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Life Group Questions for 12/7 and 12/14

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ADVENT GUIDE for Sandhurst - resources for devos, families, grief, media and more...


Review and apply: Last Sunday, December 7, 2025 (Message here)

Advent 1: Peace of God - a sound theology of peace (Will Rutt)


Context: For Advent this year, we are studying Peace - what it is & isn't & how to get it...

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Text: Read Philippians 4:4-9. Don’t rush. What stands out to you?

  1. Open: Explain why the College Football Committee did NOT select Vanderbilt for the playoff. (Tulane?!) Back to peace...

  2. Real Open: Illustration - Remember Will shaking the figure in the jar to show lack of peace? Scale of 1-10, how much does that feel like your life, and why?

  3. Peace in the Old Testament is the Hebrew word "shalom" meaning whole, or complete, or settled - so a stone wall in tact is said to have "peace." How does this understanding of peace resonate with you?

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  4. Biblical (real) peace has two elements: objective reality and subjective experience - describe these in your own words...

  5. V6-9 teach the path to peace is: pray + think + practice = peace. Where do you see that in the text?

    1. V6: "by prayer and petition...present your requests to God"

    2. V8: "think about such things"

    3. V9: "put it into practice"

  6. What is missing in the above equation?

    1. Emphasis: God as as the source. Note the reading below...

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  7. The passage is meant to be less about peace and more about God. Less about our getting peace and more about our getting God - and His peace with Him. Read John 16:33 and see how Jesus describes the foundation for peace.

  8. Illustration: Remember the balls of care being removed by the fullness of God's perfect power and wisdom and love - so worry is an impossibility for God.

  9. Illustration: Remember Will pouring the water (God's fullness) filling the jar - how did this impact the figure when the jar is shaken?

    1. The "shake" doesn't go away - but it impacts you differently - the unexplainable yet undeniably present comfort of God.

  10. Read Isaiah 26:2 - Have you ever "imported" someone else's peace in some moment of struggle? How can we do this with God?

  11. What if I'm struggling to connect the objective reality to my emotional experience?

    1. Remember - this pain / grief / etc will have an end

    2. Remember - God's power and wisdom and love

    3. Remember - Christ's suffering for us

    4. Remember - Christ's resurrection - He is always with us

  12. Growth: What is a key application you take from this passage / message?

  13. Prayer: For God's peace - for you, for others



Consider ahead: Next Sunday, December 14, 2025

Advent 2: Peace of God from praying (Will Rutt)


ADVENT GUIDE for Sandhurst - resources for devos, families, grief, media and more...


Context: Advent Series on PEACE

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  1. Text: Read Philippians 4:4-9. Don’t rush. What stands out to you?

  2. How would you describe or define the "peace of God?"

  3. V6: What is the "negative" command? What are the positive commands? What else do you observe in this verse?

  4. V7: What is the promise here?

  5. In what way are we dependent on others or the world for peace? (in no way)

  6. How does thankful praying impact us? (remember the full jar...)

  7. Prayer: For God's peace - for you, for others




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