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An Advent Bible Study In Four Sessions
Table of Contents
Session 1
The Star of Creation
Page 6
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Session 2
The Star of Hope
Page 14
Session 3
The Star of Unity
Page 22
Session 4
The Star of Joy
Page 28
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Introduction
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When you first read the title of this study, what came to mind?
For many of us, talk of a star at Christmas brings up images
of the celestial light that summoned the Magi from the East.
“Star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright.” We
think about the journey of the Magi, the gifts they brought to
the young king, the good news that God, in Christ, welcomes
even pagan foreigners.
If that’s the star you thought of when you picked up this Bible
study, you are in good company. That is often what comes to
mind when we think about Bethlehem and the star at Christmas.
But that is not the star we have in mind. The bright “Star” of
Bethlehem is not the mysterious light that led the Magi to Jesus.
It is Jesus himself. He is the one who makes Bethlehem the center
of our attention. He is the one who brings light to this dark and
fallen world. He is the one who welcomes not only shepherds
and Magi but you and me and all people. We could call him the
“star of wonder,” or the “star of light,” or even the “star with
royal beauty bright.” But he is so much more. He is the Star of
Creation. The Star of Unity. The Star of Hope. The Star of Joy.
He is the Star of Christmas, and his gifts to us are truly divine.
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In these four studies we will examine Jesus’ relationship to creation, to the unity we share as Christians, to the hope that fills
us, to true and lasting joy. As we search the Scriptures to this
end, we will see very clearly that the real star of Bethlehem is
the one lying in the manger for you and for me.
—Peter Nafzger, author
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Tips For Using This Study Guide
1.Always begin each session with a prayer. One is included for
each session. You are encouraged to expand each of them with
prayer concerns from the group.
2.Feel free to follow the format of each session as presented here
or rearrange and adapt the material to meet the needs of your
group.
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3.Have your Bible handy for referencing verses in this study
guide. It may also be interesting to have a different translation
of Scripture than you are used to using to get a fresh perspective and perhaps broaden your understanding.
4.As you work through the material in this study guide, be sure
to write down in the margins any questions that come to mind
or any thoughts that arise in the course of the discussion and
your contemplation on each session’s Scripture verses.
5.The tune names of the hymns in each session are noted for
the accompanist. You can also speak the lyrics in unison.
6.If you are using this guide in a group setting, consider assigning Bible verses mentioned in the questions to various people
in the class to look up and read aloud at the appropriate time,
rather than having everyone look up every verse. This will
move the session along more efficiently.
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Note that some of the questions ask for facts. Typically, the
answers to these questions will come from the Scripture verses
just read. Other questions are more subjective, asking for your
opinion or an example from your own experience. Since your
life experiences are different from anyone else’s, answers to these
questions are neither right nor wrong.
A Leader’s Guide that accompanies this material is available from
Creative Communications for the Parish (Code BRL).
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SESSION 2
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And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.
—Psalm 39:7
Opening Prayer
Lord of all hope, you fulfilled your promises of old through your
Son Jesus, the Star of Hope. Sustain us as we wait in hopeful
expectation of his second coming. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Opening Hymn
(Tune: Gottes Sohn Ist Kommen 66 66 66)
Once he came in blessing,
All our sins redressing;
Came in likeness lowly,
Son of God most holy;
Bore the cross to save us;
Hope and freedom gave us.
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Come, then, O Lord Jesus,
From our sins release us.
Keep our hearts believing,
That we, grace receiving,
Ever may confess you
Till in heav’n we bless you.
Conversation Starter
Hope. It is one of the most powerful of all human conditions.
It sustains those who are weary, empowers those who are weak,
encourages those who are worn out. But hope must have an
object. What are some of the things people in our society place
their hopes in?
Part 1: An Ancient Hope Fulfilled
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The story of the Old Testament is a story of hope. It is the story
of a broken creation longing for the arrival of one who would
restore and renew. For centuries God’s prophets foretold many
details about the coming Savior, the Star of Hope. They even
identified his place of birth.
• Read Micah 5:2-5a:
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be
among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old,
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from ancient days. 3Therefore he shall give them up until the
time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of
his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. 4And he shall
stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the
majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell
secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. 5And
he shall be their peace.
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1. Bethlehem was not an impressive town. It was much
smaller than nearby Jerusalem, which was only 6 miles
to the north. Yet God chose this humble little town to
be the birthplace for the Star of Hope. This seems to
be God’s way. Can you think of other unlikely places
and people in the Bible God chose to accomplish his
will?
2. How has God worked through unlikely people in
your life?
3. Do you consider yourself a likely instrument of God?
Why or why not?
4. Micah 5:2-5a lists several specific characteristics of the
one who would be born in Bethlehem.
Look up the following passages from John’s gospel and
match them with the corresponding characteristics
listed above.
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a. His “origin is from of old, from ancient days.”
b. He shall “shepherd his flock.”
c. He shall “be their peace.”
John 14:27
John 8:58
John 10:11
5. In verse 4 Micah says that the people “shall dwell
secure.” What does it mean to dwell secure as a
Christian today?
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Part 2: A Future Hope Expected
The Old Testament isn’t the only story of hope in the Bible. The
New Testament also proclaims a message of hope and expectation—even in the midst of trials.
• Read John 14:1-3, 18-19:
Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also
in me. 2In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so,
would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3And
if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will
take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 18I will not
leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19Yet a little while and
the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I
live, you also will live.
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1. The Star of Hope said these things to his disciples
the night before he died. Just a few hours later his
disciples were confronted with fear, confusion and
despair. How does the Star of Hope encourage his
disciples to respond to the troubles that are coming?
2. What troubles your heart?
3. Which promises of God comfort your heart when it is
troubled?
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Part 3: Hopes and Fears
As the Star of Hope suffered and died, the disciples experienced
both hope and fear. So do we. The first verse of the familiar
Christmas carol “O Little Town of Bethlehem” concludes with
these words: “The hopes and fears of all the years, are met in
thee tonight.”
1. In what way does the Star of Hope meet the hopes
of all the years? In what ways does he meet all of your
hopes?
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2. What does it mean for the Star of Hope to meet your
fears?
• Read 1 Peter 1:3-5:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again
to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from
the dead, 4to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and
unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed
in the last time.
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1. Peter speaks of a “living” hope and compares it to an
inheritance. What kind of inheritance is it?
2. Benjamin Franklin once said, “He that lives upon
hope will die fasting.” What do you think he meant?
How would you respond to such a statement in light
of the promises we have in the Star of Hope? C
3. Finish this statement: “When I think of the baby in
the manger as the one who offers me a living hope, I
find myself …”
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Closing Hymn
(Tune: St. Louis 86 86 76 86)
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O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light.
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.
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O holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in,
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Immanuel!
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Closing Prayer
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Dear Lord, through the Star of Hope you have fulfilled all
your promises of old. Through the same Star of Hope you have
promised us eternal life and peace. When our hearts are troubled,
comfort us with your love and forgiveness. When our fears rise
up, assure us of his victory over sin and death. When our hope
begins to fade, strengthen us again with the promises of your
Son Jesus, the Star of Hope. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Assignment For Next Session
• Read Ephesians 2:12-22:
Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ,
alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the
covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the
world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have
been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he himself is
our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in
his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15by abolishing the law of
commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16and
might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross,
thereby killing the hostility. 17And he came and preached peace
to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18For
through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
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So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are
fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household
of God, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21in whom the whole
structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the
Lord. 22In him you also are being built together into a dwelling
place for God by the Spirit.
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1. What do these verses tell you about how unity can be
established and maintained in our daily living with
God and one another?
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