1. God is in charge not me!

2. Proof is in the impossible being possible.

3. God does the work to come to me, not the other way around.

4. He rules and reigns no matter what.

START TALKING

What are some plans that you have at Christmastime, and what is the purpose that those plans truly point to?

What are examples of other plans that you have had or that others have had for you, and what were the purposes that those plans pointed to?

START THINKING

Read Isaiah 7:5-7. What was the simple promise that God gives King Ahaz in these verses regarding the king's greatest fear?

Read Isaiah 7:10-12. What does God offer King Ahaz in these verses to give the king confidence, faith, and hope?

How does the king's response show that he doesn't fully and completely trust God? How does it show that he wants to stay in control?

START SHARING

Read Isaiah 7:14. God gives King Ahaz a sign anyway! When has God done what was best for you even when you didn't want it or ask for it? How did it show you God's ultimate faithfulness to you?

The prophecy (aka plan) that God gives in Isaiah 7:14 is a dual prophecy. It points to what will happen in the near future (Isaiah's and Ahaz's lifetime - see Isaiah 8) and what will happen in the distant future (see Matthew 1:23). When have you experienced a promise or plan from God that had double purposes - for both the immediate future and the distant future? How did the disciples experience the fulfillment of some prophecies in their lifetime that are also still yet to be ultimately fulfilled?

How does the idea of dual prophecies give further proof to the truth that Jesus rules and reigns no matter what? Is it more difficult for you to trust God with the immediate future or the distant future? Why?

START DOING

Read Isaiah 9:1-7. This passage points to the ultimate purpose in God's prophecy and plan given in Isaiah 7 as it clearly points that it is about the coming Messiah - "Mighty God" and "Everlasting Father." What do you sense God telling you about your own life and how He is Immanuel - God with us - both now and in the future for eternity.

If you were to truly live as if He rules and reigns no matter what and that His presence is real and with you both now and forever, how would that change the way you trust Him and live your life each and every day? What do you need to do to fully trust that He is in charge and not you?

How would living this truth to the fullest open opportunities for you to share your story/testimony with those who are far from God where you live, work, and play? Who can you be investing in over the coming weeks and inviting them to come experience Jesus with you at one of the Christmas services in a few weeks?

START PRAYING

Pray for each other in the micro church to follow through with the steps you are sensing God is leading you to take in the answers above. Each person share the names of those you can invite to come experience Jesus with you at Christmas services and pray for those people by name! But even more than that, pray for each other in the micro church to be prepared to "give an answer for the hope that you have" by doing more than simply inviting them to a service but to share why - because of your own story of what Jesus has done and is doing in your life!