The Advent

We are so excited for our Advent Life Group season! Christmas is a time of wonder, joy, peace, and oftentimes stress and anxiety. Your group is a place where you will explore the meaning of Advent together, share in the joy of the season, and find encouragement as you Do Life Together.

We believe that each group will be blessed as we look at the four key aspects of what Christ brought to the world through His birth. In this study you will find fun and engaging Connect questions designed to get the conversations flowing. You will see a video from our hosts David Case and Kerry Paxton, then listen to an uplifting Christmas song performed by a wonderful collection of NCC musicians and vocalists from all campuses. Following the song, one of our NCC members will share a powerful story about how God has provided Hope, Faith, Joy and Peace in their lives. The final element of the video will be a short teaching segment and discussion about what we’ve learned. We believe that everyone will benefit from looking at the role Hope, Faith, Joy and Peace play in everyone's lives this Advent Season.

Week 1: Hope CONNECT: OPENING QUESTIONS ● Think back on the beginning of the year. Did you have any hopes/dreams for this year?

Did they come to reality or change? Was it a welcome change or a disappointment? ● This week’s topic focuses on the Hope that Christ brings to the world. What are some hopes you have regarding our current world and how God might help?

WATCH THE VIDEO SCRIPTURE: Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are.

Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.

Romans 8:18-21 NLT Paul wrote Romans while Nero was the emperor of the Roman Empire. Nero first came to power at the age of 16 and was known for immoral behavior and extreme brutality, especially toward Christians. He claimed that He was lord of all the earth and demanded people worship him as god. There are stories of Nero lighting his dinner parties with the bodies of Christians dipped in tar, propped on a pole, and set ablaze. He also falsely accused Christians of starting a fire that devastated much of the city. This turned the public (roughly 2+ million people in the city of Rome alone) against Christians, giving them a poor and undeserved reputation, which led to increased persecution.

It was here where many Christians questioned, “Will this ever end? When will God make things right and bring redemption?” They echoed the prayers of, as Paul says, “all creation” for that day God makes all things right.

GROW: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ● Have you ever had to suffer, struggle, or wait for a season in order to receive something you have desperately hoped for in the future? Was it worth it? ● How do you navigate the tension of waiting and hoping without getting discouraged? ● Where are you hoping for God to move in your life? Where has that hope been fulfilled in your past?

SERVE: APPLICATION In panic I cried out, “I am cut off from the Lord!” But You heard my cry for mercy and answered my call for help. Love the Lord, all you godly ones! For the Lord protects those who are loyal to Him, but He harshly punishes the arrogant. So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord! Psalms 31:24 NLT ● One of the words for hope in Hebrew is Qavah, which implies a feeling of tension and expectation, like a twisting rope; waiting on the edge of your seat for something to happen. ● There are moments everyone faces when they feel like they’re at the end of their rope.

It’s in these moments when we need encouragement to keep holding tightly to Jesus.

What are some ways we can encourage others who are at the end of their rope? ● This Christmas season can be very stressful for people. Our actions towards others can either lighten or add to the weight of that stress. How can you bring hope through your attitude and mannerisms to someone, even if they are a stranger?

DAILY DEVOS Monday ● Verse: We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in You. Psalms 39:6-7 NLT ● Reflect ○ Though David wrote this hundreds of years ago, how similar does his description align with what we see today? ○ The path of busyness that ends in nothing is all too common and tempting. In this Advent season, it is important to pause and recognize where we might be living in the shadows instead of spending time in the light. ● Respond ○ This Advent season, how are you navigating the tension between finding hope in your bank account or busyness and finding your hope in Jesus? __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday ● Verse: From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for Your help. Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer. Lord, if You kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?

But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear You. I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on Him. I have put my hope in His word. Psalms 130:1-5 NLT ● Reflect ○ Without hope, we will easily find ourselves in a dark place. God is a God who hears us when we call. And He wants to answer us. Is there an area of your life you would like God’s attention and help with? ● Respond ○ What is one specific thing you can choose to trust God with today? Say a prayer asking God to be present in whatever area that may be. __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

Wednesday ● Verse: Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:23-25 ● Reflect ○ In the midst of storms, it can be easy to lose our way. That’s why we all need others walking alongside us in our journey with Jesus. Who are one or two people who have been helpful to you in your faith? Who are one or two who you have been able to help in their faith? ● Respond ○ Say a prayer for some of the people in your life. You may want to send a message of encouragement to them to help them in their day. __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

