Why Your Best Will Never Be Good Enough (Saul) The Rise & Fall of Saul 1 Samuel 9-15, 31 Three Takeaways from the Tragedy of Saul: The best way to connect with us is the Connection Card in the bulletin. For the Digital Bulletin, visit myncc.info. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Support Our Ministry If you found this message beneficial and you would like to help continue our ministries, we would be grateful for your support. Go to northcoastchurch.com/give ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Life Group Study Questions For the week of November 28, 2021 *Because this is the last meeting of the Fall Quarter, the Life Group Study Questions are shorter than normal. As usual, your final meeting will include looking back on how God has worked this past quarter and taking Communion as a group. If you haven’t already, you will also take some time to fill out an online Feedback Form about your group experience and your plans for the Winter Quarter. If you have not yet filled out the Feedback Form, look for the November 29 reminder email. * **The Winter Life Group Quarter will begin the week of January 16, 2022. Have a great time off celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior! Merry Christmas! ** MY STORY The Christmas season brings a number of fun and varied traditions. Take a moment to answer the questions below to check your “Christmas Tradition” IQ. The movie Miracle on 34th Street is based on a real-life department store. What is it? Sears Macy’s J.C. Penney Which U.S. state was the first to declare Christmas an official holiday? Alabama Oklahoma Louisiana In which modern-day country was St. Nicholas born? Palestine Egypt Turkey What is the most recorded Christmas song of all time? “White Christmas” “Silent Night” “Jingle Bells” Three of Santa’s reindeers’ names begin with the letter “D.” What are those names? In the movie Elf, what was the first rule of The Code of Elves? Treat every day like Christmas. Love all kids, naughty or nice. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. How many Americans buy artificial Christmas trees? 32% 43% 66% What’s one of your favorite Christmas Eve & Christmas morning traditions? (Everyone should get this one right.) What are one or two things you’re looking forward to this Christmas season? DIGGING DEEPER This weekend we heard of the great hope and thankfulness we can have because of what Jesus has done for us no matter what our past looks like. As you read the following verses, how do they further describe what Jesus has done for us and why we can be thankful for what He has done? John 10:10 New International Version (NIV) 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 15:13-16 New International Version (NIV) 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. Romans 7:24-8:2 New International Version (NIV) 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. 8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. Psalm 33:18-22 New International Version (NIV) 18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, 19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. 20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. 21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 22 May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you. 1 John 3:1-3 New International Version (NIV) See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. Looking back at what you wrote above, what is the best reminder to be thankful for as you move into this Christmas season? REMEMBRANCE As followers of Jesus, we have much to be thankful for as our hope remains that God is alive and at work in our lives (Philippians 1:6). As you look back on this quarter (and year), what is something in your own life and your Life Group experience you are thankful for? (It can be a specific way God encouraged you, something new you learned, time spent together in your group, how your group has helped you to continue living your life for Jesus, a service project, spiritual breakthrough, growth, challenge, etc.) What are you most thankful for about who God is and what He has done for you in 2021? We are able to have hope no matter what life throws at us because of the amazing gift God has given us – the gift of His son Jesus, born that we might have life through His death and resurrection! Communion is about remembering and thanking God for this reality! Your time together this week will conclude by taking Communion and remembering this great gift God has given us through His son Jesus. To prepare for Communion, read Luke 2:1-7, Luke 22:19-20 & John 15:12-17. What catches your attention in these verses as helpful to remember as you take Communion in your group? Luke 2:1-7 New International Version (NIV) In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. Luke 22:19-20 New International Version (NIV) 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. John 15:12-17 New International Version (NIV) 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other. *If you would like to take Communion individually, feel free to use the North Coast Worship Team song at northcoastchurch.com/communion to help lead you through a time of remembrance and thankfulness for what Jesus has done for you. CHRISTMAS OUTREACH Christmas is our annual opportunity to bless those in need. We've made it easy for you to help by displaying all options on our website. Here you will find three different ways to give back through: giving a gift, purchasing a gift card or making a direct donation to one of our non-profit partners. Drop off gifts by Dec. 12 to your campus. Check out the website for complete details, including drop-off dates and times for each campus. northcoastchurch.com