Anticipation -- Joy

The Meeting Place Church

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Anticipation -- Joy

December 4, 2022 • Garry Firth • 2 Corinthians 5:17, Luke 2:10–11, Matthew 5:14–16, Luke 15:3–10, Colossians 2:12

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Anticipation! In this series, we will be exploring the peace, love, joy, and hope we receive when we live in anticipation of Jesus’ return.

Here are some questions to help you process this message and apply it to your life:

1. When do you begin your Christmas shopping? Why do you start then?

2. How did you find The Meeting Place?

3. Read Luke 15:3-10. What stood out for you in these two stories? Why?

4. Share a time when you or someone you know lost something of value or importance to you that was successfully found.

5. Have you been baptized? If so, share your experience. If you haven’t yet but you feel it’s your next step, what is holding you back?

Anticipation -- Love

December 18, 2022 • Russ Smith • Isaiah 7:14, John 1:14, Luke 6:27–28, Luke 6:35–36, Matthew 1:18–23

The exhilarating expectancy in the air on Christmas morning before you and your family open gifts; eagerly waiting for a big hug from the friend you haven’t seen in a long time; having trouble sleeping the night before a new job starts, or the first day of school. What do all of these scenarios have in common? Anticipation! In this series, we will be exploring the peace, love, joy, and hope we receive when we live in anticipation of Jesus’ return. Here are some questions to help you process this message and apply it to your life: 1. Russ shared about “anticipating” receiving the Millenium Falcon as a gift. What story do you have about a gift that you were anticipating receiving? 2. We can anticipate that God is with us, because Immanuel means “God with us”. What does that mean to you, and how does it make a difference in your life? 3. How would your life be different this week if you believed that God is with you? 4. That song “Winterlove” was about missing someone during Christmas, and as a community we get to share each other’s burdens. What burden could you share with someone? 5. What was your biggest thought or idea that you got out of this message?

Anticipation -- Hope (Compassion Sunday)

December 11, 2022 • Garry Firth, Grant Saip • Matthew 25:31–40, James 1:27

The exhilarating expectancy in the air on Christmas morning before you and your family open gifts; eagerly waiting for a big hug from the friend you haven’t seen in a long time; having trouble sleeping the night before a new job starts, or the first day of school. What do all of these scenarios have in common? Anticipation! In this series, we will be exploring the peace, love, joy, and hope we receive when we live in anticipation of Jesus’ return. Here are some questions to help you process this message and apply it to your life: 1. What is your favourite family Christmas tradition? Why? How long has it been a tradition? 2. What is a hope you have for this Christmas or for 2023? 3. What stood out to you the most from today? 4. Read Matthew 25:31-40 What stands out to you in these verses? 5. The word religion conjures up all kinds of thoughts - some good, some not so good. Read James 1:27. In what ways can this change people’s thoughts about “religion” and what it is and isn’t?

Anticipation -- Peace

November 27, 2022 • Garry Firth • Philippians 4:7, Luke 2:13–14, John 16:33, Isaiah 9:6–7, Luke 2:14

The exhilarating expectancy in the air on Christmas morning before you and your family open gifts; eagerly waiting for a big hug from the friend you haven’t seen in a long time; having trouble sleeping the night before a new job starts, or the first day of school. What do all of these scenarios have in common? Anticipation! In this series, we will be exploring the peace, love, joy, and hope we receive when we live in anticipation of Jesus’ return. Here are some questions to help you process this message and apply it to your life: 1. When do you begin decorating for Christmas? 2. What Christmas do you remember most? 3. How would you define ‘peace’? 4. Read Luke 2:13-14. How have you understood ‘peace on earth’ in the context of these verses? 5. The Hebrew word for peace is Shalom. Although it can describe the absence of war or conflict, a majority of biblical references refer to an inner completeness or wholeness. Read Isaiah 9:6-7 and substitute the word shalom where it says peace. Do those verses take on any new meaning for you? Why/why not?