Thursday ● Verse: You are my refuge and my shield; Your Word is my source of hope. Psalm 119:114 ● Reflect ○ We all turn to certain things or activities when we need some refuge, some escape. These things (good or bad) may help for a moment but are not the true source for hope. What do you turn to for refuge instead of turning toward God? ● Respond ○ Re-read this passage a few times. When you’re craving refuge, can you try to memorize this and repeat this throughout your day? “God, You are my refuge and my shield!” __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

Friday ● Verse: I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NLT ● Reflect ○ A life in God is not one of depletion, but one of overflow. He wants us to be filled from Him, the Source of Hope, so we are overflowing, spilling onto everyone and everything around us. How accurate is that description in your own life? ● Respond ○ Ask God to fill you up completely. As you trust Him throughout your day, don’t forget to let His hope spill out onto others. __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

Week 2: Faith CONNECT: OPENING QUESTIONS ● Do you have a Christmas tradition or something you look forward to every year?

What is it? ● What comes to mind when you think about the word “faith”? It could be a word, scripture, something that happened to you, a person in your life, etc.

WATCH THE VIDEO SCRIPTURE: Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, if someone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. For this reason I tell you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your sins.”

Mark 11:22–25 GROW: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ● Jesus illustrates faith with the moving of a mountain. A mountain symbolizes great difficulty or distance from God. Is there a time in your life when you're experienced or felt distant from God? ● Is there a moment or time in your life when your faith became real for you?

SERVE: APPLICATION ● Is there something currently in your life that has been encouraging for your faith? Is there something that’s been discouraging? ● How can you encourage someone struggling in their life/faith over the coming weeks?

DAILY DEVOS Monday ● Verse: And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

● Reflect ○ It's sobering when we realize it is impossible to please God without faith. Our good works and deeds are never enough without faith. This really emphasizes faith as a relationship through Jesus Christ. ● Respond ○ As we're in this Christmas season, take time to refocus on why Jesus Christ came and your relationship with Him. __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday ● Verse: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 ● Reflect ○ This is an encouraging passage of scripture, yet very difficult to remember and live out. How do we not lean on our own understanding, but trust in the Lord with all our heart? ● Respond ○ What are some subtle ways throughout your day that you could remind yourself to trust in the Lord, and not lean on your own understanding? __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

Wednesday ● Verse: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 ● Reflect ○ When we think about gifts from God, we often think about the tangible things God has done for us and provided for us, but this says that even our faith is one of the many gifts God gives us.

● Respond ○ Faith is shown by God towards us consistently throughout the Bible. Is there an area in your life that you're struggling and need to give over to God? __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

Thursday ● Verse: When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:5 ● Reflect ○ Jesus forgives the paralyzed man's sins and heals him, all because of his friends' faith... not even because of the paralyzed man himself! This emphasizes the significance of having faithful, Godly friends in your life. ● Respond ○ Do you have faithful, Godly friends in your life that you can be vulnerable with and encourage one another in faith? __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ Friday ● Verse: For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 ● Reflect ○ Have you ever walked through your house in the dark in the middle of the night for the bathroom or water? There's a comfort and confidence because we're in our home, but still a level of doubt because we can't see! This is exactly what faith is! ● Respond ○ Feelings and seasons of doubt and uncertainty are expected and even implied in our faith! Have you struggled with doubts about your faith? __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

Week 3: Joy CONNECT: OPENING QUESTIONS ● What brings great joy to your life? ● What are the things or people in your life that rob you of your joy? Have you learned any practices that help you not to allow those things or people to steal your joy?

WATCH THE VIDEO SCRIPTURE: And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:8-11 GROW: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ● Place yourself in the shoes of the shepherds. What do you think would be going through your mind if you experienced what they experienced? ● The angels said that the good news they were bringing was to be the cause of great joy for all the people. Is Jesus the source of great joy in your life? In what ways is that true and in what ways is it potentially not true or difficult?

SERVE: APPLICATION ● When you consider Jesus’ humble arrival on this earth, the life He lived, and the death He endured, does that motivate you to be like the angels in sharing with the world what God has done for mankind? Who do you need to share God’s gift with this Christmas season? ● If you said that there was a person who brings you great joy, take some time this week to tell them two things. First, that they bring you great joy. Second, a few specifics as to why they bring you joy.

