Message Series: Keeping Christmas Well
Week 3
Scripture:
2 Samuel 7
Jeremiah 31:7
Isaiah 9, 53, 61
John 14
Revelation 21, 22
Group Check in:
How is it with your soul?
Prayer Request? Praises?
How has God shown up in your life this week?
Icebreaker:
What are some things that give you JOY & HOPE for the future?
Overview:
Christmas certainly looks backward to the first Xmas and it certainly impacts how we celebrate in the present, but christmas is fundamentally a forward-looking holiday. It looks forward to the return of Christ, who will complete the work he began 2,000 and set the world to right.
The Christmas story isn’t just about what happened in the past. Christmas isn’t just about how to celebrate this year. Christmas has now and always will be a forward facing holy day.
2 Samuel 7 (The Covenant of David) this begins this long season of hope. Waiting for the day for God to fulfill the promise in this covenant.
In the midst of Israel’s darkness and death, the prophets are always pointing forward. Even though they mess up, they point to the hope of the Gospel.
Isaiah 9:6-7, this scripture is representative of how Israel was always looking forward no matter their circumstances they were in.
God is not yet finished with the work of this world. Our anticipation and preparation isn’t over. The invitation we’ve been given is still to persevere in hope.
Christmas isn’t just about reclaiming the past, it’s about looking forward to the future with hope.
What Jesus began, He will return to complete. Matthew 24:6-8 it is terrifying so why shouldn’t we be alarmed? Becasue we know the ending. The future is known and good.
Advent comes from Latin word, arrival. Advent is about the waiting of the new arrival.
We remember the longing and expectancy that preveeded his first coming, we celebrate because he came, and we look with anticipation toward his 2nd coming. It’s a season of jubilation and reflection, remember and watching. It’s a time to reflect on the fulfilled promises of God and look with faith, nope and expectancy toward his sure fulfillment of more.
Discussion Questions:
Just like Scrooge, we urn for hope. Is our future written in stone or can we change what is yet to come?
Israel looked to hope and the fulfillment of the covenant even in the midst of its darkness (Israel 9:6-7 & Jeremiah 31:7)how can you still look forward during your time of darkness and despair?
This week’s advent candle is a reminder of the JOY that comes with this season. How can you find joy in all things this week?
We know that God invests our pain and trials for our good. How has God used past hurts or disappointments in your life?
How has God “invested” your past in your future? If you don’t sense that he has yet invested your past—how could he invest your past? How might he invest past hurts and trials for your good and his good and the good of those around you?
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