Celebrating Advent With Your Small Group

Christmas movie watching and house decorating. Gift giving and stocking stuffing. Tree trimming and light hanging. Present wrapping and cookie baking. The lights, the noise, the hustle and bustle can only mean one thing: Christmas season is here!

 As you plan and prepare for this Christmas, one of the ways you can make Christmas meaningful is to celebrate Advent together with your small group. Advent is simply the Latin word for “coming.” It offers a guide to dive deeper into the true meaning of Christmas: that God has come to Earth and made His dwelling among us.

 Advent is a longstanding Christian tradition. There are four weeks to Advent, and each week focuses on an important theme of the coming of Christ. Celebrating Advent will help you worship together this Christmas season as you focus your minds and your hearts on the true meaning of Christmas.

Here’s how to use this study:

1. Choose how to do this study with your group. You can spread the readings out over four weeks or choose to go through all the readings in one gathering.

2. Read the introduction and look up the verses for each week. 

3. Reflect on the importance of Christ’s coming using the questions provided.

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WEEK 1: THE HOPE OF ADVENT

Unto us, a child is born 

It had been over 400 years since the people of Israel had last heard from God. The prophets had long ago promised that one day God would send the Messiah, the promised deliverer who would bring about God’s salvation. And so, the people of Israel continued to wait and hope. They held onto the prophecies found in books like Isaiah and Jeremiah and looked forward to the day when God would make all things right with the world. 

Advent is not just about looking back at the first time Jesus came into our world at Christmas, but also about looking forward to when He comes again! At His first coming, Jesus came to give His life and save us from our sins. At His second coming, Jesus will come to judge the world and finally usher in the fullness of the Kingdom of God.

Read Jeremiah 33:14-16 and Isaiah 9:2-6

 Looking back: What are some of the phrases that stand out to you from these verses? How did Jesus fulfill these prophecies and bring hope to the people of Israel? 

Looking forward: What do you think it will be like to live fully in the presence of God? What are you looking forward to the most about heaven?

WEEK 2: THE LOVE OF ADVENT

Love come down

Love has moved people to do incredible things. Out of love, a man will turn his life upside-down to win the heart of the woman he loves. Out of love, a new parent will lose countless hours of sleep caring for a new baby. Out of love, a soldier will lay his life down for his country. Out of love, a teacher will give hours upon hours to help students reach their full potential. Out of love, a stranger will offer help to someone in need.

The greatest sacrifice ever made was also born out of love. It was love that moved God to send Jesus to earth. It was love that moved the King of Kings to be born in a manger, and it was also love that moved that same King to stretch out His arms on the cross and take on the sins of the world. 

Read John 3:16-17 and Matthew 1:18-25

Looking back: What are some of the greatest acts of love you have witnessed? How do you see love playing out in the story of the birth of Jesus? 

Looking forward: Everything that God does is done out of love because God is love. Even the justice and judgment of God are done out of love. When Jesus comes again to judge the world, how will that reflect God’s love for the world?

WEEK 3: THE JOY OF ADVENT

Make a joyful noise

Joy isn’t meant to be contained. It’s meant to spill over, as the song in your heart comes out in the praises on your lips. Joy is contagious, and it only gets better as it is shared exponentially with others. One of the best pictures we have of this is a wedding. The guests at a wedding are there to share in the joy of the bride and groom and help them celebrate this joyous moment.

The Bible tells us that the Church is the bride of Christ, and Christ coming to earth is the most joyous occasion! At that first Christmas, the angels rejoiced as they celebrated the coming of Jesus to save His people. And one day in the future, Christ will again come for His bride so that

we can spend eternity with Him in heaven. On that day, we’ll join in with the angels as our joy overflows in songs of praise!

Read Luke 2:8-20 and Psalm 100: 1-5

 Looking back: What have been some of your greatest moments of joy? How have you experienced that joy is contagious?

 Looking forward: As the shepherds shared what they learned about Jesus, the Bible says everyone who heard them was amazed. The joy of the shepherds was spreading! How will you help spread joy this Christmas season?

WEEK 4: THE PEACE OF ADVENT

A peace that never ends

Isaiah prophesied that all nations would one day stream to the mountain of God. The Lord would be Lord of all, and all conflict would finally cease. A true peace, such as had never been seen on earth, would be established under the rule of the Prince of Peace.

At the time of the birth of Jesus, the people of Israel were a seemingly insignificant nation. From exile under the Assyrians and Babylonians, and then ruled by the Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans, the Israelites had witnessed the rise and fall of one nation after another. One conquering nation would rise to power, only to fall to the next. Conflict and oppression were Israel’s constant companion, and they knew little of peace. And into this chaos and pain, Jesus came. That first Christmas, He came to conquer the chaos in our hearts. And one day in the future, He will come again as the Prince of Peace to set up a kingdom that will never fall.

Read Isaiah 2: 1-4, 9:6-7, and Matthew 2:1-12

Looking back: How is Matthew 2 a fulfillment of the prophecies of Isaiah? 

Looking forward: James 4:1-3 tells us that the source of conflict comes from wanting things we can’t or don’t have. How is Jesus the antidote to this source of conflict?

Laura Lepire | Small Group Minister