Our Advent Soup and Study this year has us 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 meet on Sunday evenings 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 4 are:
John 3:16-17 - “16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”
Matthew 1:18-25 - “This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. ‘Joseph, son of David,’ the angel said, ‘do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’
All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: ‘Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means “God is with us.”’
When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
Isaiah 7:10-16 – “10 Later, the Lord sent this message to King Ahaz: 11 ‘Ask the Lord your God for a sign of confirmation, Ahaz. Make it as difficult as you want—as high as heaven or as deep as the place of the dead.[ Hebrew as deep as Sheol.]’ 12 But the king refused. “No,” he said, “I will not test the Lord like that.”
13 Then Isaiah said, “Listen well, you royal family of David! Isn’t it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well? 14 All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin[Or young woman.] will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). 15 By the time this child is old enough to choose what is right and reject what is wrong, he will be eating yogurt[Or curds; also in 7:22] and honey. 16 For before the child is that old, the lands of the two kings you fear so much will both be deserted.”
John 15:12-13 - “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Themes
Angel visits Mary & visits Joseph
Mary was pledged to marry Joseph
found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit
miracles
Joseph, a righteous man
divorce her quietly
Joseph visited by an angel
name the child Jesus
Power and faith to have obedience to God's commands
God’s Plan
Discussion Questions
What does it mean that Mary was "betrothed" to Joseph, & how does this cultural context affect their situation?
How did Joseph demonstrate his righteousness when he learned of Mary's pregnancy?
What were his initial thoughts and plans?
What message did the angel convey to Joseph, and how did it change his course of action?
What does this reveal about God's guidance?
How does the virgin birth of Jesus affirm his divine nature?
What implications does this have for Christian belief?
Just like Zechariah, Joseph was directly given a name for the child.
What was the name to be?
Why is the name "Jesus" significant, and what does it mean that he will "save his people from their sins"?
What prophet spoke these words?
How does this passage fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah regarding the virgin birth?
What does this tell us about the continuity of God's plan?
If you were in Joseph's position, how would you have reacted to the news of Mary's pregnancy?
What can we learn from his obedience?
What does the title "Immanuel" mean, and how does it reflect the nature of Jesus' mission?
How can we trust and obey God’s plans?
How can the themes of faith and obedience in this passage be applied to our lives today?
Are you willing to put aside your uncertainties and take bold steps towards what’s right, like Joseph did?
Do you have the courage to align your actions with your true purpose, regardless of the challenges?
What’s holding you back from living with that same conviction and trust today?
Why is it so important that no other person on earth, besides Jesus, has ever been or will ever be physically fathered by the Holy Spirit (God)?
Why is Jesus called “the only begotten Son of God”?
Closing Prayer