CoGro Discussion Questions (Advent #1)

1. The stories we tell ourselves have a powerful influence on our behavior. Have you ever been telling yourself one story only to find out that it wasn't really true?
   

2. We are living in stories that are a part of our culture. Can you identify one or more of the stories that our culture tells that are inconsistent with the story of the Bible?
   

3. The stories we tell ourselves can often lead us to misdiagnose our problems. What are some of the ways you've misdiagnosed a problem in your own life? How did you come to see that it was a misdiagnosis? What was the real solution?
   

4. The way of Jesus is very different than the way of the world. What are some of those differences? In what ways does the way of the world seem more compelling and effective than the ways of Jesus? Have you ever tried doing things Jesus' way? What were the results?
   

5. Jesus came as a child--weak, vulnerable, and dependent. But we prefer to be strong and independent, secure from threats. How does this tension show up in your own life? Where might God be calling you to be weak, vulnerable, and dependent? How might the life and death of Jesus encourage you to have faith in his ways?