IBF Advent Study 2016This guide is intended for family reflection, personal reflection, or during house group during this advent season.

HopeThe Word Became Flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

(John 1:1-5 ESV)

Questions for reflection:

If all you had in hand was John 1:1-5, what would you learn about the character and nature of Jesus?

During the first week of Advent, churches around the world consider the theme of hope. How does this brief passage encourage you to be hopeful?

PeaceIn him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

(John 1:4-5, 9-13 ESV)

Questions for reflection:

In what ways does the light shine into the darkness in our own lives?

What does God promise to all who receive him?

JoyThe Word Became Flesh

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

(John 1:9-13 ESV)

Questions for reflection:

What do you think John means when he says that Jesus gives light to everyone?

Why is the declaration that the Word is the true light a cause for joy in your life?

Why is it good news that the light was coming into the world?

In 1719, Isaac Watts, one of the greatest hymn writers of all time, penned a hymn titled Joy to the World. Though it became known as such, it was not written as a Christmas hymn at all, but rather about the second coming of Jesus. Regardless, Watts’ lyrics fit perfectly the joy we experience at Christmas time. Sing this together as a family or on your own. Consider looking at Psalm 98, upon which Watts based his hymn. Spend time giving thanks for the joy you experience now in the Light of the world. Anticipate together the joy you will experience when Jesus comes again!

Love! Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

(1 John 4:7-12 ESV)

Reflection:

Consider how God has loved you. What are some ways you can love the people around you this Christmas in a manner that reflects the way you have been loved by God?

Read the same passage in “The Message” and share any additional insights with your family:

My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God.

My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!

This study guide includes excerpts from the “Advent 2016” study of Santa Barbara Community Church, www.sbcommunity.org