Promises of God :: The End

• Use the lead app to check in students and make sure any students not listed fill out a connect card digitally.

• Do not move on until check-in has happened and any students not listed have filled out a connect card.

• Remind them they can ask us anything by texting AMA to 678-798-8338 or by dropping a card in the lobby AMA Box.

HOW DID GOD FULFILL HIS PROMISES TO ISRAEL AND THE WORLD?

Let’s start with a little fun.

• Divide the students into pairs.Ask each pair to sit on the floor with their partner, backs together, arms linked.Their task is to stand up together. Once everyone has done this, two pairs join together and the group of four tries to repeat the task.After they succeed, add another two and try again. Keep adding pairs until your whole group is trying to stand together.

Now a brief discussion about the video we watched before we got into small group.
(Here are a few questions to help)

• What does Isaiah mean when he says, “beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news”?

• Why is it good news that Jesus is the Messiah?

• How does Jesus rescue Israel and the world?
  

Now Take turns reading the following passages of Scripture together, drawing particular attention to the bold portions of text:

• Luke 1:68–73
  68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

  for he has visited and redeemed his people

  69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us

  in the house of his servant David,

  70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

  71 that we should be saved from our enemies

  and from the hand of all who hate us;

  72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers

  and to remember his holy covenant,

  73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us

• Romans 15:8–9
  8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

  “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,

  and sing to your name.”

• Galatians 3:6–9, 14
  6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? 7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify[a] the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
  
  14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit[a] through faith.

In the first week, we learned that God promised a Savior would defeat evil and rescue his creation from the power of sin and death.This promised Savior would come through Abraham’s descendants. Last week we learned how God called Abraham to be a blessing to the world. And this wee we find the end of his promises being fulfilled. In Jesus, God remains faithful to the promise he originally made to Abraham.

We started this semester at the end and we finish at the end as well. Jesus is the end of it all. The totality of the promises of God fulfilled.

Now lets explore the passages.

• How does God remember the covenant made with Abraham?

• Why did Christ come to the earth?

• We need faith in Jesus in order to have eternal life. In addition to having eternal life and going to heaven, what does Galatians 3 tell us about what happens when we put our faith in Jesus?

• What is the blessing God gave to Abraham and also to us as Gentiles?

Now lets try to figure out how to apply this to our lives.

• Have a discussion with the students and be intentional to get the conversation going and the students sharing.

  • How have you seen God keep his promises in your life?

  • Have you ever doubted God would be faithful to keep his promises? How so? What happened?

  • If you have placed your faith in God, you have received the Holy Spirit. How has your life changed since receiving the Holy Spirit??

THE BIG QUESTION:

HOW DID GOD FULFILL HIS PROMISES TO ISRAEL AND THE WORLD?

Allow students to answer the question in their own words.

Finish by making sure they understand this answer though:

• God sent his Son, Jesus of Nazareth, to rescue Israel and the world from the power of sin and death.

NEXT STEPS:

Give students a few moments to ponder the questions in your small group buckets: (Give them at least 2 minutes per question and tell them to be quiet - the paper is double sided so there are two questions)

1. Have you ever placed your faith in God? If not, are you ready to ask God to give you a new heart and a new spirit?Talk to your leader about entering a relationship with Jesus and becoming part of Abraham’s family.

2. If so, are there any ways you have struggled to fulfill your commitment to Jesus? Would you like to ask for him to renew your desire to live for him?

Now pray together.

Remind them next week is the Moxie Crazy Christmas Celebration and they should bring some peeps with them.

We will know we have hit our target if:

-Students and leaders understand that God sent his Son, Jesus of Nazareth, to rescue Israel and the world from the power of sin and death.

-Everyone leaves with an intentional mindset in this Christmas season.

-Everyone is pumped for the party next week!