Jesus Keeps Promises
Week of December 5, 2021
Openers and Ice Breakers:
Tradition:
In many homes and churches, you may notice the addition of an Advent wreath during this season. The Advent wreath began as a German and Scandinavian practice used in homes to mark the four weeks of Advent. Families would light a candle for each past week and the current week at dinner or during evening devotions. The configuration of candles, whether in a line or a circle, did not matter. Neither did the color of the candles (all colors were used). What mattered was the marking of time and the increase of light each week as the darkness of winter permeated the land.
That theme of light becoming brighter in the presence of darkness during Advent is powerful. Even more so when you think about it as we approach Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Jesus. It is a theme that both comforts and excites, because Jesus is our light. Jesus was God's promise fulfilled to save us from the darkness of brokenness, irreconciliation, and unforgiveness. As we gather during this Advent season, let's be joyfully thankful that we can celebrate God's promise fulfilled.
Scripture:
Luke 1:5-25 (CEB)
John the Baptist’s birth foretold
5 During the rule of King Herod of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. 6 They were both righteous before God, blameless in their observance of all the Lord’s commandments and regulations. 7 They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to become pregnant and they both were very old. 8 One day Zechariah was serving as a priest before God because his priestly division was on duty. 9 Following the customs of priestly service, he was chosen by lottery to go into the Lord’s sanctuary and burn incense. 10 All the people who gathered to worship were praying outside during this hour of incense offering. 11 An angel from the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and overcome with fear.
13 The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayers have been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to your son and you must name him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many people will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the Lord’s eyes. He must not drink wine and liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth. 16 He will bring many Israelites back to the Lord their God. 17 He will go forth before the Lord, equipped with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will turn the hearts of fathers[a] back to their children, and he will turn the disobedient to righteous patterns of thinking. He will make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? My wife and I are very old.”
19 The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in God’s presence. I was sent to speak to you and to bring this good news to you. 20 Know this: What I have spoken will come true at the proper time. But because you didn’t believe, you will remain silent, unable to speak until the day when these things happen.”
21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they wondered why he was in the sanctuary for such a long time. 22 When he came out, he was unable to speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he gestured to them and couldn’t speak. 23 When he completed the days of his priestly service, he returned home. 24 Afterward, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. She kept to herself for five months, saying, 25 “This is the Lord’s doing. He has shown his favor to me by removing my disgrace among other people.”
Application Questions:
This week’s sermon taught that God is a promise keeper. Yet, God’s trustworthiness is often demonstrated unexpectedly. God fulfills God's promises in unexpected ways, at unexpected times, and through unexpected people. This can be found throughout the Christmas story, particularly in the passage above. Even through doubt, we read as God blessed Elizabeth and Zechariah with a son. This son goes on to prepare the way and baptize the Savior of the world.
Closing Prayer:
Dear God, your everlasting love and mercy for us is amazing. Yet, we stumble. Oh, do we stumble. Even when your message could not be more clear, we often fail to recognize it when we need it most. We ask for your forgiveness, Lord. Help us to put our full trust in you. Open our minds and our hearts to your unexpected ways. Grant us hope in this season of Advent. We pray this through the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Taking it Further:
Check these out to take the heart of this series and our discussion further this week:
Way Maker (original), by Sinach 2015
Honest Advent, by Scott Erickson 2020
The Birth of Jesus, by BibleProject 2016
In many homes and churches, you may notice the addition of an Advent wreath during this season. The Advent wreath began as a German and Scandinavian practice used in homes to mark the four weeks of Advent. Families would light a candle for each past week and the current week at dinner or during evening devotions. The configuration of candles, whether in a line or a circle, did not matter. Neither did the color of the candles (all colors were used). What mattered was the marking of time and the increase of light each week as the darkness of winter permeated the land.
That theme of light becoming brighter in the presence of darkness during Advent is powerful. Even more so when you think about it as we approach Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Jesus. It is a theme that both comforts and excites, because Jesus is our light. Jesus was God's promise fulfilled to save us from the darkness of brokenness, irreconciliation, and unforgiveness. As we gather during this Advent season, let's be joyfully thankful that we can celebrate God's promise fulfilled.
Scripture:
Luke 1:5-25 (CEB)
John the Baptist’s birth foretold
5 During the rule of King Herod of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron. 6 They were both righteous before God, blameless in their observance of all the Lord’s commandments and regulations. 7 They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to become pregnant and they both were very old. 8 One day Zechariah was serving as a priest before God because his priestly division was on duty. 9 Following the customs of priestly service, he was chosen by lottery to go into the Lord’s sanctuary and burn incense. 10 All the people who gathered to worship were praying outside during this hour of incense offering. 11 An angel from the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and overcome with fear.
13 The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayers have been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to your son and you must name him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many people will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the Lord’s eyes. He must not drink wine and liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth. 16 He will bring many Israelites back to the Lord their God. 17 He will go forth before the Lord, equipped with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will turn the hearts of fathers[a] back to their children, and he will turn the disobedient to righteous patterns of thinking. He will make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? My wife and I are very old.”
