EXTRA! Concepts for Adults – Trying Ahead to Christmas – Session 1

**EXTRA helps the group plans within the Bible Research for Life chief guides.**

Date: December 1, 2024

Trying Ahead with Hope

The Level: We’ve a certain hope as a result of Jesus got here to us.

Get Into the Research

Share the next as you conclude your dialogue in Get Into the Stud.

On the finish of September, Hurricane Helene devastated elements of North Carolina. Earlier than restoration efforts even started, Hurricane Milton hit Florida and the Gulf Coast. The lack of life was monumental and excruciating. The altered state of residing with no trendy necessities like electrical energy, working water, mixed with no infrastructure like work or college, created chaos, devastation and despair. Folks questioned how they’d go on, and if they even wished to go on.

Out of this monumental catastrophe got here hope— hope that it was potential to rebuild. Encouragement was discovered within the type of volunteers, funds from companies and donors, outdated associates and new, serving to to choose up the items of shattered lives. The inflow of support and assets gave the hopeless survivors the help they wanted to maintain going.

The Jews within the Previous Testomony knew this type of devastation. Although they knew that the Messiah was coming, their every day lives have been full of slavery, conflict, famine, loss of life, and loss. They have been shedding hope, similar to the hurricane survivors.

This Christmas season, we hope for the salvation of the world: a time of sunshine filling the darkness of our lives, like a candle lit in the dead of night. The anticipation of the approaching of the Messiah supplied nice hope for the entire Jewish folks, even of their darkest days. As we take a look at the approaching of the savior as a small child, we notice He’s the hope for a world in despair.

Primarily based on: Heroes of Hurricane Helene: How communities are rallying to assist

Get Into the Research (Possibility from Grownup Chief Information)

Upfront, play a worship track in regards to the hope that Jesus brings. Then shut in prayer.

Reside It Out

As you focus on the applying concepts in “Reside It Out,” share the next:

Isaiah 40:1-2 says, “Consolation my folks, says your God,… and announce that her time of laborious service is over.”

When Hurricane Helene handed by way of North Carolina, there was such devastation as has by no means been seen earlier than. Mud slides, flooding, mountains crumbled and streets washed away. However within the aftermath, hope got here within the type of strangers with no purpose to assist apart from compassion. Outsiders, who didn’t know anybody affected nor had been affected themselves, got here out of a deep want to help these in misery.

Paul McGinnis, the pastor at Grace Chapel in Forest Metropolis, NC turned his church right into a shelter for survivors. He mentioned that there was “a tremendous response,” as neighbors, residents in different counties and those that traveled in from out of state “simply started displaying up. The outpouring has supplied essential support, however it additionally has acted as a resilient supply of hope and inspiration within the wake of the storm.”

With out these superb strangers of their midst, the folks of this small city wouldn’t have been in a position to hold going and rebuild. However as a substitute, their presence brough hope.

Hope can create motivation the place there may be none, a compass to the misplaced, a beacon for these in misery. After we see and really feel that connection, we all know there may be hope. That Hope, our solely hope, is Jesus—a stranger to some, the Savior of all. This Christmas, as we look ahead to the arrival of Hope incarnate, decide how you’ll find inspiration within the wake of the storms of life, and share the eternal Hope with these round you.

Primarily based on: Heroes of Hurricane Helene: How communities are rallying to assist

Erika Morrison supplied these week’s Additional. Erika is captivated with being the palms and toes of Jesus to these round her. She and her husband Chris have been married for 24 years and are busy dad and mom to 3 children. Erika spent ten years in missions and now calls lovely Southwest Michigan residence, the place they’re lively of their church and group.

Extra Questions

Icebreaker

When have you ever had a Christmas want that got here true for you?
What was your biggest Christmas hope as a toddler?
In what methods does hope assist us as believers?
What’s one thing you hoped for as a toddler?

Isaiah 40:1-2

How has your relationship with Jesus introduced consolation to you?
What space of your life current as “laborious service” proper now?
Who’re some folks in our group who want consolation within the coming season?
What do you glean about God’s character from these verses?
What can we study in regards to the character and nature of God from this passage?

Isaiah 40:3-5