Advent, the practice of waiting: Week 2 (Dec 11-17)
Advent, The Practice of Waiting: Week #2| December 2022
Communities @ Grace
40 minutes: Welcome, Pray, Eat + Mingle
What is a favorite Christmas memory?
What is a memorable gift you have given?
15 Minutes : Review The Practice of Waiting week #1
How did your practice go this week?
Spend some time thinking about what your spiritual longings are.
Write a prayer expressing your longings to God
Express to God those things you are waiting for. Ask Him to help you wait with hope and full surrender to his care and goodness.
If nobody in your group has completed the practice from the previous week talk through these questions:
What is hindering you from practicing during the week?
How can we support each other?
How was your connection with Jesus this week?
35 Minutes : Introduction of Practice + Discussion Questions
Read:
“The Advent season is a season of waiting, but our whole life is an Advent season, that is, a season of waiting for the last Advent, for the time when there will be a new heaven and a new earth.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
What are your thoughts about the quote by Dietrich Bonhoffer?
Read: Following each reading, discuss what the passage says about our waiting.
Philippians 3:20 (citizenship in heaven, eagerly await)
Jude 1:17-25 (be faithful, pray, stay in God’s love)
Romans 8:22-25 (groaning, eagerly, patiently)
John 16:28-33 (peace, suffering, courage)
Ephesians 6:10-18 (armor of God)
Luke 24:44-49 (the gift of the Holy Spirit)
25 Minutes : Group Practice and prayer: Break up into groups of 3-4 or discuss as a whole group
How does God strengthen us as we wait for the return of Jesus?
How can we rely on His strength as we anticipate His second coming?
What was most encouraging to you in the above passages?
What is most challenging?
5 Minutes : Practices for Week Ahead
Choose a passage or two from today's reading and read them slowly each day. After reading the passages spend 5 minutes quietly reflecting and listening for what God may say.
Spend some time finding and reading other passages that talk about the return of Christ.
Share with someone the hope you have in Jesus now and what that hope means for your future.
Passages from today’s readingsPhilippians 3:20 (citizenship in heaven, eagerly await)
Jude 1:17-25(be faithful, pray, stay in God’s love)
Romans 8:22-25 (groaning, eagerly, patiently)
John 16:28-33 (peace, suffering, courage)
Ephesians 6:10-18 (armor of God)
Luke 24:44-49 (the gift of the Holy Spirit)