DAILY DEVOS Monday ● Verse: Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4 ● Reflect ○ Rejoicing in the Lord at all times can be challenging. Especially when things are difficult in our lives. However, when things are difficult, that is when we need to rely on God even more. ● Respond ○ If you begin to feel the stress that many times comes during the Christmas season, pause and rejoice in the Lord. Allow Him to refocus your attention on the real reason we celebrate Christmas. __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday ● Verse: Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 ● Reflect ○ Do you ever consider trials in your life a source of joy? James challenges us to look at our troubles in a different way. Following the path James describes, difficulties produce perseverance, and perseverance leads to maturity, and maturity leads to completion or when we lack nothing. ● Respond ○ How are you doing in the area of perseverance in your life? In what areas are you feeling successful in terms of perseverance? In what areas do you need to grow? __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

Wednesday ● Verse: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3 ● Reflect ○ These verses speak to the joy that awaited Jesus after His death. This joy, both His resurrection and the fact that He is now seated at the right hand of the Father, was realized only because of what He was willing to endure. ● Respond ○ Are you willing to endure difficult times so that you can realize the joy that is to come? What challenges are you possibly avoiding? Are you wanting to realize this joy without enduring anything difficult or challenging? __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

Thursday ● Verse: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:2223 ● Reflect ○ Paul lists joy as one of the Fruits of the Spirit. Why do you think joy was included in this list? ● Respond ○ Does your life reflect joy? Which Fruits of the Spirit do you need to more fully develop? __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

Friday ● Verse: Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:1-4 ● Reflect ○ In this passage, Paul is talking about the unity we should have within the church or with other followers of Christ. In the NIV translation, it says, “make my joy complete,” and then continues by listing behaviors in verses 2-4 that Christ followers should have towards each other. Why would those things make Paul’s joy complete? If this letter was written to you, would your life reflect the things necessary to make Paul’s joy complete? ● Respond ○ Is there anyone you need to behave differently towards? Are there behaviors in Paul’s list that you need to work on? __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

Week 4: Peace CONNECT: OPENING QUESTIONS ● Is there a specific place that helps you experience peace? ● What disrupts or threatens peace in your life?

WATCH THE VIDEO SCRIPTURE: For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace.

Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7 GROW: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ● During the time of this Isaiah passage there was conflict and war at every turn. Even in the midst of that, God reminds His people who He is: the Prince of Peace. In what ways do you find yourself seeking peace apart from God? ● God’s peace in our life is a gift that is always available if we accept it. How are His gifts more fulfilling than the gifts that the world offers us?

SERVE: APPLICATION ● What can we do as a church to help bring the peace of God to a conflicted world? ● Where do you feel a lack of peace right now?

DAILY DEVOS Monday ● Verse: Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 ● Reflect ○ God consistently reminds us in scripture that HE IS peace. He doesn’t just make peace accessible; He makes Himself accessible to you and provides the fruit of the spirit.

● Respond ○ How are you accessing the Lord every day? Outside of reading His word, how are you receiving peace from God? __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday ● Verse: Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ… Romans 5:1 ● Reflect ○ God promises peace to us all throughout the pages of scriptures. When we can’t feel peace in our life we can go to His Word and be reminded of His promise. ● Respond ○ Use this as motivation to put scripture to memory. Practice and recite His word and see how it can bring peace to your thoughts. __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

Wednesday ● Verse: I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 ● Reflect ○ Jesus offers so much encouragement to His followers without compromising truth. In this world we will have trouble. That’s a fact! But in Him there is peace. ● Respond ○ When have you felt the peace of God in troublesome times? What do you think it means when Jesus says, “I have overcome the world”? __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

Thursday ● Verse: Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 ● Reflect ○ Peace is God’s gift to us. It’s not something we have to try to attain or achieve it’s there if we accept it. How are the gifts of God different than the gifts of the world? What sort of gifts do you find yourself gravitating towards? ● Respond ○ What do you find yourself gravitating towards that is a counterfeit version of peace? __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

Friday ● Verse: Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15 ● Reflect ○ We are all different. We will disagree with each other and that is totally OK! But as followers of Christ, we shouldn’t let disagreement cause division and sin. The peace that God offers should unify the church! ● Respond ○ Have you let disagreements get in the way of the peace that God offers you?

Who in your life needs you to be a peacemaker? __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________