Advent: Hope
Speaker: Carey Tanzola
Scripture References: Isaiah 11:1-6, 10, Matthew 1, Luke 4, Romans 15:13, 1 Peter 1:3
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What resonated with you as you listened to the sermon and read the review?
2. Why is Advent considered a two-fold event of celebration and preparation?
3. What about Jesus’ genealogy intrigues you the most? Why?
4. Define HOPE. Review the two Hebrew translations for HOPE: Yakhal and Qavah. Which state of hope do you think we’re living in? What makes it so hard?
5. God was silent for 400 years of Isreal ‘s history. Have you ever experienced a time of God’s silence? What was your response to His silence? What does His silence suggest to you. What are you to do in the interim?
6. Define despair. What must we remember when tempted to despair of HOPE?
7. Read Romans 13:13, and 1 Peter 1:3 Living HOPE explains how we live while we wait. How are you encouraged to live while you wait? Brain storm some tangible and intangible ways of applying this lesson on HOPE to your life this week. Be prepared to share with your group next week. (For example: a candle, signifying that darkness can never overcome light).
Sermon Recap
Advent season is upon us once again and with its coming we prepare our hearts and minds for the incarnation of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The theme for the first week of Advent is HOPE. Our HOPE has its roots in the words of the Old Testament Prophet Isaiah, who prophesied to the despondent nation of Israel about the coming Messiah, 700 years before His actual birth. The word Advent means, “Waiting on an arrival.” So this season is one that calls for REMEMBERING and celebrating the anticipated arrival of Jesus, and PREPARING for when He comes again. In looking back at Jesus’ lowly birth in a manger, take a look at His lineage. Matthew chapter 1 , and Luke chapter 4 recount the lineage of Jesus, which included some ndividuals, several of whom we might have rejected outright for their lying, deceitful and immoral behavior, yet God chose them to be part of Christ’s lineage! If Jesus’ earthly family line was imperfect, and God sovereignly chose them to be part of Christ’s lineage, it might suggest that Jeus has compassion for our humanity. That He isn’t afraid of messy. He redeems it. Whether our HOPE, a state of a anticipation, is indicative of the Hebrew word, Yakhal-meaning to wait for, as Noah did waiting in the Ark after the flood; or Qavah-a form of waiting, but with tension until there is a release, we recognize that waiting ,is hard, yet it is an essential component of the Christian journey. The Scriptures are replete with examples of waiting...to the point that some have despaired of HOPE. For instance, there were 400 years of silence after Malachi all the way to Jesus’ birth.mWe too can despair, when all hope is gone due to circumstances of life. Remember: Even though we aren't always faithful in our waiting, God is always faithful in His coming. God’s past faithfulness gives us hope for the future. Our biblical HOPE is in the person of Jesus Christ. Something is birthed in the darkness even in deepest despair...God is at work, like the candle that can’t be snuffed out.
Today, we are in another form of silent years as we wait for Jesus’ second coming. God’s Word tells us how to wait. Romans 15:13, and 1 Peter 1:3, speak of the joy and peace that comes through the power of the Holy Spirit, and of the LIVING HOPE we have through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, respectively...LIVING HOPE guides HOW we live while we wait. We have the truth of Jesus within us and we are called to let that LIVING HOPE flow through us to reach others.
