Recap: Christmas is a time when we hope to have some great family moments, enjoy all the decorations, and have happiness and peace. But sometimes what we feel or experience is anything but that. We can feel alone, disappointed, uncertainty, and even disconnected from God. Life and Christmas can feel upside down. But what if we flipped this upside down Christmas? What if we could find all of our hope in Jesus, instead of anything else in our life? This Christmas season, you can find all of your hope in Jesus. He can bring rest and hope to your soul.

Questions:
(1) What is one of the craziest, or most upside down Christmas experiences you've had?
(2) What do people hope to experience the most at Christmas time?
(3) Read Luke 2:1-7 and Matthew 2:13-14. How does the Christmas story in the Bible seem a bit upside down, uncertain, or "not as it should be?"
(4) Jesus was born in a world that was upside down. People were selfish, someone wanted to kill him, and he was a refugee. How does that change or affect your view of Jesus?
(5) Jesus was born to bring hope for those people and hope for us. What do you need hope for right now? (Family, relationships, finances, health, future, etc.)
(6) Read John 18:28-40. Jesus said he is a king, but king over a kingdom that is not of this world. In fact, the way he instituted his kingdom seems almost upside down. Instead of coming as general over an army, he came as a baby. Instead of a throne, he took up a cross. How does Jesus upside down kingdom give you hope?
(7) How can you shift from having your hope in circumstances of life to putting your hope in Jesus?

PRAYER: No matter your circumstances this Christmas, pray to see beyond this upside down world. Don’t let disappointment set in when things don’t go as planned. Instead, pray that God may show you the real hope of Christmas that comes through a relationship with Jesus. Pray that God might help you see beyond your circumstances and that he really is in control even if everything seems upside down.

NEXT STEPS
We have several ways to experience and help spread hope this Christmas season. Sign up to give a gift to a refugee child this Christmas whose world is completely upside down right now. Or sign up to help throw a Christmas Party for foster and adoptive kids and give their parents a night off. Also, you can sign up to be part of a volunteer team here at Journey.