LifeGroup Notes

BIG IDEA
The word Advent means arrival or coming. On the church calendar, Advent is the beginning of the Christian year. For Christians, it is a word of anticipation. It is a season of great expectations.

As Advent looks forward to fulfilling all God’s promises, the Advent season wrestles with the current world filled with sorrow and suffering.
The Israelites, throughout the Old Testament, waited and longed for rescue. They faced hardship and persecution. In captivity, they waited for release and for the freedom to serve God. In worship, they longed for the prophecies to come true. God promised to rescue them and to provide a redeemer, a messiah. And they waited centuries for Him to come, trusting that God would fulfill their great expectation.

Jesus’s long-awaited arrival came over two thousand years ago, so we stand together on the other side of the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus.

And yet just like the Israelites waited for the Messiah to come, we wait again for His second coming. Advent is not so much looking back but looking ahead, as we walk faithfully now. The medieval Church and Martin Luther emphasize the future hope and the future judgment that will occur at Christ’s return.

In this season of waiting, we wait with hope. We long for peace. We experience God’s love and desire it more fully. And we claim joy as we now “rejoice in the Lord always,” as Paul proclaims it. And he says, “I’ll say it again, even rejoice!

And so we wait for God to act, watching with great expectations. He who promised is faithful.
(from Bible.com Great Expectations Devotional)

Passages we’ll review:
Isaiah 9:2-7; Philippians 4:4

OPENING
What stood out to you from the message this week? What led you to really think? Did anything challenge you? Have you ever had to share something that you really loved, something that had immense value to you?

How has your understanding of Advent changed since starting this series?

READ

Which week of study resonated with you most? Why?

After this series, how would you answer these questions:

Why did Jesus come to the earth?

What are we to do in response to His coming?

How can you be a bearer of hope, peace, love, and joy to your community?

LET’S PRAY

As you close in prayer, thank God for the gift of Jesus. Pray that you would live in anticipation as you wait on Christ’s return, when He will make all things new.

(Taken from Advent: The Weary World Rejoices by Lifeway Women)