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StoneBridge Community Church

The Shape of Hope #3: Dayspring & Desire of Nations

Pastor Jeff Cheadle

Locations & Times

StoneBridge Campus

4832 Cochran St, Simi Valley, CA 93063, USA

Saturday 5:30 PM

Sunday 9:00 AM

Sunday 10:30 AM

Growth Groups

Simi Town Center Way, Simi Valley, CA 93065, USA

Sunday 12:00 PM

Isaiah 9:2

Isaiah 9:6-7

The Text In Context

Allen Ross, "The Glorious Messiah and the Messianic Age" (Isaiah 9:1-7)

http://bit.ly/2hg9qWg

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" was written in 1963 by Edward Pola and George Wyle. It was recorded and released the same year by Andy Williams. Billboard lists it as one of the top ten holiday songs, while ASCAP reports it is among the top ten in terms of radio airplay.

http://bit.ly/2hdi7jY

The Unwelcome Holiday Guest

Rebel Taylor, "Depression, the Unwelcome Holiday Guest" Christian Broadcast Network article.

http://bit.ly/2h7r1lp

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel is a Christian Advent hymn for Advent. It is a translation of a Latin hymn, Veni, Veni, Emmanuel, itself a metrical paraphrase of the O Antiphons, a series of ancient plainchant antiphons. Wikipedia article

http://bit.ly/1Nq5yfq

Dayspring

The beautiful English word Dayspring was in current use at the time of the publication of the King James Version of the Bible (1611). It can be variously translated as (radiant) dawn, break of day, morning, sunrise, and east. Bible Study Tools

http://bit.ly/2gKxIGX

Isaiah 9:2

Isaiah 60:1-3

Malachi 4:2

Luke 1:76-79

1. Jesus came to…

1. Jesus' came to dispel the darkness and to bring light and clarity to our lives.

For reflection/discussion

For reflection/discussion: Why do many people feel sad during the Christmas holiday season? If you suffer from holiday sadness, what resources are available to you for help? If you know someone who might feel sad this Christmas, how can you reach out to them? How does knowing Christ help us deal with life's sad moments?

2. Jesus came to…

2. Jesus came to reorient our lives to God.

Map Orientation

While we typically orient maps with north at the top, maps have historically been oriented in a number of ways. Medieval European cartographers oriented their maps towards the Holy Land since Jerusalem was the place of Christ’s death and resurrection. In fact, the world orient comes from the Latin word oriens, meaning East." From the article "Map Orientation" GeoLounge

http://bit.ly/2aH9Thl

Dover Mappa Mundi, with Oriens (East) at the top. Jerusalem is the center of the world, with Asia above it, Europe to the lower left, and Africa to the lower right.

O Oriens

Malcolm Guide, "O Oriens: A Fifth Advent Reflection" includes a beautiful sonnet by the author.

http://bit.ly/2gul9lj

For reflection/discussion

For reflection/discussion: In what way is a person's worldview like a map? How does our orientation toward life impact our experience and the experiences of those around us? What is our orientation in life prior to our becoming believers? What practical difference(s) does orienting our lives toward God make?

Desire of All Nations

James M. Gray, "Desire of All Nations" International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, James Orr, M.A., D.D. General Editor.

http://bit.ly/2gkgDT4

Revelation 7:9

Revelation 5:9

Revelation 14:6

3. Jesus came to…

3. Jesus came to bring unity and peace through his just and loving rule.

O Rex Gentium

Malcolm Guide, "A Hidden King; My Sixth Advent Sonnet"

http://bit.ly/2guggbW

For reflection/discussion

For reflection/discussion: What causes division between people, groups, and nations? How does Jesus bridge the divisions that exist between people? If Jesus is "the Desire of Nations" why was he rejected by his own people and put to death by Rome? How does Jesus' "kingship" subvert and redefine the meaning of kingship and rule? What steps can you take to build bridges between people in our community?

Isaiah 9:2

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