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Hope
In the Hebrew Bible, the words most often used for hope—qavah and yakhal—are also translated as “wait.” To hope in God means to wait with patient expectation, trusting that he will fulfill his promises. This kind of waiting leans forward, anticipating the day when Jesus will return to make all things new. Such hope empowers people to persevere, to act justly, and to serve others as a sign of the restoration that will arrive through Jesus.
Facing darkness with firm hope…Isaiah 8:5-17
Hoping for redemption…Psalm 130
Holding fast to living hope when suffering…1Peter 1:3-9, Romans 8:18-25
Questions: How do you explain or understand your HOPE in Jesus?
When have you felt the most hopeless?
Peace
We often hear that peace comes through strength. If our military is the most powerful fighting force, our enemies won’t challenge us and we’ll have peace. Taking the opposite approach, some try to “keep the peace” by avoiding conflict and ignoring problems, hoping they’ll solve themselves. Like Israel’s false prophets, they provide superficial harmony, saying, “Peace, peace!” But in reality, nobody is truly at peace (Jer. 6:14).
Prince of Peace who ends violence…Isaiah 9:1-7
How Jesus’ death and resurrection bring peace…Colossians1:13-23
Living into Jesus-style peace…Ephesians 2:11-18, 4:1-6
Questions: What brings you peace?
Where do you most need peace right now?
Joy
We often think about joy as an experience of happiness based on favorable circumstances: a stroke of good luck, a personal achievement, or a long-held desire finally being satisfied. But when joy depends on circumstances, it fades fast when the good times end.
Advent joy is not about general happiness stemming from good times. It’s a deep sense of safety and freedom people feel because of God’s loving character, which remains constant through all circumstances, and because God can be trusted to ultimately bless and heal creation as he promised. Similar to the joy a friend’s presence brings on good days and bad, we experience joy as God walks with us through the fluctuations of life’s positive and painful circumstances.
Joy in God’s exodus deliverance…Psalm 105, Isaiah 51:1-11
Joy in Jesus’ kingdom…Luke 2:8-14, John 15:9-17
Joy in the midst of sorrow…Matthew 5:11-12, 2 Corinthians 6:1-10
Question: What brings you true joy?
Love
The Advent season leads us to reflect on the future God is bringing, where every interaction will be shaped and compelled by love. Even more, it invites us to live into that coming world right now by loving others the way Jesus does. As we give of ourselves in order to care for both friends and enemies, we demonstrate the love that Jesus shows to all people.
All the Laws lead to love…Deuteronomy 6:5, Leviticus 19:18, Mark 12:28-31, Luke 6:27-36
Bright reflections of divine love everywhere…1John 4:7-21
What true love looks like…1Corinthians 13:1-13
Questions: Who do you find the hardest to love?
Are you hard to love?
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