Hope

Advent: Week 1
November 28 - December 4, 2010


Personal Study
Read Romans 5:1-5; Hebrews 6:13-19; Ephesians 2:12; Luke 2:8-11; 1 Tim. 6:17.  Take time to read and reflect on these passages.  Meditate on these words (focus, repeat, ponder, reflect, and apply).

Discussion - Option #1
If there was no God how would that change the way you see your life?  If God wasn't good and loving, how would that change the way you see your life?  What big questions of life does God answer?

Discussion - Option #2
How is Christian hope different from the world's definition of hope?  What is it about Jesus' birth that defines those differences?  What about His death and resurrection?  What about His return?

Application
As we use the Advent calendar to help us to see and follow Jesus, where is He leading you this season?  Take time to reflect on your calendar over the next four weeks and determine what things are for Jesus and what aren't.  Do the things that fall on the Jesus side (and do them well) and leave behind those things that He isn't calling you to be/do.