12-04-22 Christmas Peace

ICEBREAKER
What are some of the more peaceful Christmas memories or traditions in your family? What are some of the more non-peaceful Christmas memories or experience in your family?

This is the second week of Advent, a time of anticipation that includes the four Sundays before Christmas anticipating the birth of Jesus. Each week during this series, we'll be discussing a different theme. This week we are exploring the Christmas Peace that was prophesied of the Messiah.

REVIEW & DISCUSS
Read Isaiah 9:1-7.

1. What do you know or recall from Pastor Jim's message is the original historical context of this passage?
   You can read a summary about this context on Zondervan's website. Here's an excerpt:
   "In chapter 9, Isaiah is speaking to the southern kingdom of Israel (Judah) before the Babylonian exile. Israel and Syria are pressuring Judah to form a coalition against Assyria. Ahaz, the king of Judah, (see Isaiah 7) is afraid to go against Assyria, so he sends a king's ransom to Assyria asking for their help. And among Isaiah’s prophecies about their future defeat, exile, and return, he included two prophetic visions of a child who would represent God’s presence, embody his characteristics, and bear the responsibility of governing his people——a Messiah."
   
2. What is God's promise of peace as relayed to the people of Judah through Isaiah? What is the nature of it? How will it come? What did the people come to expect?
3. Read Luke 2:8-14 and notice the statement, "and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." What is the meaning of this? On whom does God's favor rest? See 1 Samuel 15:22 and Psalm 147:10-11.
   Pastor Jim: "It’s not the arrival of the Messiah that brings peace. It’s trust in and obedience to the Messiah that brings peace."
   
4. Pastor Jim mentioned three things on which "peace on earth" depends.
   
   1. Peace with _____ [God] (Romans 5:1-2)
      WHY?
   2. Peace in _____ [Yourself] (Philippians 4:6-7)
      WHY?
      
   3. Peace with _____ [Others] (Romans 12:18)
      WHY?
      
5. How does the apply to world powers, their leaders, and our calling or responsibility as Christians?
6. In what way ...
   
   1. Do you need more peace with God?
   2. Do you need more peace in Yourself?
   3. Can you create more peace with Others?

PRAYER
First, take some time to identify prayer needs related to the discussion. Second, take some time to ask for additional prayer requests. Then close your time together in prayer.