SERIES: Advent: The Light Has Come   

TITLE: Week #1: Advent Hope   

Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7

Message Review

Welcome to Advent! This weekend, Pastor Brian began our new teaching series, Advent: Light Has Come. During this series, we will take a look at what the Bible has to say about Advent hope, peace, joy, and love. Here is a review of the first sermon in this series, “Advent Hope.”

Introduction

  1. Advent is a season of anticipation as we await the birth of Jesus. According to the scriptures, at the birth of Jesus, the light long anticipated had indeed come into a dark world. 
  2. In context: Isaiah is prophesying. He is proclaiming the Word of the Lord some 700 years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem. 
  3. Let’s look at what Isaiah had to say. 

People Need Light but Have No Power to Produce It (Isaiah 9:1-2) 

  1. This light is not like a fire or a lightbulb. It is a kind of spiritual light that eliminates spiritual darkness. It’s impossible to manufacture with human hands. 
  2. We walk in darkness. Deep darkness. 
    1. In context, the people of Israel were walking in a time of national gloom as a result of their sin. 
    2. Isaiah refers to very specific people. Very specific geography. Zebulon and Naphtali along the way of the sea. Galilee of the Gentiles. 
    3. What is clear is that there are several paragraphs that reflect the historical events surrounding the Syro-Ephraimite War. 
      1. Israel and Syria have acted proudly by attacking Judah, so now their foes (the Assyrians) are being strengthened against them (9:8–11) and have already taken some of their land (9:1). 
      2. Thus Israel has not completely fallen, but very soon it will (10:3–4). The Assyrian army is arriving or is about to arrive on the scene (10:28–32). It has exerted its muscles against Samaria but has not yet completed its work against Judah (10:11–12). In the near future God will judge Assyria (10:33–34). –  Smith, G. V. (2007). Isaiah 1–39. (E. R. Clendenen, Ed.) (pp. 233–234). Nashville: B & H Publishing Group.
    4. Where would they place their hope? Political leaders like King Ahazz?
  3. Isaiah was sent to remind people in deep darkness that God can be trusted to fulfill his promises even when everything is characterized by gloom. 
    1. Isaiah 8:17 ESV “I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him.”
  4. So trust and wait and be faithful. HOPE in God and his promises. Even in deep darkness.

The Light That We Need is “Shined” on us. (Isaiah 9:2b and 6-7) 

  1. Who is the light? (9:6) 
    1. This is hope. 
      1. Isaiah 7:14 ESV “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
      2. Isaiah 9:6 ESV “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called
        Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
        1. Wonderful Counselor: He will be miraculous and skilled at giving wisdom from God. 
        2. Mighty God: The Son is identified with God. 
        3. Everlasting Father: He is a perfect and everlasting father. (This word is not used for kings or pagan deities. Father is the head and this Father is everlasting. This separates him from other possibilities like Hezekiah, Josiah, and David himself. 
        4. Prince of Peace: (sar salom) – no longer oppressed under the prince. There is shalom. 
  2. What is his government like? 
    1. When the new King rules, his influence and kingdom will expand without limit and peace will increase without limit. (9:7)
    2. The ruler will reign on the throne of David and establish his Kingdom. (9:7)
    3. His rule will be based on justice and righteousness. (9:7)
    4. He will rule forevermore. 
    5. This is how the disciple Matthew saw it as he wrote about his experience with Jesus 700 years after Isaiah prophesied. 
      1. Matthew 4:12-17 ESV “12 Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
  3. Who shines the light? 
    1. Isaiah 9:7 ESV “…The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will do this.” 
    2. This is the steadfast love of God. This is our hope! The one who offers grace to people stuck in sin and living in deep darkness. He has a message of hope that is “gospel.” 
    3. The Word is a lamp to my feet – Psalm 119:105.
    4. Israel is light to the nations (Gentiles) – Isaiah 49:6.
    5. Jesus is the light of the world – John 9:5.
    6. You are the light of the world – Matthew 5:14-16 (because his Spirit is in you). 
      1. Matthew 5:14-16 ESV “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Response

  1. Maybe you are in darkness today. There is hope in the light of Christ. 
  2. Maybe you have the light in a land of deep darkness. Let your light shine! 

ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS & DISCUSSION

Welcome to Advent! I hope that you are enjoying walking through this season and are taking advantage of the Advent resources that are available. It’s not too late to pick up an Advent Family Kit in the Resource Center on Sundays or an Advent Family Calendar at the Welcome Center and begin walking through these daily readings and activities! 

Advent is a season of remembrance and anticipation. It is a season where we remember the promised coming of Jesus, fulfilled at His birth in Bethlehem, and anticipate His promised His second-coming at the end of the age. The promises fulfilled in his birth, life, death and resurrection give us hope and peace as we await what is still to come! 

Let’s begin our time together this week by sharing God Moments. Sharing the ways that God is at work in and through our lives is another way we are reminded of His faithfulness and the hope we have in Him! 

  1. What are the “God moments” from this past week?  How have you seen God at work that is unmistakably Him? 
    1. How has He been working not just in your life personally, but in the lives of your family (spouse, kids, grandkids)? 
  2. How did God speak to you through His Word this past week? 
    1. How are you hearing and obeying? 
  3. How can we specifically pray for you this week? 

Pray as a group – thanking God for how He is at work and asking Him to answer the requests that were mentioned. 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Ask and discuss the following questions

Q: What is the importance of the Advent season? What does it symbolize? How do you celebrate this season? 

Q: Read Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7. Isaiah is sharing the Word of the Lord some 700 years before it was actually fulfilled. What can prophecy made and then fulfilled teach us about the truth and reliability of the Bible?  Why is this important?  

Q: Describe the kind of hope a person walking in deep darkness feels when a light is shone? 

Q: Look at the names Isaiah uses to describe Jesus in Isaiah 9:6. What do these names tell us about Jesus? How do these names bring you hope?  

Q: Who shines the light of hope on people in darkness? What does this tell us about God?  

Q: Consider your own life. How has the light of Jesus changed your life? 

WRAP-UP

Advent reminds us that there is hope in the light of Jesus Christ! 

Let’s discuss a few more questions as we end out time and look to living out what God has spoken to us this week. 

  1. What did you hear? 
    1. What is your one “take-away” from this week? How did God speak specifically to you through this week’s passage and study? 
  2. What do you think? 
    1. How did this passage and study affirm, challenge, or change the way you think about God and the truths shared? 
  3. What will you do? 
    1. What is your next step? How will you take the truth of God’s Word and apply it to your life this week?   

Pray for any needs that were shared. Pray for the families represented in the group. Pray that the hope found in the light of Christ will impact the families in your group in powerful and tangible ways this next week! 

SCRIPTURES FROM THIS WEEK’S MESSAGE: 

  • Isaiah 9:1-2 & 6-7, Isaiah 8:17, Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 4:12-17, Matthew 5:14-16  

UPCOMING MESSAGES: 

  • Next Series: “Advent: The Light Has Come” 
    • December 5th: “Hope” 
    • December 12th: “Peace” 
    • December 19th: “Love” 
    • December 24th: “Joy”