AfterThoughts: December 1, 2019
December 1, 2019
SERMON SERIES: “Long-Expected Jesus”
SERMON TITLE: “A Birth Foretold”
This week, Pastor David began the Advent Sermon Series with a look at the prophecies of Jesus’ birth.
- Based on the original context of the prophecy in Isaiah 7, why might King Ahaz have not believed the hope that Isaiah shared with him?
- Pastor David encouraged us to remember that our hope is in God because he is with us no matter what. When are you tempted to not believe God’s message of hope?
- Describe what it means to know that you are not alone regardless of your circumstances – that God is with you and for you in whatever you are facing.
View a digital copy of Dawson's 2019 Advent Prayer Guide at dawsonchurch.org/Advent2019.
To learn more about trusting Jesus as your Lord and Savior, please visit dawsonchurch.org/becoming-a-christian.
To watch this week's sermon, please visit dawsonchurch.org/LongExpectedJesus.
ADDITIONAL DISCOVERY:
And he said "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
~ Isaiah 7:13-14
"Let us go up against Judah and terrify it, and let us conquer it for ourselves, and set up the son of Tabeel as king in the midst of it," thus says the Lord God: "It shall not come to pass."
~Isaiah 7:6-7
And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the Lord said to me, "Call his name Maher-shalal-has-baz."
~Isaiah 8:3
"She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means God with us).
~Matthew 1:21-23
Characteristics Of Prophesied Christ:
- The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
- He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14)
- He would be an heir to King David's throne (Isaiah 9:7)
- He would be called Immanuel-God with us (Isaiah 7:14)
- He, along with his family, would flee to Egypt (Hosea 11:1)
- A messenger would prepare His way (Isaiah 40:3-5)
- A massacre of children would happen at His birthplace (Jeremiah 31:15)
I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
I heard the bells on Christmas Day,
Their old, familiar carols play, and wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men!
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, not doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."
Oh, hear the bells for still they sing;
Good-will to men, on earth be peace.