Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm25:1-10; 1Thessalonians3:9-13; Luke21:25-36;
Introduction::
Advent anticipates the arrival of Jesus Christ. The Latin root of advent defines a coming. Advent is a traditional recognition of this anticipation in the Christian faith, celebrated each of the four Sundays before Christmas, and Christmas Day. Matthew and Luke divinely penned the details of Christ’s birth on earth, and John began his Gospel account by clarifying who Jesus is.
Q1: What is your favourite Christmas tradition? Why?
Advent themes: hope, love, joy, and peace.
Hope - Can involve Waiting.
When we think of the Christmas story, our minds go straight to baby Jesus in a manger surrounded by livestock. Yes, that is a major part of it. However, let’s reflect on something else in this first discussion— the waiting. Christmas reminds us that God will come through. God’s promises will come to pass. However, God’s promises do not have to follow our proposed timelines. This was one that required a long wait.
Let’s remind ourselves of the promise made.
READ Isaiah 9:6
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Doesn’t this promise sound amazing? The ancient Israelites lived in a time of unbearable war and bloodshed. They didn’t even live in their own land because violence forced them out as refugees. They were in constant fear of violence. They didn’t know where they would spend the month, let alone the next year. They didn’t know when their sons would be called out to battle.
Then, the prophet Isaiah promised a Prince of Peace. That is exactly what they needed! A king who was going to bring peace to the world. All of the Earth will rest on His shoulders, and He is going to rule fairly and lovingly. The Israelites were ready for this promised Prince.
Did it happen immediately? No. 

100 years passed. 200 years passed. 300 years passed. Over 600 years passed before Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
God had given a promise, but that promise took some time before it came to pass. 

But The wait will be worth it.
God spoke about this promise through the prophet Jeremiah, too.
Jeremiah 33:14-16. New International Version
14 “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.
15 “‘In those days and at that time
I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line;
he will do what is just and right in the land.
16 In those days Judah will be saved
and Jerusalem will live in safety.
This is the name by which it[a] will be called:
The Lord Our Righteous Saviour.’
This promise was more than an event, it was a person.
As we hope and wait, we are in good company. Hope and waiting involve testing.
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Psalm 25:1-1. New International Version. Psalm 25[a]. Of David.
1 In you, Lord my God,
I put my trust.
2 I trust in you;
do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 No one who hopes in you
will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those
who are treacherous without cause.
4 Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you, Lord, are good.
8 Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
9 He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.
10 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful
toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
Footnotes
a.Psalm 25:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
Q2: Why do you think God’s plans and timing might differ from our wants and desires ?
Q3: Can you think of a time when God came through later or differently than you were originally hoping? How did it turn out?
Q4: What does Galatians 4:4 say about God’s timing?
Galatians4:4; New International Version- But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law
In God's economy there is a time and a place, “When the set time had fully come”. In the meantime we hope, trust, wait and pray.
As we walk through the anticipatory season of Advent in a year full of chaos, uncertainty, isolation, unrest, and fear… let us choose to turn to Jesus, fixing our focus not on the fleeting status of this world, but the unchanging glory of God. His greatest expression of love for us was to send His One and only Son to earth to save us. He knows us personally and created us purposefully, for such a time as this. We were set in this generation intentionally, and given the opportunity to bring glory to God, our Creator, with the life He has breathed into us.
The next stop on God’s horizon is the return of Jesus. Again this Hope for the Christian requires patience.
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Luke 21:25-36. New International Version
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
32 “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
This Christmas season, may we be encouraged as we wait by the certainty of this Hope that is within us.
Prayer: Lord God help us to wait well, that our waiting will turn into wonder and our confusion will turn into clarity.
Amen.
https://www.ibelieve.com/holidays/advent-bible-study-weeks-of-reflection-on-christs-coming.html
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 New International Version
9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.