First Sunday of Advent - Arrival

Growth Group Discussion Guide
Week of December 2nd

Q: How many times did your family move when you were growing up?

Q: How geographically scattered is your family now? How often do you get together?

READ FIRST: I Peter 1:1-9
Q: In what sense are “God’s elect, strangers in the world?” When have you most felt like a stranger because of your faith?

Q: For what purpose have God’s elect been chosen?

Q: What does it mean to you to be chosen by God? To be sanctified by the Spirit? To be sprinkled with Christ’s blood?

Q: What does Peter mean by the “new birth” that God provides (v. 3)? How did your life change when you encountered Christ?

Q: What is God’s perspective on suffering (vs. 6, 7)? How does this perspective help you deal with past or current suffering in your live?

Q: When has your faith been tested by a fiery trial? How did your come out of it?


Sermon Meditation for the first Sunday of Advent
Arrival!

Advent Season begins this Sunday! Our four part series, called Arrival, brings the message of Hope.

Tis the season!

1 Peter 1:3-9

"A Hope That Lives"

If you were to Google the definition of the word "hope," you would receive this search answer, "a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen." Haven't we all felt that way? Haven't we all longed for something? I remember as kid growing up how difficult it was to fall asleep on Christmas Eve. The expectation of Christmas Day brought so much excitement and hope that I couldn't even catch some z's.

The problem with this definition of hope is that though we have expectations of what's to come, we are often met with a feeling of disappointment. Most of our expectations are unrealistic for the reality we live in.

Though we have all felt this kind of "hope" and exciting expectations, this is not the definition of the word that the Bible uses. The Bible's definition of hope is, "joyful and confident expectation of salvation." The hope we see being proclaimed in Scripture is climaxed in the Person of Jesus. All of Scripture leans in on the confident expectation that is finally realized in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

We are given hope. Not an unrealistic, philosophical idea that never meets reality. We are given Jesus - real, awesome, powerful, majestic Creator that came to us. Our hope is set in stone; Our hope doesn't change or waver. Our hope is not a dead dream; Our hope is alive and eternal.

Come worship the One that set us free this Sunday!
Pastor Luke