Our Advent Soup and Study this year will begin one week prior to the First Sunday of Advent. We will be working ahead, in order to allow Pastor Karen some ideas, stories or additions for each Sunday of Advent, and Christmas Eve.
If you would like to participate in this study, we will begin on November 23rd at 6:30pm. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall with a light meal (soup and bread), and delve into our study.
The scriptures for Advent 1 are:
Matthew 24:30-44 “30And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory [See Dan. 7:13] 31 And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world [Greek from the four winds.] —from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven. 32 Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth, this generation [Or this age, or this nation.] will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. 36 However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. [Some manuscripts do not include “or the Son himself.”] Only the Father knows. 37 When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. 40 Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. 42 So, you too must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”
Isaiah 2:1-5 “1 This is a vision that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: 2 In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all—the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship. 3 People from many nations will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.’ For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem. 4 The Lord will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore. 5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord!”
Daniel 7:13-14 “13 As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man [or “like a Son of Man”.] coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.”
Romans 13:11-14 “11This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.”
2 Peter 3:3-4 “3 Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. 4 They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”
Themes
Apocalypse, End-times, preparedness/watchfulness, a personal relationship with Christ Jesus, constant change of the world, anxiety vs. hope and faith
Discussion Questions
What does Jesus say about knowing the day or hour of his return?
How do you think this affects people’s patience, trust, and faith in God?
What comparisons does Jesus make between the arrival of the Son of Man and everyday life events?
Think of a story of a time when you or someone you know had to trust God, even when you/they didn’t understand the timing or plan.
What are some “things of the world” that people might cling to, instead of trusting God & God’s timing?
How could waiting with faith feel different from waiting with fear or frustration?
Think of a sentence Jesus might say to remind you how to “keep watch” in your own life. What would it be?
Where and how do you recognize God’s presence dwelling in the world around you?
Where are you longing for God’s intervention this Advent?:
in your own life -
in the church, and -
in the world at large -
What current instruments of destruction need to be recast into instruments of restoration?
What would that labor look like, and how might you be called to participate in it?
Closing Prayer