Why Christmas? Hope that's Real

Sermons – St Bart's Anglican Church

Sermon & Small Group Resources

This is the first of our Advent sermon series for 2021. This sermon is ‘Hope that’s Real’. Preacher: The Rev’d Adam Lowe. Bible Reading: 1 Peter 1:1-12

DOWNLOAD the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF).

Next Steps this Week

BIBLE READING: 1 Peter 1:1-12

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:

Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

Download in PDF format.

CONNECT: On one of your frontlines this week, how can you be fortified in: remembering who’s boss, standing firm, and trusting that salvation belongs to the Lord?

WARM-UP

1. What are the most common ways in our culture that we prepare for Christmas?

2. What does ‘advent’ mean? What do you find most helpful in preparing for Christmas?

Read 1 Peter 1:1-5

1. Who were the communities that Peter was writing to? What do we know of their circumstances?

2. In what ways is our hope living? How does this living hope make a difference in the ‘everyday’?

3. How is it good news that our hope is anchored away from ourselves and to Jesus?

4. How is our hope anchored to Jesus? What does Peter mean by “through” the resurrection?

5. What are the types of things that you most o#en hope for? What is our greatest hope?

6. What helps you anchor your hope to Jesus in the face of trouble or challenge? How about in times when things are going more smoothly?

7. How does Christian hope (and the biblical view of hope) differ to everyday use of the word?

Read 1 Peter 1:6-9

1. How is our inheritance described? Why does this matter? If our inheritance is guaranteed (and cannot spoil!), what sort of confidence should this give us?

2. Can you think of an example of someone you know who has faced extraordinary sufferings yet maintained their hope in Jesus?

3. How does Peter explain the purpose of the trials that the people were facing? Have you ever experienced a time of trial? How did you find that experience?

4. Why do you think it is o#en through suffering that we grow as disciples of Jesus?

5. Who is someone this Christmas with whom you would love to share the good news that through Jesus we have a hope that is real? Perhaps be especially praying for them this week.

Apply What one thing will help you to better celebrate Christmas this year?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, we thank you so much that it is through Jesus that we can have a sure and certain hope. Please help us to be anchored to Jesus, certain of our future, and transformed today for your glory. Amen.

GOING DEEPER

On Your Frontline This Week: How is your reliance on God, above everything else, visible on your frontline?

Listen, Watch, and Read:

• VIDEO: “Let’s Start with God” a sermon on 1 Peter

• AUDIO: “The Imperishable Inheritance” by William Taylor

• VIDEO: “Born again into a living hope” an exposition of 1 Peter 1:1-12 from TGC’s Women’s Conference

• AUDIO: “The Christian’s Gospel” a sermon by Dick Lucas on 1 Peter 1:1-25

Series Resources:

Some helpful resources for our Series:

• Series overview both in PDF and Audiobook

• Advent Devotional by Tim and Kathy Keller

• Invite a friend to carols!

Grow as Families

Each week St Bart’s Kids and CHARGE Youth provides resources for you to use at home. Join the livestream and then spend 30 minutes to work through these together.

Families: Read, Chat, Do, and Pray

High School: CHARGE Discussion Questions

Kids’ Talk: Watch the Kids’ Talk

eBook: Watch the eBook