God’s Promises: Past, Present and Future. An Advent Bible Study via Zoom Wednesdays Nov 30-Dec 21 6:30-8:00 PM. In Advent we traditionally look forward, but this season we’re going to take a look back to some of the passages in the Hebrew Bible that Luke references in the opening chapters of the gospel. For each passage, we’ll ask what it meant in the original context and how Luke uses the passage to reveal the meaning of Jesus’ birth. We’ll go on to share how these passages speak to us today.

In addition to Bible study, we’ll have time for community sharing and prayer. Each session will be self-contained, so you can attend whichever ones work for you. The Zoom link and materials outlining the passages for discussion will be available before the first session in the newsletter. Please let JoAnn know if you plan to attend at joann@sutton-consulting.com

November 30: God’s promise of progeny

Passages: Genesis 18: 1-15 (see also 21: 1-7) & Luke 1: 5-25 (see also 1: 57-80)

Questions to provoke thought:

· Abraham had been promised a child before. Why didn’t he share that news with Sarah?

· The birth of Isaac is found in the midst of horrific stories (e.g., Sodom & Gomorrah, Abimelech, birth of Ishmael). “Isaac” means “he who laughs.” Lots of contrasts!

· What was it about Zechariah’s response that caused him to become mute?

· The possibility of miraculous births has been used by some Christians as an argument against any kind of birth control. What do we make of that? What do these stories of miraculous births mean to us?