Christmas – Pt 1
Isaiah 9:1-7 (NLT)
1 Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.
2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. 3 You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder. 4 For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian. 5 The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire. 6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!
1. Hope begins when God speaks.
Psalms 13:1 (NLT)
1 O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way?
2. Hope grows while we wait.
Acts 1:4-5 (NLT)
4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 1:10-14 (NLT)
10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile. 13 When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying.
Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the zealot), and Judas (son of James). 14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.
Acts 2 1-4 (NLT)
1 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
– The Holy Spirit shapes us in the waiting so we can be empowered in the assignment.
3. Hidden seasons are holy seasons.
Luke 1:78-79 (NLT)
78 Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”
John 8:12 (NLT)
12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
REFLECTION:
– What does the Holy Spirit want to shape in me while I wait?
– Where do I need His light to break through today?”
SMALL GROUP MEETING OUTLINE
Where your faith intersects with real life!
Reconnect:
Each person shares a recent high and low from their life.
Explore:
Review the message notes.
Big Idea: Jesus is our living hope — the light that no darkness can put out.
Consider:
Choose one or two questions for your Group to discuss as time allows.
▶ Read Isaiah 9:1-7. Jesus is our living hope — Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Where and how are you seeing His hope show up in your life in this season?
▶ Read Psalms 13:1. David expresses deep honesty in this passage. Can you relate? In the waiting, how do we stay grounded when God’s timeline is unclear or it feels dark?
Activate:
Spend a moment in silence to consider your response, then share with the Group.
Waiting is not wasted. God uses waiting to shape our character into what’s needed to be more like Christ. What is the Holy Spirit shaping in you while you wait? Where do you need His light to break through today?
Prayer:
Thank God for the highs and lift up the lows.
Pray for each other and believe together for God’s promises. Pray for those who are experiencing a season of struggle, anguish, or sorrow — and ask that in this season, we would be instruments of hope and carriers of the light of Jesus to those around us.