TRUE TREASURE: THE HOPE OF ADVENT
DISCUSSION GUIDE
UNDERSTANDING THE SEASON: Kingdom Treasure is found in a deeper pursuit of the things that truly matter. This true treasure of God’s Kingdom is central to the understanding that we are blessed to be a blessing!
We want to start our group meetings making room for conversation that brings confirmation that God is speaking to us all as we discuss what we are hearing from the Lord as a family:
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
The word advent is from the Latin “adventus”, meaning “coming” and was originally used to refer to the first visit of a new king or the enthronement of an emperor. Advent is a corporate spiritual journey that calls for expectant waiting and readiness for the coming of Christ.
During this season we will light one candle every week for four weeks. These 4 candles represent the 4 centuries of waiting for the Messiah between conclusion of the Old testament, the book of Malachi, and the beginning of the New Testament, the book of Matthew.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
2. Share a time in your life when you were filled with a joyful and expectant hope. This could be something as simple as an experience when you were a child or something more elaborate as an adult.
The first week the first candle is lit speaking of the hope that Jesus was coming to usher in a new era of intimate relationship with God to all of mankind.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
3. Read the following two portions of Scripture together and share what stands out to you.
Jeremiah 33:14-16 ‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘that I will perform that good thing which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah: 15 ‘In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David A Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, And Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’ NIV
1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. NIV
We celebrate the hope of Jesus and how he comes into our everyday lives. In addition we anticipate with great hope how Jesus will come back again one day.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
4. Conclude by sharing ideas on how to make Christmas meaningful. Consider any treasured memories you may have that you can share. Talk about ideas you may have to help create these kinds of memories.
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Begin having conversations with those you will celebrate Christmas with this year discussing how you can make Christmas more about the true meaning of Jesus.