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

December 7: God’s promise of salvation

Passages: Ruth 1:15-22 & 4:13-17; & Luke 1: 39-56

Questions to provoke thought:

· What does “salvation” mean to Naomi? to Ruth?

· How does Mary’s song echo the longings of Elizabeth, Naomi, or Ruth?

· Two stories about two women! Why are both in the Bible?

· One phrase used to describe a major theme in Luke’s Gospel is “The world turned upside down,” meaning that the stories upset “normal” societal expectations. The same is true for the story of Ruth! What “normal” expectations does our society have that these passages overturn?