God does not want me to be alone

Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” GENESIS 2:18 NLT
Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. PROVERBS 18:1 ESV
When I do my own thing, I usually am doing the wrong thing

God has never been alone

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. JOHN 1:1-2 NLT

The word is eternal

For eternity, the Word is in relationship with God

No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us. JOHN 1:18 NLT

The Christian God is uniquely relational

God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Greet each other with Christian love. All of God’s people here send you their greetings. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 CORINTHIANS 13:12-14 NLT
As Christians we will deepen our relationship with God as we deepen our relationship with each other.
I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. JOHN 17:21 NLT

God sent Jesus so I don’t have to be alone

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” MATTHEW 2:18-23 NLT

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. JOHN 1:12-14 NLT

Community Group Discussion Guide

1. What happens to you if you spend too much time alone or in your own head?
2. When was a time when you were isolated from Christian community? What was that like for you? How did that impact your relationship with God?
3. In what way does knowing that God is eternally relational increase your commitment to your community group?
4. Read John 17:21. To what degree is there unity within your group and how is that attractive to people who do not know Jesus?
5. What are some practical steps you can take as a group to increase unity?
6. The word “believe” in John 1:12 means more than simply thinking that Jesus is God. What does it look like for your belief in Jesus to not just be in your head, but play out practically in your life?

Personal Reflection Guide

Find a place where you can be quiet. Reflect for a moment on your plans for this Christmas season. Have there been times you have felt alone this year? Allow yourself to sit for a few moments in what it might be like to feel alone in the midst of all of the lights and sounds of the season. Invite God to be with you. Talk to him about this experience. Ask him to show you how his love for you can impact you in order for you to experience Godly community marked by joy. As you move through the coming weeks leading into Christmas, continue to intentionally open yourself to God’s love.