Advent: Hope

Pastor Zach Bearss

November 29, 2020

 

ADVENT: HOPE
November 29, 2020

Pastor Zach Bearss

CONNECT
What Christmas hymns and songs bring you hope and joy during this season? Name some of your favorites; choose one to sing as a group together.

ENGAGE
Read Isaiah 9: 1-7

This prophecy was given to the nation of Israel during a time of  hopelessness during captivity.  What in your life at this moment brings a since of hopelessness, fear, anxiety, worry? What are the promises given to us in this passage that should give us hope?

Read Hebrews 11:1.  The word hope in this verse translates “to wait for salvation with joy and full confidence.”  How does this biblical definition differ from how we use this word day to day to mean wishful thinking?

Read these verses and discuss where our hope should rest?
Colossians 1:23, 27, I Thessalonians 2:19, 5:8, 2 Thessalonians 2:16,
I Timothy 4:10, Titus 3:7,Hebrews 6:19, I Peter 1:13.

APPLY
In Isaiah 9, reflect on your own life and then discuss the following questions:

1.GOD OFFERS US LIGHT BUT WE CHOOSE THE DARKNESS.  In His love and zeal for us, God chases after us to have relationship with Him and live in the light of HIs goodness.  Where do we choose  to hide from him and run to darkness instead?

2. GOD REFUSES TO LET US STAY IN DARKNESS. What do you need to release to Him?  Where does your current hopelessness reside?

3. WE WERE MADE TO RECEIVE HIM.  Read verses 6-7 and name off the promises of God’s character found in His son, Jesus.  In what attribute do you need to trust Him the most today?

4. ONLY THROUGH JESUS CAN WE EXPERIENCE THE LIGHT.  Where can Jesus bring hope into your hopelessness? Where in your life can you praise Him despite the current circumstances.?

PRAY
Pray that the love of Christ will shine brightly into your life and radiate out to others in the darkness.

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Advent: Joy

Pastor Zach Bearss

December 6, 2020

 

ADVENT: JOY
December 6, 2020

Pastor Zach Bearss

CONNECT
What brings you joy from celebrating the Christmas season each year?

ENGAGE
Read Luke 1: 26-45 through once.  Discuss the facts of who, what where, when, and why.  What do you have to accept by faith in this passage?

Read Luke 1:26-45 through again.  Note the range of emotions that Mary experienced. What was Mary in jeopardy of loosing by accepting God’s will for her life?  (See Matthew 1:18-25)  How was she encouraged by Elizabeth? (See Luke 1:5-6, 1:41-45)

Read Luke 1:46-56: The Song of Mary.  What characteristics of God has she placed her hope and trust in?
Cross reference these verses with the following verses:  I Samuel 2:1, Psalm 138:6, Psalm 103:17, Psalm  98:1, Job 5:11, Psalm 107:9.  What does this indicate about Mary’s knowledge of scripture and how she could apply it to her situation?

APPLY
Ask yourself these questions about your life in relation to Mary’s life:
1. RECEPTIVITY:  Am I receptive to God messing up my plans?  When God shows me His will, am I willing to say yes?
2. CURIOSITY: Am I willing to ask God questions and stay curious?  What am I seeing right now that may not be whole picture of what God is doing in me and in this world?
3. HUMBLE SERVANT: Am I willing to have Christ shine through me?  Am I willing to participate in His plan as He directs and guides me?

PRAY
Pray for a humble and willing heart as you walk through life in the upcoming year ahead.

Advent: Love

Pastor Zach Bearss

December 13, 2020

 

ADVENT: LOVE
December 13, 2020

Pastor Zach Bearss

CONNECT
What do you love the most about the Christmas story and the birth of Christ?

ENGAGE
Read Luke 2:1-20 and Matthew 1:18-25.  Discuss the inconvenience of everyday life for Mary and Joseph to be in God’s perfect will.  Did they experience fear? Did they experience doubt?  How did they demonstrate their faithfulness to God’s calling on their lives despite their fears and doubts?

Discuss these 3 points:
1) GOD’S LOVE IS REVEALED TO US. I John 4:9, 14-15.
“It is here, in the thing that happened at the first Christmas, that the most profound unfathomable depths of the Christian revelation lie. God became man; nothing in fiction is so fantastic as the truth of the incarnation.”
– J.I. Packer

2) GOD’S LOVE IS ACCESSIBLE: Isaiah 57:15
“One look at Jesus-His incarnation and redemption He provided-should silence the argument that God has withdrawn to some far corner of the universe where He keeps His hands clean, maintaining His distance from human suffererings.”–Randy Alcorn

3) GOD’S LOVE DRIVES OUT FEAR: I John 4:18
F-false
E-expectations
A-appearing
R-real

APPLY
Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23 tell us that Jesus is Immanuel, “God with us.”  What would your life be like if God had not come to us in the form a newborn babe and dwelt among us and now within us through His Holy Spirit?

PRAY
Pray that the Lord would drive out the fears in our life that block us from trusting Him by faith despite the circumstances we are currently experiencing.  May we draw near to Him and worship Him during this season of Advent.

Advent: Peace

Pastor Zach Bearss

December 20, 2020

 

ADVENT: PEACE
December 20, 2020

Pastor Zach Bearss

CONNECT
What are your favorite characters in the Christmas Story?

ENGAGE
Read Luke 2:8-20. Discuss the before, during, and after the birth of Jesus that the shepherds experienced. 
The shepherds most likely were tending sheep that were sent to Jerusalem for temple sacrifice.  Do you see any significance in this?
The shepherds most likely missed many Sabbath services because they lived in the fields night and day with their flocks.  Do you see any significance in this?
Jesus is called the Good Shepherd. Do you see any significance in this?

APPLY
Discuss how Jesus brings us peace in the following areas of our lives:

  1. PEACE WITH GOD (John 14:27, Romans 15:13, 2 Corinthians13:11)
  2. PEACE WITH OURSELVES (Philippians 4:5-7)
  3. PEACE WITH OTHERS (Ephesians 4:31-32)

PRAY
Pray that the peace that passes understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, especially during difficult circumstances.

Christmas Eve

Pastor Zach Bearss

December 24, 2020