you know? Why?

Luke 1:51-55

Describe a time you have seen God provide for you and how that has helped your faith in other circumstances.
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY: In what ways would you like God to help you? Spend time praying for them.

Bring It Home

Mary’s response to this great news was to sing a song! What is your favorite Christmas song about the birth of Christ? Take time to sing a few together (It’s ok to use a YouTube video to help).

Download Printable Copy

December 1, 2025/by Benjamin Leonard

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

H2H: Light In The Shadow Of Advent

H2H: The First Christmas Carol

H2H: Light In The Shadow Of Advent

H2H: The First Christmas Carol

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

H2H: Light In The Shadow Of Advent

H2H: Light In The Shadow Of Advent (December 8th)

Opener

Read

Watch Video

Talk About It

Luke 1:5-25-Zechariah Who?

Luke 1:57-66—Zechariah’s Moment

Luke 1:67-80—Zechariah’s Heart

Bring It Home

H2H: The First Christmas Carol

H2H: The First Christmas Carol (December 1st)

Opener

Read

Watch Video

Talk About It

Luke 1:39-45

Luke 1:46-50

Luke 1:51-55

Bring It Home

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