I am beside myself-excited to welcome you to our first week of our wonderful Christmas book study, Because of Bethlehem: Love Is Born, Hope Is Here, by Max Lucado. This is going to be a blast! We are going to help each other have the most meaningful and joyous Christmas ever!

I love just about everything about Christmas; however, I am also aware that this is not the most wonderful time of the year for everyone. The jubilant, wintry music begins pumping through the radio from the day after Halloween, and the colorful lights and decorations compete with the fall décor throughout the stores during the entire month of November. These sights and sounds stir excitement in the hearts of many, but often this time of year brings dread, stress, and increased sadness for others.

Too easily we forget that we are celebrating the culmination of thousands of years of prophecy in the birth of Jesus Christ, that a Savior would come who would redeem us all. He came to give us hope and abundant life. He came to set us free and to set our hearts at peace. He came to restore our joy and to right every wrong. Christmas is the start of the real story that is fulfilled at Easter.

Unfortunately for some, all of this is shrouded by grief, financial burdens, stress, broken families, disappointment, and for some, even greed or self-centeredness. One might begin to wonder what is the purpose of all the hustle and bustle and craziness of the season? We hear of people being trampled in the crowds on black Friday. We fear the mountain of credit card debt we have accumulated because we were afraid our children would be disappointed. These surface issues can rob us of all the joy and whimsy of the holiday season, and especially of the deep and wondrous meaning.

Furthermore, there are some who will spend their first Christmas without a loved one, and the pain seems insurmountable. Or, years of sad or painful memories from loss or tragedy have left a bitter taste for the Christmas season. If this is you, be encouraged because Christmas is a time for hope, comfort, and peace.

Regardless of where you fit on the spectrum of holiday cheer, this is the perfect place for you! How would you like to find deep meaning and purpose that guarantees a fulfilling and joyful holiday season for you and your family? Let us lay aside the empty, surface expectations and experience genuine, life-transforming reasons to celebrate. This can be a time of true healing and comfort for your aching heart. Your hope and joy can be restored to the full. In Christ, you will find the fulfillment of everything your heart is longing for.

This goes much deeper than just the sleigh bell songs, presents, and cheesy sweaters! This is the real deal, and I can hardly wait to celebrate with you all!

Each week of our book study will contain a theme, covering the four themes of Advent – Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. You will read the first three chapters of the book this week as well as the first week of the Advent devotional in the back, pp. 137-149. Our theme for this first week is Hope, and we will discuss what we have read next week.

My hope and prayer is that your heart will be blessed and fulfilled in the presence of the Lord this season as we read the stories, study the Scriptures, meditate on the questions, and participate in the activities. You are welcome to be as active as you have time, and I am here if you have any questions or need prayer.

And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. Matthew 1:21 NKJV

How This Works

• Purchase the book and follow the reading schedule below.
• Watch the video: Max Lucado’s video for week 1 is free on YouTube. Isn’t that exciting?
• Optional sermons: Max Lucado’s sermon series, “Because of Bethlehem,” is also available on YouTube. Here is week 1.
• Optional coloring book: Just for fun, why not purchase the coloring book too?
• Subscribe to this site, if you haven’t already, to receive future updates by email. Enter your email address to the right and click the subscribe button.
• Join our Facebook group, Heart to Heart Women’s Bible Study, for daily interaction, activities, videos, and small group sessions. This is a closed group, and no one will be able to see our posts unless they are members of the group. This is for your safety and privacy.
• Small Groups: We will have photos posted in our Facebook group to mark the location of each small group meeting. You are welcome to attend any group you wish. There is no registration.
• Small Group Schedule:

• Follow my ministry page on Facebook, Shari Lewis Ministries, to stay up-to-date on ministry events and for daily prayers, nuggets of wisdom and encouragement for your life, photos that you are welcome to share, and faith building blog posts to strengthen your walk with Christ.

Reading Schedule

November 21 – 27:

• Begin Because of Bethlehem
• Read chapters 1-3 and pp. 137 – 149 of the Advent portion of the book.
• Introductory small groups, but no groups on Thanksgiving Day
• Thursday’s group will meet on Friday morning at the same time this week only.

November 28 – December 4:

• Read chapters 4-6 and pp. 151-161 of the Advent portion
• Small groups to discuss chapters 1-3 and the first week of Advent.

December 5 – 11:

• Read chapters 7-9 and pp. 163 – 173 of the Advent portion
• Small groups to discuss chapters 4-6 and week 2 of Advent

December 12-18:

• Read chapters 10-12 and pp. 175-185 of the Advent portion
• Small groups to discuss chapters 7-9 and week 3 of Advent

December 19-23

• Read pp. 187-194 to complete the Advent portion
• Small groups to discuss chapters 10-12 and week 4 of Advent

Weekly Schedule

• Each Monday I will post an update on the blog with a devotion, discussion questions, tips and information, and occasionally an activity. These can be found here, in your email if you subscribed, and posted on the Facebook page and group.
• I will also post a prayer thread each Monday to post your requests and praises so we can pray for each other. You are also welcome to share praises, inspirational quotes, or memes.
• Tuesday is Faith Talk. We will have relevant topics to discuss.
• Each Wednesday I will post a teaching video pertaining to the week’s study.
• Throwback Thursdays. We will have opportunities to share photos on specific themes of Christmas past.
• Friday Favorites will be a fun way to get to know each other and interact on a more social level.
• The weekends will be a time to implement practical activities to build Christmas spirit. We may also share themed Scriptures or carols.
• Each week will run from Monday through Sunday on the schedule.

Discussion Questions

Here is a sneak peek of the questions we will be discussing this week in our small groups.

Appetizer Question: What are your favorite Christmas songs and carols?

1. Why do you think the Christmas season often brings out the worst in people?
2. What are some things we can do to spread Christmas cheer to the Scrooges we meet during the season?
3. If Jesus were going to literally come to your home this Christmas, and you had four weeks to get ready, what would you do to prepare? (Think physically, spiritually, financially, emotionally, your family, your home, etc.)
4. How would your Christmas be different if Jesus physically came to your home to celebrate with your family?
5. Max Lucado says on p. 144, “The culture in Jesus’ day placed a very high value on hospitality. Among other things, welcoming an honored guest might include greeting the person with a kiss, pouring oil on the head, and providing water to wash the feet (Luke 7:44-46). Together these gestures created a warm welcome so guests felt not only refreshed and respected but also genuinely wanted and appreciated. What comes to mind when you consider welcoming Jesus in a way that would make him feel not just respected or worshipped but genuinely wanted and appreciated? In what ways, if any, would it change your preparations?”
6. If this Christmas season were to be everything you could possibly hope for a perfect holiday, how would you describe it? Where would your focus be?
7. Tell us about some of your favorite Christmas memories and traditions.

Well, let’s get started on this thrilling holiday adventure!

Merry Christmas and God bless you!