Advent 2016 Living as a Righteous People Extended Notes for December 11, 2016

As we enter into Advent we are reminded that we are in a season of “waiting” for the anticipated day in which the promised Messiah will come to earth to bring light into our darkness and set us free from the captivity of sin. This series will use the theme of “light” to draw out this sense of waiting/anticipation. Each message will focus on a characteristic that God’s people are called to embody in light of the hope that we have in the fact that Christ our Savior has truly brought salvation (“light”) to our dark world – and that this “light” will ultimately one day prevail over the darkness. Question: What does it mean that we are called to be a RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE? 1) Christ’s righteous people live by faith in the ____________________ of God. 2) Christ’s righteous people are ___________________, _________________, and _________________________. 3) Christ’s righteous people are ________________________ to please God and be forgiving towards others. READ Luke 1:6-7 READ Luke 1:13-24 READ Rom. 1:16-17 READ Heb. 12:6 READ Luke 1:67-80 READ Luke 4:16-21 READ Rom. 3:21-26 READ Rom. 5:1-2 READ Luke 6:27-31 READ Luke 6:43-45 READ Eph. 4:17-24 READ Eph. 4:31-32 READ James 1:19-20

Advent 2016 Bring Forth the Light: Living as a God’s People in a Season of Waiting Living as a Righteous People

Questions for Reflection: 1) How were Elizabeth and Zechariah examples of what it means that the “righteous will live by faith”? Why do you think the angel made Zechariah mute until John’s birth? 2) What is the main reason God delivers His people in the Exodus account (and his delivering us from the power of sin)? Hint: read Ex. 19:6; Rom. 5:1-2. 3) How does being a “forgiving” people show the righteousness of God in our lives? Are you struggling with any “grievances” in your life that you need to surrender to God?