Discussion for 18 December 2016

 Isaiah 7:10-16

10Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, 11Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. 12But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.13Then Isaiah said: “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? 14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. 15He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.

 For Consideration
In verse 14 Isaiah prophesies the child will be named, "Immanuel......God with us." How does this prophetic name speak to Grace and subsequently help us manage our expectations of Christmas?

Discussion for 11 December 2016

 Matthew 11:2-11

2When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 4Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

7As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written,
     ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
          who will prepare your way before you.’
11Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

For Consideration
- In Verse 3 John asks a question raising doubt in his faith. Do you know of instances when one's faith is in doubt? What does this passage say to those questioning their faith?

Discussion for 4 December 2016

Isaiah 11:1-10

1   A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,
          and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
2   The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him,
          the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
          the spirit of counsel and might,
          the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
3   His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.

     He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
          or decide by what his ears hear;
4   but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
          and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
     he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
          and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
5   Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
          and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

6   The wolf shall live with the lamb,
          the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
     the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
          and a little child shall lead them.
7   The cow and the bear shall graze,
          their young shall lie down together;
          and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8   The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
          and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
9   They will not hurt or destroy
          on all my holy mountain;
     for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD
          as the waters cover the sea.

10On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

FOR CONSIDERATION
- If we were to apply the scene depicted in Verse 6, how would it look if the animals were replaced with Humans?