Breaking Ground
What most consistently makes you feel calm? Why? Consider places, activities, times of the day, people, etc.
The Dig
This Sunday, we continued Advent by reflecting upon how Jesus’ birth transforms our understanding of peace.
Begin by reflecting on the word peace.
How do you define peace? What tends to make you feel at peace OR like you’re lacking peace? How does your definition of peace impact your internal & external worlds?
Read Matthew 2:13-18. Here, we find this horrifying story where Herod, the Roman appointed King of Israel, orders the slaughter of children in an attempt to kill Jesus (God’s promised King) & maintain his own worldly power. However, Jesus’ family escapes this attack, fleeing to Egypt as refugees.
What stands out to you about this story? How do you think this would have impacted Jesus & his family? How do you think it would have impacted you if you were in their shoes?
Next, read Isaiah 9:6-7. Ultimately, when stories like Matthew 2 are combined with the Messianic promises of the Hebrew Scriptures (like this one from Isaiah 9), we are brought face-to-face with one of the central paradoxes of Advent & the Christian faith. That is, somehow, Jesus is both this constant source of peace &; simultaneously, he’s consistently confronted by & found within the most extreme elements of chaos, evil, injustice, suffering & brokenness that exist in our world.
Why is it important that Jesus, the Prince of Peace, underwent such experiences of chaos & disorder? How does this paradox invite us to embrace a different vision of peace than we usually receive in our world?
What changes when we understand peace as something that can be found & created in the midst of chaos, evil, brokenness, & suffering as opposed to only existing when such realities are fully removed from our lives & world? How would this change our internal & external postures & behaviors in the midst of such experiences?
Where do you currently feel a lack of peace because of some element of chaos, evil, suffering, injustice, or brokenness in your life & world? Why do you think that is? How is that impacting your internal & external worlds?
How would understanding of peace as being possible to find within those experiences change how you feel & respond to them? How can you begin making that shift in this Advent season?
Getting Out of the Hole
Take time each week to reflect upon the Sunday sermon.
- Read Matthew 2. Make note of key characters, decisions, & attitudes throughout the story.
- How do you think Jesus’ family felt in the midst of these insane experiences? Do you think they were able to feel at peace?
- Why is it important that Jesus’ identity as the prince of peace doesn’t change despite him living through the worst chaos & evil imaginable? How does that impact your own understanding of peace?
- Where do you need to find Jesus present & offering you his peace in this season? How might that change your own responses to the chaotic elements of our world?
Journal about how this prayer practice makes you feel this week. Share your experience with your group next week.
Additional Resources*
Centered Set Church by Mark D. Baker
Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer
Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent & Christmas
TheBibleProject.com
Coming Up This Week:*
December 14th: Join us next Sunday as we continue Advent!* Please see mye3.org for details.