20221218 ADVENT Encountering Emmanuel - Follow the Sign

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The Passage: Follow the sign
The One Thing: Isaiah 7:10-16, Matthew 1:18-25

Growgroup Discussion Starters
Know
K1 Have you ever asked God for a sign? Or interpreted something as a sign from God? What was it?

Grow
G1 Isaiah 7:10 | God offered a sign (any sign) to Ahaz to show he could trust God. Why do you think Ahaz refused? G2 Isaiah 7:16-17 | Ahaz made a harmful alliance with Assyria to help Judah out of a difficult situation. What kind of unhelpful / harmful alliances do we tend to make that we think will help, but only end up making our situations worse?
G3 How might things have turned out differently in Isaiah 7 if Ahaz HAD taken up God on His offer for a sign of His love and presence?
G4 How does knowing the background of Isaiah 7:14 help us understand Matthew 1:23? In what way is Jesus a sign of hope to us?
G5 What does it mean to you this Advent that Jesus is Emmanuel: “God with us”? G6 Can you think of any ways in which you’ve created “unholy / harmful alliances” in order to cope? Get alone with God, ask for His forgiveness and reaffirm your trust in Jesus.

Show
S1 If you are in the middle of a tough circumstance, and are struggling to believe that God is with you, why not ask Him for a sign of His love for you? And then keep your eyes open for an answer to this prayer.