Introduction & Prayer

• Did anyone have family or friends come for Thanksgiving? Did anyone go visit someone else for Thanksgiving? What were the feelings and emotions you were experiencing in the days leading to the day or arrival?

• What does Advent mean?

• During Advent we light 5 candles. The first candle is which candle? [Prophets candle/Hope Candle]

• This week we light the 2nd candle, which is what? [Bethlehem Candle/Peace Candle]

• Why does a Messiah coming bring hope?

• Pray

Last week we read verses from Isaiah 9 foretelling the coming Messiah.

Read Isaiah 9:6-7

6For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.

• Why was Messiah called the Prince of Peace?

• The word we translate as peace is the Hebrew word shalom. When the Bible uses this term shalom, how is it used? Does shalom mean the absence of war? [Biblical shalom is the idea of completeness/wholeness.]

• What does it mean that the Kingdom of God—His government and peace will never end? [There will be no degradation of God’s kingdom and wholeness.]

Read Micah 5:2-5a

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.

• What does Bethlehem mean? [house of bread/food]

• What is the significance of the meaning of city name?

• What does God mean when he says, “whose origins are in the distant past”? [Describing God’s eternal nature]

• How does God’s eternal nature bring peace into your life today?

• What is the significance of Micah identifying the birth city of Jesus? [It is very significant in that it brings credibility to the writings of Micah and to the Messiahship of Jesus Christ.]

• How many years before Jesus was born did Micah pen these prophetic words? [

Read Micah 5:3a

3 The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies until the woman in labor gives birth.

• Was Jesus birth foretold?

• What does this verse mean? [The Jewish people were captives until Messiah comes to set them free.]

Read Micah 5:3b-5a

Then at last his fellow countrymen will return from exile to their own land. 4 And he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord’s strength, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. Then his people will live there undisturbed, for he will be highly honored around the world. 5 And he will be the source of peace.

• Has this portion of the Messianic prophecy been fulfilled? [Partially fulfilled—the remainder will be fulfilled in the 2nd Advent and when Jesus establishes his Millennial Reign.]

• What does it mean that Messiah will be the source of peace?

Think on This…

• How would our nation be changed by a Prince of Peace?

• As the representatives of Christ, what can we specifically do to be an ambassador of shalom to our city?

We have been memorizing this passage in Colossians.

Read Out Loud Together Practice Memorizing Verse 13 and 14

Colossians 3:13-17 13Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. 16Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Practice Memorizing Verse 13 and 14

13Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.