A Year to Remember
Part 3 – A Year of Hope

This Sunday, Simon Lace brings us the talk in the latest of our EBC Online services. Once you have watched the video, we encourage you to reflect on the bible text and join us in the prayer that follows below.

To listen to the talk click here.
 
Readings:

Matthew chapter 1 verses 18 to 25
The Birth of Jesus the Messiah
18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All of this occurred to fulfil the Lord’s message through his prophet:
23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
    She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
    which means ‘God is with us.’”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Isaiah chapter 7 verse 14
14 All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). 

 

Prayer & Reflection

Dear loving heavenly Father, thank you that you love us with a selfless love. Thank you that you have such high hopes for us. Help us respond by turning to You, Father God. We say sorry, O God, for when we’ve turned away, and we say thank that you run to us while we’re still a long way off. Father help us to love with a selfless love and to do all we can, empowered by Your Holy Spirit, to bring the love of Jesus to all we meet. Thank you Father. In Jesus’ name. Amen



Questions to Consider

1. What hopes do you have for 2021?
 
2. Think of the names of people in your life – and do the exercise described in the talk. Trace your handprint and write the people’s names on the hand. Pray for them and ask God to direct you in how you deal with those people, whose names are written in the palm of His hand.

3. Is there anyone specific that you think God might be calling you to deal differently with?

4. As you consider then names of the people, what is there that you want to say “Thank you” to God for?

5. What is there in your feelings that you know isn’t as it should be – and what will you do about it?

6. Joseph was obedient to God. What might God be asking for your obedience about lately?

7. How can you turn the challenges of 2020 into a sense of hope for the year ahead? What will you do?