ADVENT GROUP DISCUSSIONS
These group discussion outlines are to help you lead reflections on Advent in your group. You don’t need to follow them word for word, but they can be a guide for discussion and a resource for helpful Bible passages that link to the theme.
Advent Introduction
Advent means ‘coming’ or ‘arrival’. For many Christians, Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year; the four weeks before Christmas focusing on the biblical themes of hope, love, joy and peace. Advent is about the coming of Jesus:
1. His first coming
2. His present coming (how He is with us now)
3. His second coming
Let’s prepare our hearts this Advent season by renewing our hope, growing our love, rejoicing in Christ, and finding rest and peace!
Hope
SETTING THE SCENE: Advent Hope in Scripture
Hope is trusting what God has said, because it will come about – that’s our hope!
The coming of the Messiah was prophesied and hoped for in the Old Testament, and we see it come to pass in the New Testament.
Examples:
Genesis 3:15b: “The Protoevangelium” (first announcement of the gospel) > then see Hebrews 2:14 and 1 John 3:8.
READ: Read the following passage in Titus. Can you see in this passage:
The first advent
The second advent
The impact that these have on our present day?
Titus 2:11-13…
“11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”
QUESTION: How does Advent hope change us, or impact the way we live?
1 John 3:1-3…
“1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.”
LISTEN UP: Jesus commands us to be about His work until He comes again!
Matthew 24:44-51…
“44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
^ Some explanation about the above Matthew passage:
Jesus said that if someone has the view “My master is delayed”, two things will happen:
Harshness towards others: also includes harsh words, e.g. gossiping and being cynical.
Entertain themselves with the things of this world rather than being faithful to God.
You see this also in Exodus 32 verse 1 and 7 where the people get restless waiting for Moses and look to other things.
Jesus commands us to be about His work until He comes again!
GROUP DISCUSSION: Thinking about ‘hope’
What’s the difference between today’s everyday use of the word ‘hope’ and the biblical meaning of ‘hope’? [For example, wishful/optimistic vs certainty/assurance]
What are some practical ways we can hold on to this hope?
Why is it important to daily remember the first, present and second coming of Jesus?
Any stories/experiences of the hope of Christ in your life?
How challenging is it to hold on to the hope of the Lord’s coming? Is anyone finding it difficult right now? Or, anyone want to know the hope of Christ more?
COMMUNION AND GIVING THANKS
Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 and share the Lord’s supper together.
“23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
PRAYER MINISTRY
Pray for one another to continue in the hope of Jesus in our current situations and also for others to come to know the hope of Christ too.
As you pray, invite the Holy Spirit to move in power and build up our hope in Jesus! Follow the Holy Spirit and speak out any verses or words you think He gives you to encourage the group. Stir one another to love and good deeds, encouraging one another as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:19-25)
END
This verse is an encouraging one to end on:
Romans 15:13…
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
