Sunday 12/31/2017 @ Midtown Church:

Looking to the Future in Light of Christ

Luke 2:21-22: Bringing The Christ Child to The Temple
After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord…

Luke 2:25-32: The Prophecy of Simeon
At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there.

He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”

Luke 2:36-38: The Prophecy of Anna
Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four.

She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.

Application Questions:
As you start a new year what are three ways you can be more obedient?

What spiritual things do you look forward to this coming year?

How might you be more available to The Spirit’s scheduling of ‘Divine Appointments?

Describe what it means to live ‘In Light Of Christ’?

How might you recognize the spiritually obvious things in your life better in 2018?

What are some ways you can be more persistent in your approach to seeking God?

How might you more intentionally share the reality of Jesus in 2018?