ADVENT WEEKS 1 AND 2

HOPE AND PEACE

Advent – preparing for the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event.  Advent is the time we should be preparing our hearts for New Beginnings, the arrival of a newborn baby, a Savior.

The themes are Hope, Peace, Joy and Love

Week 1 – Hope (Prophet’s candle) focuses on the Hope of Christ’s coming and His promise of redemption

Week 2 – Peace (Bethlehem candle) – the peace that Christ brings into the world and within us as well

Week 3 – Joy (Shepherd’s candle) – joy in anticipating Jesus’ arrival and His Work and His ministry

Week 4 – Love (Angel’s candle) – God’s agape love for humanity not just the Jews but Jews and Gentiles, Slave and Free for all – and it is shown by sending His Son to redeem us.

Today we will look at weeks 1 and 2 Hope and Peace.

Let us pray!

“Hope Arrives, Peace Reigns: Preparing Our Hearts for the King”

Advent Week 1 (Hope) & Week 2 (Peace)

BIG IDEA:

Advent reminds us that Jesus came to shatter the darkness with hope and calm the chaos with peace. True hope is anchored in His promises, and true peace is found in His presence — both calling us to trust deeply as we wait faithfully.

POINT 1 — Hope in the Waiting: God Keeps His Promises

Advent Hope Focus (Week 1)

Illustration:

A seed buried in the ground is unseen for a long time. But deep beneath the soil, life is forming. Hope grows even when we can’t see it.

Counter-Cultural Illustration:

Culture wants instant answers, instant gratification, instant clarity. God teaches patient hope, patient trust, patient surrender. The world says, “If I can’t see it, I don’t believe it.” Advent says, “If God promised it, it’s already on the way.”

Key Text:

Isaiah 9:2–7 – The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Luke 1:26–38 – In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Israel waited centuries for the Messiah. In long seasons of silence, God’s people clung to the hope that God’s promises never fail.

Mary becomes the model — trusting God even when she didn’t understand His timing or His plan.

Key Idea:

Hope is not wishing;

Hope is waiting with confidence because God always keeps His word.

Romans 8:24–25 — “For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

Hebrews 10:23 — “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

Open-Ended Questions:

1. Where are you waiting for God to move in your life right now?

2. What promises from Scripture do you need to cling to more tightly?

3. How can Mary’s example teach you to trust God in uncertainty?

POINT 2 — Hope That Confronts the Darkness: Light Has Come

Advent Hope Focus (Week 1)

Counter-Cultural Illustration:

Culture tries to manage darkness — therapy without transformation, spirituality without surrender, positivity without power. Jesus brings deliverance, not “self-improvement.”

Illustration:

When you light a candle in a pitch-black room, darkness doesn’t negotiate — it flees. Even the smallest flame changes everything.

Key Text:

John 1:1–9 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

Matthew 4:16 – quoting Isaiah 9:2 – “the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”

Jesus did not come to make the dark “a little better” — He came to conquer it completely. Advent hope isn’t passive optimism; it is a defiant confidence that light wins.

Key Idea:

Hope is the light that exposes lies, drives out fear, and shows us that God is already at work.

Psalm 27:1 — “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

John 8:12 — “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Romans 15:13 — “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

Open-Ended Questions:

1. What darkness has Jesus already brought light into?

2. What areas still need His light to shine?

3. How can your life be a candle of hope in someone else’s darkness?

POINT 3 — Peace in the Storm: Jesus Brings Calm to Chaos

Advent Peace Focus (Week 2)

Counter-Cultural Illustration:

Culture says peace is found in comfort, control, and avoidance. God says peace is found in surrender, trust, and His presence. The world says: “Protect your calm.” Jesus says: “Come to Me, and I will give you rest.”

Illustration:

A snow globe seems chaotic when shaken — pieces flying everywhere — but the scene inside stays unchanged. Life can shake us, but God’s peace anchors us.

Key Text:

Luke 2:8–14 – And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Mark 4:35–41 – On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

The angels announced peace on earth, not because circumstances were peaceful, but because the Prince of Peace had arrived. Peace isn’t the absence of storms — it’s the presence of Jesus in them.

Key Idea:

Peace comes not from perfect circumstances but from a perfect Savior.

Peace – Be Still – we need to implement these words in our own lives

Supporting Scriptures:

Isaiah 26:3 — “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You.”

Philippians 4:7 — “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Colossians 3:15 — “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

Open-Ended Questions:

1. What current storm is testing your peace?

2. How does Jesus invite you to trust Him in the chaos?

3. Where do you go first when you feel overwhelmed — control or Christ?

POINT 4 — Peace That Unites: A New Family Formed by Faith

Advent Peace Focus (Week 2)

Counter-Cultural Illustration:

Our culture thrives on division: political tribes, online arguments, identity groups. Jesus forms a new community where peace is the foundation and love is the language.

Illustration:

A mosaic is made of broken pieces set in place by a skilled artist. The beauty isn’t in the uniformity—it’s in the unity. Christ takes broken, different, divided hearts and forms them into His people.

Key Text:

Ephesians 2:15–18 – by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Romans 5:1 – Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus didn’t just bring peace to us — He brought peace between us. Advent celebrates the birth of a Savior who unites divided people and creates a new Kingdom family.

Key Idea:

The peace Christ brings doesn’t just calm the heart — it transforms relationships initiates forgiveness and reconciliation

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 — “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”

Galatians 3:28-29 — “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”

Open-Ended Questions:

1. Who is God calling you to pursue peace with?

2. How can the church reflect Christ’s reconciling peace this Advent?

3. What steps can you take to be a peacemaker rather than a peace-breaker?

CLOSING IDEA:

Advent is not about escaping the world — it’s about encountering the Savior who entered it. Where hope rises, peace reigns. Where light shines, fear flees. Where Christ is welcomed, everything changes.

FINAL SUMMARY — Combining Week 1 & Week 2: Hope + Peace

Advent Week 1 reminds us that hope has come — Jesus is the promised Light breaking into the darkness. Week 2 reminds us that peace reigns — Jesus calms the chaos, reconciles hearts, and brings rest to weary souls.

Together they proclaim:

Hope looks forward with confidence.

Peace looks around with calm.

Both are found only in Christ.

Hope tells us a Savior is coming. Peace tells us He is with us now.

Advent is the invitation to trust His promises, walk in His peace, and prepare our hearts for the King who came, who comes, and who is coming again.

Let Us Pray!