In the first week of our Advent series, we explore Zechariah's question in response to God's promise: how can I be sure?  

Luke 1:5-20	

www.thevineaustin.org

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Consider the view that faith is not about how 'sure' you are of God, but about how willing you are to trust in God even when you aren't sure. How does that view challenge or comfort you?
2. When you think about your own faith, what kinds of obstacles do you experience in trusting in God? Are they more external (e.g. questions about God’s character or ability) or more internal (e.g. fear of disappointment, fear of being wrong, fear of hoping again.) 
3. Read Zechariah's song: Luke 1: 67-79.  What stands out to you?  
4. Fabs talked about three ways of avoiding hope: reducing desire, defensive pessimism, blind optimism.  Which one(s) do you relate to?  How does that show up in your life and relationships? 
5. What’s one area where you feel like Zechariah: wanting to believe, but terrified of hoping?  What might it look like to hold hope in that place rather than trying to escape, numb, or control it? 


Questions of Christmas- How Can I Be Sure?

In this second sermon of this Advent series, Questions of Christmas, we consider Mary and her question, "How will this be?"

www.thevineaustin.org

Luke 1:26-38

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What (if anything) has Advent meant to you? How would you describe Advent to other people?
2. From the sermon, Mark talked how living in the age of the internet combats our embrace of not knowing. What is lost when we continually decrease and outsource the space between question and answer?
3. Imagine being in Mary's shoes. What feelings and thoughts come to the surface when you consider this uninvited disruption in her life? 
4. Mark shared four gifts for people in a time of uncertainty- God's presence, power, companionship, and word. How do you see that in verses 35-37?
5. Which of those four do you need now?

Pray for those who you know are in a time of unknowing, transition and vulnerability.

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