Advent Ascents: Hope in the Lord

This time of year, some of the most telling signs of the season are songs. Whether you prefer carols, crooning, or quiet, the aural blessing (or invasion) of Christmas is upon us.

But have you ever wondered what songs God’s people sang before there ever was a Christmas?

The answer, of course, is that they sang the Psalms. Moreover, during their holiday season, they especially loved to sing Psalms 120-134. These are called the “Songs of Ascent” because–according to tradition–the people sang them as they ascended the hills toward the holiday celebrations in Jerusalem. They are simple, beautiful, and filled with anticipation.

For this reason, I believe they are a perfect companion to our Advent season at Grace. For the next month, we will anticipate how the simple and beautiful birth of Jesus opens the way for us to live more fully in God’s hope, peace, joy, and love. This week, we will hear the words Psalm 131 together and let them draw us forward into that oft-fleeting but ever-essential characteristic of God’s Kingdom: Hope!

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SEE IT // BE IT

(WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE)

Date: November 27, 2016 // Title: Advent Ascents: Hope in the Lord //

Scripture: Psalm 130-131

ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes
Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.

SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
This week we began our Advent journey together; advent is a time of waiting for the arrival of Christmas. During these next few weeks we are going to move through several of the Psalms of Ascent (Psalm 120-134). These were songs that the people of God use to sing as they made their pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Feasts and Celebrations of their own “Holy Days” or “holidays.” Just like we have our Christmas music that readies our hearts for Christmas, the Psalm of Ascents readied the people of God’s hearts for their holidays as well. So this year we turn to these Psalms to prepare our hearts for Christmas. This week we look at Psalm 130 and Psalm 131 to ready our hearts with Hope. Hope is waiting well. As we hope, we learn to wait well both in the crisis and calm, and we learn to recognize our constraints and limitations and God’s goodness—He does great and marvelous things.

THE MAIN THOUGHT Keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
Hope is possible both in the crisis and in the calm.

SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes
Picture (What is the story saying?): What is your favorite Christmas song? How does listening to Christmas music help you get in the Christmas spirit? What are the Psalms of Ascent? How are these Psalms like our Christmas music? This week Jon spoke to us from two Psalms of Ascent (Psalm 130-131) that helped ready our hearts for Christmas with hope. How did Jon define hope? Waiting well What were Jon’s two keys to waiting well? constraints and contentedness
Mirror (Where am I in the story?): How well do you wait? Does waiting unify your focus or fragment it? How might recognizing your limitations or constraints cultivate hope in you? How might remembering moments of contentedness cultivate hope in you?
Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?): What would it look like to believe the best was yet to come in your life? How does living life as a pilgrim help us do this? Remember a pilgrim is a person who journeys to a sacred place for a religious reason. Where in your current calm or crisis can you wait well?

BE IT – Practice
Change UP // Exercise Christmas Music 5 minutes
Take Jon’s challenge as a group this week. Choose to read one Psalm of Ascent every day between now and Christmas (Psalm 120-134). You should be able to get through these Psalms twice. See these Psalms as part of your Christmas music for the year—preparing your heart for Christmas. Come ready to share your favorite Psalm of Ascent from your reading each week.

Change IN // Group Activity Constraints and Contentment 5 minutes
Make two lists on a whiteboard or piece of poster board with your group. One list should be a list of Constraints- all the things you cannot do. Try to name at least 20 things you cannot do. Next make a list of Contentment—naming the times that God has quieted your soul with His goodness by doing only the things that He could do. List and celebrate at least 20 of these moments. Take a few moments to observe and reflect on both lists. Write down any observations your group has in a different color marker.

Change OUT // Christmas Spirit
The holidays are a great time to spread hope in the network or neighborhood you are trying to reach for Christ. Think through together how your group could give or be hope in your community. What could you do to demonstrate the goodness of God? Throw a Christmas party, bake Christmas cookies and deliver them to your neighbors, give gifts, serve those who might be less fortunate, find a Christmas project to be part of.

CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.