Hope for the New Year

Main Thought

We often approach a New Year with resolutions, excitement, and hope. Yet these things can fade almost as quickly as the fireworks do. How can we have real, lasting hope for the new year? It all begins when we do our best to love the people in front of us. We also need to confront the reality that things sometimes get worse before they get better. In spite of this, we should determine to have patient endurance. It’s much easier to endure when we remember God’s faithfulness and promises. We can go to His Word, seek Him in prayer, and we can keep track of the things He has done before. Once we remember God’s promises, we should refuse to give up on them. With God, we can remain hopeful that He has “plans for our welfare, not disaster, and will give us a future and a hope.”

Main Passage

4 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem: 5 “Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce. 6 Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! 7 And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”

8 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let your prophets and fortune-tellers who are with you in the land of Babylon trick you. Do not listen to their dreams, 9 because they are telling you lies in my name. I have not sent them,” says the Lord.

10 This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”

- Jerimiah 29:4-14

Discussion Questions

1. What stands out to you in the Main Thought and/or Passages above?

2. What was one major victory or difficulty in 2023 that may affect you in 2024?

3. Based on the Main Thought or Pastor Bret Holman’s sermon, what’s one thing that can help you have hope in the New Year?

Do You See What I See?

Main Thought

From the perspective of most people in the first century, shepherds weren’t people that you wanted to associate with. Yet God saw it fit to invite these men to the birth of His Son. So He sent an angel to them. We then begin to see the shepherds’ perspective in response to the angels’ announcement. They had faith, and their faith was accompanied by practical action. They made pursuing Jesus their priority. They knew that they wanted to see, know, and experience Jesus for themselves. Then, they shared their experience with others. God values us highly, just as He did these shepherds. If we’re willing to respond as they did, then we will also share the joy that they had.

Main Passages

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

- Luke 2:8-12

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

- Luke 2:13-15

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

- Luke 2:16-20

Discussion Questions

1. What stands out to you in the Main Thought and Passages above?

2. Do you think genuine faith must be accompanied by appropriate action? Why or why not?

3. What can you learn from the shepherds’ response to Jesus?

Meet Maher-shalal-hash-baz

Main Thought

Mary, Elizabeth, and Joseph are among the people included most often when we think of our favorite individuals associated with the birth of Jesus Christ. But who was Maher-shalal-hash-baz? He was the son of Isaiah, the Old Testament prophet, born approximately 700 years before Jesus. The name "Maher-shalal-hash-baz” meant “speed to the spoil, hurry to the plunder.” It was a reminder of the distress that was near to the people of Judah, with the empire of Assyria lurking nearby. Distress may be near to us too, and it can make the world seem dark. Yet light shines brightest against a backdrop of darkness. Isaiah foretold the coming of the Messiah, God’s Son, as a part of the same prophecy in which Maher-shalal-hash-baz was named. The Son of God came to be the light that we need: whether that be as our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, or Prince of Peace. If we want to experience Jesus in these ways, then His leadership must increase in our lives.

Main Passages

3 And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the Lord said to me, “Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz; 4 for before the boy knows how to cry ‘My father’ or ‘My mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away before the king of Assyria.”

-  Isaiah 8:3-4

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

- Isaiah 9:2

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

- Isaiah 9:6-7

Discussion Questions

1. What stands out to you in the Main Thought and Passages above?

2. Which of the four names (which represents roles and/or attributes) of the Messiah stands out most to you: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, or Prince of Peace? Why?

3. What might it look like for the government, or leadership, of Jesus to increase in your life? In other words, how can you follow His Word or His will?

Mary’s Christmas Choral

Main Thought

Mary’s experience in conceiving Christ as a virgin, by the power of God’s Holy Spirit, is often romanticized in the Christmas season. But have you ever thought about what that might have been like for her? People would have gossiped and assumed things about her. She could have lost her betrothed; in fact, we’re told in Matthew 1 that Joseph was planning to divorce her quietly. Mary’s future would have been very uncertain. In spite of this, Mary didn’t magnify the wrong things. She chose to magnify God by focusing on Him, and allowing her awareness and perception of Him to grow. We can learn from Mary’s example when we magnify Jesus. He’s near to us, and He satisfies our souls.

Main Passages

28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

- Luke 1:28-33

46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed. 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

- Luke 1:46-49

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

- James 4:8

Discussion Questions

1. What stands out to you in the Main Thought and Passages above?

2. What kind of things do you have a tendency to “magnify,” focus on, or prioritize?

3. What do you think it means or feels like to magnify God? How can you do that this week?

How to Walk Out of Doubt

Main Thought

Almost everyone would claim that they try to be a good person. Christians try their best to be godly. Yet bad things happen to all of us in spite of this. We all face disappointment. Our disappointment can cause us to doubt God’s goodness. But doubt has consequences. It may help us deal with disappointment, but it keeps us from experiencing hope, God’s goodness, and deep connection. How do we leave this hopeless place behind, and walk out of doubt? We can take one step of faith at a time. We can trust God, pursue Him, or attempt to know Him a little more: moment-by-moment, day-by-day. If we continue to do this, then we’ll eventually find that we’ve journeyed out of our doubts. We’ll stand confidently in God’s goodness, regardless of what’s happening around us.

Main Passages

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

- Luke 1:8-18

23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.

- Luke 1:23-24

57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy. 59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.” 61 They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.” 62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God..

- Luke 1:57-64

Discussion Guide

1. What stands out to you in the Main Thought and Passages above?

2. Have you ever seen doubt have consequences, either in your life or in someone around you? 

3. What’s one step of faith you can take to know God more this week?