The Heart That Grew Three Sizes Advent Bible Study
Registrations have closed.

Led by Pastor Ray, adapted from Matt Rawle’s work
Presented on Tuesday, Dec 6 and 13 at 6:30-7:30 pm
Zoom connection: Meeting ID: 833 7606 6627 Passcode: 134864
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83376066627?pwd=VnVOK0RDdnFBNEwxYzFWMWVFTW5lUT09
Study Introduction:
If you haven’t seen The Grinch Who Stole Christmas in a while, here’s a YouTube playlist:
Format:
- Gather, opening prayer
- Watch the first (third) teaching video, followed by 10-15 minutes discussion
- Watch the second (fourth) teaching video, followed by 10-15 minutes discussion
- Final thoughts and close
Please reply if you plan on attending and we’ll send you the discussion questions. We’ll also have some printed at the church.
Discussion Questions:
Session 1: When Everything is Wrong
- First thing you think about when you hear about the Grinch.
- Should we hate the Grinch or is he worthy of our sympathy?
- The Grinch hated Christmas. Hate doesn’t need much of a reason to consume us!
- Hate takes something beautiful, makes it a weapon, and makes it ugly.
- Perfection is not a reason for not celebrating Christmas well.
- Amos 5:15, 21-24. What do we hate?
- Peace hate war; Hope hate despair; Joy stamps out mourning; Love hates evil, holds on to good
- Advent expectation vs God’s gifts. Disarmed, space for peace. Without peace …
- Peace contrasts the exhausting and destructive behavior of hate.
Session 2: When Christmas Isn’t Christmas
- Parody. Do you have a favorite parody? Doesn’t have to be Christmas.
- Jonah absurd story to point out an absurd truth. To be angry with God’s grace is absurd.
- Seasonal, cultural markers aren’t the miracle itself, even though they can point to the truth.
- The Grinch is upset with the markers. The pandemic gave us a glimpse of losing the markers.
- Deep insight: The forgiveness of Babylon (Magi). Egypt’s redemption (Flight to Egypt)
- Key is to point to Christ.
- Poetry vs Blueprint. Hope offers a different narrative. Isaiah 11:1-4
Session 3: When Light Shines
- The Grinch operates in the darkness of night.
- Darkness is the absence of light. Bad: Hide and obscure things. Good: can heighten other senses
- Luke 2:8-9, Jesus born in the evening/night. Glory of the Lord a bit brighter.
- Grinch and Cindy, why are you taking the tree away? Moral compass.
- An effortless lie often reveals a truth hiding under the surface. Conceals.
- Story of the Belsnickle. Christmas is about the kindness and generosity.
- Jesus grew in wisdom, glimmer of vulnerability of the Incarnation.
- Love came down at Christmas … Jesus!
- What are you doing? What sign are we offering to the world?
Session 4: When Joy Is Our Song
- The Grinch succeeded in taking away their Christmas, but …
- Music can be the vehicle to move us. Major/minor key.
- Consider that we are a song, and our role is to be in harmony.
- Difficult to hear the song with a hard or small heart.
- Advent and Christmas are saturated with music!
- Pandemic: suspending singing … something missing.
- It is a song that transforms the Grinch. “how can I keep from singing”
- Christmas is about Love, Jesus is what God’s love looks like
- The Whos forgave the Grinch
- The Grinch, the outsider is now at the head of the table. Wreath / halo
- Christmas is our story that Love is the lord of heaven and earth. How can we not sing?!