1. Fulfilled hope looks different than expected.

2. Only God knows the timeline.

3. Waiting requires me to be Spirit-led.

4. Fulfilled hope is better than expected.

START TALKING

Share a memory that you have of waiting for Christmas morning and dreaming and imagining what will come when the day finally arrives. What do you remember experiencing during the waiting?

What is another time that you had to wait on something or someone to come? What is your own natural inclination when you have to wait - Patience? Impatience? Anxiety? Faith?

START THINKING

Read Luke 2:21-24. The offering brought by Mary and Joseph was the offering required of the poorest of people when dedicating their child. What does this say about their obedience? What does it teach you about God's view of and desire for all people?

Read Luke 2:25-35. What do you think Simeon experienced during all of his years of waiting on God to do what He promised? What do you think Simeon experienced on that unexpected day when the promise was finally fulfilled?

Read Luke 2:36-40. This is another example of waiting that we find within the temple story. What speaks to you from this story? What would you tell someone else about Anna and her experience?

START SHARING

From the story of Jesus being dedicated in the temple we learn many things. First, fulfilled hope looks different than expected. Jesus didn't come from a wealthy or powerful family like most would have expected the "King of Kings" to be. When have you experienced a promise of God being fulfilled and it looked different than you expected?

Simeon likely waited for many years - decades even - to see his hope fulfilled and God's promise delivered. When have you had to wait and it seemed like a long time of waiting on God? What are you even now finding yourself waiting for? How does this story of Simeon help you?

START DOING

Simeon was so sensitive to the Spirit of God that he not only knew what God had promised, but he even allowed the Spirit to lead him to the right place at the right time to experience the culmination of his waiting. What do you or what can you do to be Spirit-led like this? What role do each of the following play in you hearing clearly from the Spirit:

- Prayer
- Scriptures
- Community and Godly counsel

The result of all this waiting in the story of Simeon was a fulfilled promise that was even better than he could have expected. What can you do to ensure you don't rush God's process? What can you do when you think you have discovered the answer to your waiting but need to ensure it is truly the work of God and not your own desire?

START PRAYING

Pray for each of the things that were shared above. Share what you sense the Spirit is telling you to wait for and pray that you will be patient and faithful while waiting for God to deliver on his promise. Pray that God will write this as part of your story so that not only you can experience His work in your life, but so others around you will see Jesus in you wherever you live, work, and play.