Advent Sunday #1 | December 3, 2023

 

+ Read Scripture

Genesis 15:1-5

1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." 2 But Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3 And Abram said, "Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir." 4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: "This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir." 5 And he brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 6 And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

Talk Sheet Questions

  1. This Advent, where do you feel like God is moving too slowly—or not moving at all?

  2. Do you have any ideas why God may have made Abraham and Sarah wait so long for the fulfilment of his promise?

  3. What would it look like for you to choose to trust that God’s slowness is not a sign of his absence?

  4. In what ways is Abraham’s faith a model for us all? (Romans 4:1-4)

  5. List some promises of God. Which of these feel easiest for you to believe? Which of these feel most difficult for you to believe?

Prayer

Pray that we would trust God even when we think he is slow.

 
 
Scott Reavely