Unmerited Love The Problem: We have lost our for God’s love. The Solution: Three things to consider The of love John 1:1-3, Genesis 1:3 The of love Romans 7:15,18-19, Proverbs 26:11, Ephesians 2:3 The of love Matthew 27:26-54, John 15:13, Romans 5:8 So what? John 13:35, 2 Peter 1:3 He doesn’t love us ; His love . 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 27, 2022 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 27 reminder email. The Winter Life Group Quarter will begin the week of January 15, 2023. Have a great time off celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior! Merry Christmas! MY STORY As we prepare for Christmas, here are a few fun questions to help get you in the holiday spirit! The Christmas season brings several fun and varied traditions and preferences. Circle which one you choose and be ready to give a reason why. This or That? Tree up before Thanksgiving or after Thanksgiving? Hot cocoa or hot apple cider? Rudolph or Frosty? Finish shopping early or finish shopping last minute? Ice skating or snowball fights? Secret Santa or White Elephant Exchange? Shop in-store or shop online? What would your elf name be? As the Christmas season approaches, what are one or two holiday traditions you enjoy the most? DIGGING DEEPER This weekend we launched our new series, Unmerited. As you read the following verses, how do they further describe the depth of what Jesus has done for us? 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 5:6-11 New International Version (NIV) 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. 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. Looking back at what you wrote above, what is the best reminder for you during this Christmas of the unmerited love God has offered us by sending His son Jesus? REMEMBRANCE As followers of Jesus, we have much to be thankful for because of God’s unmerited favor and love. 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 2022? As followers of Jesus, we are able to celebrate the Christmas season 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 just that. Our 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 video 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. There will be paper ornaments with gift options at all of our campuses and 100+ options to browse online. There are three different ways to give: give a gift, purchase a gift card, or donate directly to one of our non-profit partners. Drop off gifts by Dec. 11 to your campus. Check out the website for complete details. northcoastchurch.com