Christmas in jail

This session was just 3 days before Christmas. We opened the session as usual, offering prayer asking God to join the group, letting everyone introduce themselves, singing a few songs and reading a Psalm.

Then we talked about Christmas. Everyone shared some experiences from their youth. Lou told a story about the birds, a popular story that Paul Harvey tells every year around Christmas.

I said it would be difficult to be away from family and be in a small place during Christmas time. Then I reminded the group what Jesus gave up (closeness to God, vastness of space) to come to earth as a small, vulnerable baby.

I suggested that Jesus knew a lot about being away from family and going from freedom to a small, restricted place. Then men agreed.

No place to call home?

We started with prayer, let everyone introduce themselves, sang some songs, and read a Psalm.

For the lesson, we read Luke 2 and Luke 9 - Luke 9:58 - and talked about how Jesus was born in a borrowed, smelly space. And later when Jesus is grown, it sounds like he has no real home either.

We talked about homelessness. We discussed what it was like to be without a home. Everyone shared their thoughts and experiences.

Then we went to John 14. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God[a]; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Jesus, who came to earth in a borrowed place, makes sure we know we are wanted and will be cared for forever.

Praise God.