Advent: Hope

Sermon Discussion | Advent: Hope

1. This week we focused on hope for advent. Take a few minutes and discuss how you define hope. What is the difference between worldly hope and biblical hope? Are there ways that these types of hope are similar?

2. Just as in the days of Isaiah, we live in times that can be filled with tension and hopelessness. We sympathise with the call for a king...someone who can bring solutions. Isaiah 9:2 NLT reads, "The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine." Are you in a season of running out of hope? Is God taking too long to respond? Does this passage of hope bring you current encouragement? How so?

3. Paul said, our world is lost in the dark, that It’s the state of the soul. Always winter, never Christmas. We’re constantly putting our hope in worldly solutions. But, a life that has hope, finds that the solution comes from outside of us, not within where the problem stems from. Yes, it’s dark - but light is coming! Where are you putting hope? (Money, looks, intelligence) where do you need light to show up? If you placed your hope in something other than Christ, how has that worked out?

4. Isaiah 9:6-7a NLT "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity." Jesus shows up in a very small and unimpressive way, as a baby born in a stable. He doesn't come as a politician, a soldier or a "church leader". Consider this verse and meaning against the current political culture we live in (where a lot of people, even christians are looking for hope in politics). How do you process this? How can you show others you believe,"He will rule with fairness and justice"? What does that even mean? Does this verse bring you hope?

5. Read 1 Peter 1:3-9. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we have new life and hope! Heaven has come, we can live as though this is true now, not as though eternity starts when we die. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, our life is joined with Christ to be a light, bring hope and to love our neighbors. How can we live this hope out in our ordinary everyday lives? What spiritual rhythms could you practice to cultivate a life of hope?

Share with one another what you're hoping God will do in this season, pray together he will.