Connect Is there currently any aspect of your use of your time that could be set apart (through addition, subtraction, or reshaping) for the Lord’s purposes — as holy?
Warm-Up
- How do you get ready for a special visitor? What do you do differently than normal?
Read Luke 1:67-75
- What significant events happened before John was born to demonstrate that his coming was part of God’s plans?
- Who fills Zechariah to prophesy? How does that give us confidence in what Zechariah foretells?
- In the history of the people of Israel, when has God redeemed them before?
- Why are they still longing for redemption? What do they expect that to look like?
- Who is the ‘horn of salvation’? How will the Lord save his people?
- What was the covenant that God made with Abraham? (See Genesis 12:1-3; 22:16-18) How had this been only partially fulfilled?
- Who did God promise to rescue the people from? And what were they rescued for?
- In Christ, how are we also rescued to serve the Lord without fear? What are we rescued from? How do we serve the Lord today?
- What does it look like to serve the Lord in holiness and righteousness? What does that look like for you on your frontline (focus on one frontline, e.g., family, work, study, friends, volunteer role)?
Read Luke 1:76-80
- What is John’s God-given role? How does John prepare the people for the Lord?
- How would you normally prepare for a visit from royalty? How is John’s preparation quite different?
- Why did preparation for the Lord require a call to repentance?
- What rhythms of your life remind you of how the Lord has forgiven your sin?
- See verse 79, who is the message of God’s salvation for? Who are people in your life who are living in darkness?
- What opportunities do you have until the end of the year, to share with them the good news of God’s salvation?
- What promises of God have been fulfilled in Jesus? What promises are we still waiting for?
- How can your Advent and Christmas celebrations consider both God’s promises fulfilled and those still to come?
Apply Plan and pray for opportunities to share the good news of God’s salvation with people in your life.