19 The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in God’s presence. I was sent to speak to you and to bring this good news to you. 20 Know this: What I have spoken will come true at the proper time. But because you didn’t believe, you will remain silent, unable to speak until the day when these things happen.”
21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they wondered why he was in the sanctuary for such a long time. 22 When he came out, he was unable to speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he gestured to them and couldn’t speak. 23 When he completed the days of his priestly service, he returned home. 24 Afterward, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant. She kept to herself for five months, saying, 25 “This is the Lord’s doing. He has shown his favor to me by removing my disgrace among other people.”
Application Questions:
This week’s sermon taught that God is a promise keeper. Yet, God’s trustworthiness is often demonstrated unexpectedly. God fulfills God's promises in unexpected ways, at unexpected times, and through unexpected people. This can be found throughout the Christmas story, particularly in the passage above. Even through doubt, we read as God blessed Elizabeth and Zechariah with a son. This son goes on to prepare the way and baptize the Savior of the world.
- Which part of the scripture stood out to you? Did anything resonate as you read/listened?
- We see God giving Elizabeth and Zechariah a child long after the typical childbearing age. Pause and reflect on your life. Can you name a time when God delivered on a promise long after it was expected?
- Share about an instance when God fulfilled the desires of your heart in a way or through a person you least expected.
- When your prayers aren’t answered as you hoped, what greater themes could God be teaching you? Has God ever blown your expectations for the better? Speak on that.
Closing Prayer:
Dear God, your everlasting love and mercy for us is amazing. Yet, we stumble. Oh, do we stumble. Even when your message could not be more clear, we often fail to recognize it when we need it most. We ask for your forgiveness, Lord. Help us to put our full trust in you. Open our minds and our hearts to your unexpected ways. Grant us hope in this season of Advent. We pray this through the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Taking it Further:
Check these out to take the heart of this series and our discussion further this week:
Way Maker (original), by Sinach 2015
Honest Advent, by Scott Erickson 2020
The Birth of Jesus, by BibleProject 2016
Posted in CoreGroup Discussion Guides
Recent
Having Faith in the Midst of Failure
August 8th, 2022
Questioning Spirituality for the Sake of Progress
August 1st, 2022
Let Go, Let God: Giving Up Self for Faith
July 25th, 2022
Investing in Future and Faith Through New Opportunity
July 18th, 2022
Leveraging Privilege: The Workers in the Vineyard
June 28th, 2022
Archive
2022
January
February
March
M-Note 3.1.22Lenten Devotional // Day 1Lenten Devotional // Day 2Luke: The Gospel For Rebels Week 5Lenten Devotional // Day 3Lenten Devotional // Day 4Lenten Devotional // First SundayLenten Devotional // Day 5Lenten Devotional // Day 6Lenten Devotional // Day 7Lenten Devotional // Day 8Lenten Devotional // Day 9Following Jesus: Some Assembly Required – Week 1Lenten Devotional // Day 10Some Assembly RequiredLenten Devotional // Second SundayLenten Devotional // Day 11Lenten Devotional // Day 12Lenten Devotional // Day 13Lenten Devotional // Day 14Following Jesus: Some Assembly Required – Week 2Lenten Devotional // Day 15Lenten Devotional // Day 16M-Note 3.20.22Lenten Devotional // Third SundayLenten Devotional // Day 17Lenten Devotional // Day 185 Benefits to Embracing Your Uncertainty of GodLenten Devotional // Day 19Lenten Devotional // Day 20M-Note 3.24.2022Lenten Devotional // Day 21Following Jesus: Some Assembly Required – Week 3Lenten Devotional // Day 22Lenten Devotional // Fourth SundayLenten Devotional // Day 23Lenten Devotional // Day 24Lenten Devotional // Day 25Lenten Devotional // Day 26
April
Following Jesus: Some Assembly Required – Week 4M-Note 4.1.2022Lenten Devotional // Day 273 Implications of God's Humanity on YoursLenten Devotional // Day 28Lenten Devotional // Fifth SundayLenten Devotional // Day 29Lenten Devotional // Day 30Lenten Devotional // Day 31Lenten Devotional // Day 32Following Jesus: Some Assembly Required – Week 53 Misunderstandings of Easter that Impact YouLenten Devotional // Day 33Lenten Devotional // Day 34Lenten Devotional // Palm SundayLenten Devotional // Day 35Lenten Devotional // Day 36Lenten Devotional // Day 37M-Note 4.14.2022Lenten Devotional // Day 38 Maundy ThusdayLenten Devotional // Day 39 Good FridayLenten Devotional // Day 40 Holy SaturdayLenten Devotional // EasterMysterious You: How your union with God makes you divineM-Note 4.20.2022No Filter: See The Real You – Week 14 Ways Embracing Your Sin Serves the WorldM-Note 4.28.2022No Filter: See The Real You – Week 2
May
3 Reasons You Should Embrace Your WeirdnessM-Note 5.5.22No Filter: See The Real You – Week 3Identify Your Purpose and Empower Your FutureM-Note 5.12.22No Filter: See The Real You – Week 4Confidently Approach Life as a Second ChanceLearning to Enjoy LIFE by Eliminating DistractionsUncomplicating the “God” Question to Simplify Spirituality
No Comments