Pray: Ask God to speak
Read Passage Aloud: Isaiah 7:2-14, 9:1-7  (perhaps ask two different people to read from two different translations)  
Re-tell the passage in your own words.

General Questions
What do you like about the passage?
What do you find interesting and or challenging about the passage?

Specific Questions
1. Looking at the passage from Isaiah 7 we find that the nation of Israel had lost heart, When have you felt like you lost heart and were feeling defeated?

2. How do you keep calm in those situations? It's easy to say don't be afraid but how do you actually do it?

3.At the end of the first passage in Isaiah it talks about Immanuel which means God is with us - where at the moment do you need God to be with you?

4. When looking back across your life share a time when you have known without a doubt that God was with you? How do you know that he was with you in that circumstance and/or situation?

5. When you hear the phrase context is important - it logically follows to ask why is context important? When thinking about Christmas why is context important? Why was this a vital part of understanding this passage?

6. The Coming of Jesus at Christmas made God visible - what will you do this Christmas to make God visible?