Are you meeting regularly with a discussion group? If you meet just once a week, you can find all of this week’s discussion questions in one place right here.

Question: Have you ever experienced a “disaster” when something you depended on broke down or went wrong? How did you respond? In what ways is this similar to experiencing a broken promise?

Question: In your opinion, which promise is the most amazing of God’s fulfilled promises? Why?  In a general, overall sense, how did Jesus fulfill God’s promise?

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’ (Jeremiah 33:14-16 ESV)

Question:

Read the following.  Consider – what might people have expected, and how did Jesus do better?

Isaiah 7:14—Virgin Birth fulfilled in Luke 1:26-27; 2:7

Micah 5:2—Birthplace fulfilled in Matthew 2:1

Psalm 72:10—Presented with gifts fulfilled in Matthew 2:1, 11

Isaiah 40:3—Preceded by a messenger fulfilled in Luke 1:13, 17

Malachi 3:1—Enters the Temple fulfilled in Matthew 21:12

Zechariah 9:9—Enters Jerusalem on a donkey fulfilled in Luke 19:35-37

Psalm 16:10—Resurrection fulfilled in Mark 16:6

Psalm 68:18a—Ascension fulfilled in Acts 1:9

Psalm 41:9—Betrayed by a friend fulfilled in John 13:21, 30

Zechariah 11:12—Sold for 30 pieces of silver fulfilled in Matthew 26:15

Zechariah 13:7—Forsaken by disciples fulfilled in Mark 14:50

Psalm 35:11—Accused by false witnesses fulfilled in Matthew 26:59-61

Psalm 22:16—Hands and feet pierced fulfilled in Luke 23:33

Isaiah 53:12—Crucified with robbers fulfilled in Matthew 27:38

Isaiah 53:12—Intercedes for persecutors fulfilled in Luke 23:34

Psalm 69:4—Hated without cause fulfilled in John 15:25

Psalm 22:18—Garments parted and lots cast fulfilled in John 19:23-24

Psalm 69:21—Vinegar offered fulfilled in Matthew 27:34

Psalm 34:20—Bones not broken fulfilled in John 19:33

Zechariah 12:10—Side pierced fulfilled in John 19:34

Amos 8:9—Darkness over land fulfilled in Matthew 27:45

Isaiah 53:9—Buried in rich man’s grave fulfilled in Matthew 27:57-60

Challenge: What are some ways we can live differently knowing that Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise of God’s presence?  If you truly seek to live in the promise of God’s presence with you through Jesus, how will your life this week look different from last week?   How will you prepare for Christmas in a way that keeps the focus on Jesus?