2022
A Light has Dawned
Passage: Isaiah 8:19 – 9:2
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
When is a time you have experienced physical light breaking through darkness?
Read Isaiah 8:19 – 9:2. What ideas or phrases surprise, encourage, or spark questions for you?
In what ways are you aware of deep darkness around and within this Advent season? In verses 8:19-21, there are three false ways we are prone to stumble in the darkness: lies (v 19), distraction (v 20), and rage (v 21). How do you see these false ways of dealing with darkness try to tempt you?
In Matthew 4:17, Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” In John 8:12, Jesus spoke to the people, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” How has this reality impacted your life? What does it look like to live in the light of Jesus?
In what ways do you practice the counsel of 8:20? What has helped you to do this well?
What from this passage do you need to remember, rejoice in, request, or repent of?
PRAYER
Share with your group how they can be praying for you: what is weighing on you from this past week? What are you praising God for from this past week?
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-10
“Lord, we ask you, give ear to our prayers and, by your gracious visitation, lighten the darkness of our hearts, by our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.” (The Book of Common Prayer, Third Sunday in Advent)