Stay Awake!

Discipleship Group Questions for November 28, 2004

Scripture:

Is. 2:1-5 The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 It will happen in the final days that the mountain of Yahweh’s house will rise higher than the mountains and tower above the heights. Then all the nations will stream to it, 3 many peoples will come to it and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the house of the God of Jacob that he may teach us his ways so that we may walk in his paths.’ For the Law will issue from Zion and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem. 4 Then he will judge between the nations and arbitrate between many peoples. They will hammer their swords into ploughshares and their spears into sickles. Nation will not lift sword against nation, no longer will they learn how to make war. 5 House of Jacob, come, let us walk in Yahweh’s light. A vision of peace!

Rom. 13:11-14 Besides, you know the time has come; the moment is here for you to stop sleeping and wake up, because by now our salvation is nearer than when we first began to believe. 12 The night is nearly over, daylight is on the way; so let us throw off everything that belongs to the darkness and equip ourselves for the light. 13 Let us live decently, as in the light of day; with no orgies or drunkenness, no promiscuity or licentiousness, and no wrangling or jealousy. 14 Let your armor be the Lord Jesus Christ, and stop worrying about how your disordered natural inclinations may be fulfilled.

Matt. 24:37-44 ‘As it was in Noah’s day, so will it be when the Son of man comes. 38 For in those days before the Flood people were eating, drinking, taking wives, taking husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, 39 and they suspected nothing till the Flood came and swept them all away. This is what it will be like when the Son of man comes. 40 Then of two men in the fields, one is taken, one left; 41 of two women grinding at the mill, one is taken, one left. 42 ‘So stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming. 43 You may be quite sure of this, that if the house holder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house. 44 Therefore, you too must stand ready (stay awake) because the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Questions for Reflection:

1.In this first Sunday of Advent we hear 2 themes – “peace” and “stay awake.” – how are they compatible? Please discuss.

2.Now please turn to Isaiah chapter 9 verse 6 – It speaks to us about the One who is coming:

"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." Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace! Jesus Christ, who in His advent on that first Christmas Day declared war on the king of this world and on all those who follow him – this warrior King is called the "Prince of Peace!!!” How much time do you and I spend thinking about Him and His final coming? How awake are you and I to our Prince of Peace? Please discuss.

3. Jesus is calling us today to “stay awake” – be vigilant and ready for His coming!

The word here translated “stay awake” is “gaygoreo” (grhgore÷w) and it means “to be in continuous readiness and alertness to learn — ‘to be alert, to be watchful, to be vigilant!” How many of us does this describe? Please discuss.

4. This posture of vigilance is the posture of a soldier in Iraq as he patrols Faluga isn’t it?

You see this wakefulness is the posture of a soldier.

We want with all of our hearts to establish “peace” in Iraq but there are forces coming against us who don’t want it so what posture is required of us to bring this peace?

Yes, “watchfulness – being fully alive in the moment – to be vigilant – not to go to sleep! Not to take our eyes away from our goal! This is to become more and more the posture of the Christian – please discuss.

5. And what are we “awake to?”

Ah! That’s the real question isn’t it? - To the Presence of our Princely King – to the King of Peace – to Jesus Christ!

This is what the First Week of Advent is reminding us – to remember who we are, what we’re about and to accomplish we must remain awake – present to – our Prince! To our warrior King!

It's about remembering isn't it? It’s about not forgetting! Please discuss.

6. How do we remember Him? How do we “stay awake to Him?

What was Jesus speaking about when He said, “Do this in remembrance of me?

Yes! The Eucharist – His body broken and His blood shed! This is the most perfect way to remember Him and to stay awake to our Prince of Peace!

In this Eucharistic remembrance – we remember our King – His death and this His most glorious resurrection. We remember that He is the very source of our life and our strength. His body and blood nourish us for the battle that rages about us! Please discuss this.

7. If you have any time left reflect together upon the following Scripture reference:

John 6:50 but this is the bread which comes down from heaven, so that a person may eat it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.’ 52 Then the Jews started arguing among themselves, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ 53 Jesus replied to them: In all truth I tell you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise that person up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.