Connect Plan and pray for opportunities to share the good news of God’s salvation with people in your life.
Warm-Up
- As a child, what did you hope for most at Christmas time? What are you more likely to hope for today?
- Why do you think there has been an ‘erosion of hope’ in Australia in recent years?
Read Isaiah 9:1-7
- When someone is facing a difficult time, do people ever have a tendency (even a well-meaning one) to try ‘reframe’ the situation by downplaying it, sugarcoating it, or spinning it? Is this helpful?
- According to Isaiah, what is the condition that the people of God are currently walking in?
- How serious is the ‘darkness’ that they are in the thick of? Was any of it of their own doing?
- How does this contrast to the future that God is promising through Isaiah?
- Why do you think that Isaiah describes this good news as a light shining in the darkness?
- Have you ever felt trapped in the (physical) dark before? How did you feel when light broke?
- Has there ever been a time in your life that felt dark? Did knowing Jesus make a difference?
- What type of King is the hope of Isaiah dependent on? (cf. have a look at his titles and explain them.)
- What is the shape of his Kingdom? (cf. look for all of the various descriptors for this future.)
- How is it clear that this type of hope is only possible through what the Lord will accomplish?
- What do you think most people hope for today? What gives them confidence for this hope?
- Why is it a relief to know that the greatest hope that we can know is not dependent on us?
Read Matthew 4:12-21
- What has just happened to John? Where does Jesus now withdraw to?
- What is significant about where Jesus goes? What dots does Matthew want us to join?
- If Jesus is the long-awaited King, the light shining in the darkness, who is this good news for?
- What is the darkness that Jesus will overcome? How has Jesus overcome this darkness?
- Why does looking back to the cross and resurrection give us confidence about Jesus’ return?
- If the hope that Jesus brings is a gift, how do we receive it?
- Has there been a time when you found it difficult to wait? What helped you to wait?
- Is the hope that Jesus brings require a response? According to Jesus, what is that response?
Apply How can waiting for Jesus’ return be a way to train you more-and-more in hope?
