This is week two of Advent. Each week we focus on the progressive themes of hope, peace, joy and love. When hope is inspired peace will arise, joy shows up and love abounds.
As you read the Christmas story together in your homes consider the Gospel of Luke. Luke is the only Gentile in an all-Jewish cast of New Testament writers. Greeks were famous for story telling so it makes sense the most frequent phrase in Luke is “and it came to pass.”
Most movies of the life of Jesus rely primarily on Luke’s Gospel because of its story-like narrative.
In Luke 2, we read about how Jesus was born and these shepherds have an angelic encounter with all heaven declaring:
Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. KJV
Jesus comes revealing God’s glory, peace and good will toward all humanity.
Luke 2:19 Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. NIV
Mary, in this remarkable moment of experiencing God’s presence with humanity, treasured these things pondering and thinking about them. What we treasure, we think about. If you consider what you’ve been thinking about in this past week what comes to mind? We are praying and believing that in this season God will deepen our awareness that God is with us.
The treasure of God’s presence unlocks the treasure of peace.
Have you ever been walking through a difficult time and somebody you know shows up to stand with you? There is suddenly this sense of fortitude in connection. You were born for the storm, but you were not born to face the storm alone. This is why it is so important to understand the treasure of God’s presence. God’s presence is with you. God’s presence is with us in greater force as we gather.
When we gather as a family in worship faith levels rise, hope is inspired, dreams are awakened and the enemy is more readily defeated in our lives!
We will not be stopped or hindered as the Body of Christ! The church has always more than survived in trying times. God designed us to thrive! Like a water hose under pressure. The pressure just makes the water spray further! Under pressure you will suddenly have the capacity to go further than you thought you could go!
We are living in complicated times and we, the church, must rise up together in his presence and strength!
The number one category of prescription medications being prescribed right now is antidepressants. The number one illness right now is anxiety. In June, the CDC reported 40% of Americans have a diagnosed mental or behavioral disorder. The 2020 election produced an atmosphere best defined by the Election Commission having to mute microphones to keep two men from arguing and bickering over each other. Mental health apps are up 30% since the presidential election. Reports suggest we’ve set a record this year for hopelessness, joylessness and fearfulness as one in five churches are considering closing and one in three pastors are considering quitting.
If there has ever been a time we need to understand that God has come to dwell with us it is now.
Peace doesn’t come from the absence of problems. Peace comes from the presence of God.
This is a tremendous opportunity for Christians. We, as the sons and daughters of God, can rise up during this time.
Everybody is in the struggle, but not everybody knows what to do in the struggle. You can worry in presence of your problems or you can worship in the presence of your God, but you cannot do both at the same time. Be a warrior not a worrier. Psalms 22:3 says God inhabits the praises of his people.
When we focus on God’s presence more than we focus on our problems we align ourselves with heaven’s perspective. Isaiah was a prophet who lived in Jerusalem about 700 years before Jesus came. He prophesied:
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel. NIV
In the New Testament we find Matthew reflecting on Isaiah’s prophecy reiterating the meaning behind the message.
Matthew 1:22-23 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). NIV
God is with us! God’s presence is here! God’s presence is now! No matter what you may be walking through you can walk in God’s presence. This is God’s design that He has been revealing throughout the generations. 1,400 years before Jesus came God was preparing people to understand the deeper narrative of gathering around God’s presence.
Numbers 2:1-2 “The people of Israel shall camp each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ houses. They shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side. ESV
In this scripture, God asks for every house, every camp, to arrange their homes facing towards the tent of meeting. What was the tent of the meeting? It was the visitable place where the Shekinah glory of God would fall and remain visible to all people.
God was trying to teach them that our lives should always face an encounter! Everything in our life should be arranged towards experiencing God, and the fear of the Lord is no different. God doesn’t want you just to know things about fearing Him, he wants you actually to do it.
God never promised we wouldn’t have problems. He promised He would be with us every step of the way promising to be with us always (Matthew 28:20)
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Practice God’s presence every day this week by purposing to wake up early, turn the page and “pray attention”.
TRUE TREASURE: THE TREASURE OF GOD’S PRESENCE
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 QUESTIONS:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
2. Have you ever been walking through a difficult time and somebody you know shows up to let you know they’re there for you? Share this situation and how it made you feel when somebody you knew cared for you showed up.
The second Sunday of Advent speaks of peace. God never promised we wouldn’t have problems. He promised His presence would be with us when problems come our way.
Peace doesn’t come from the absence of problems. Peace comes from the presence of God.
The Christmas story is all about how God came to dwell with us. Isaiah was a prophet who lived in Jerusalem prophesying about the coming of Christ 700 years before Jesus was born.
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel. NIV
Matthew quotes him and gives clear definition to what this means.
Matt 1:22-23 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). NIV
Celebrating Christmas together with friends and family can become an incredible celebration of God’s presence if we are willing to move past the commercialized version of Christmas.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
3. What are some of your best memories of Christmas?
4. Share any ideas you have about how to make this Christmas season more memorable and meaningful.
5. How can you put our (God’s Presence To Real Life) action point for the week? Describe your plan specifically to encourage others in the group to think through how they plan to spend special time alone with God this week.
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Practice God’s presence every day this week by purposing to wake up early, turn the page and “pray attention.”