CONNECT: How can you use advent to practically prepare for Jesus’ return?

WARM-UP Questions

1. Can you think of positive and negative examples of the use of power in our world? Why do you think it is often easier to think of negative examples?
2. Why can we be confident that God’s use of power is perfectly just?

READ Revelation 4:1-5

1. As you read/hear these words, what is your initial impression? What stands out for you?
2. Why is it so significant that Jesus is both LORD and GOD? How does Jesus’ reign compare to that of the Caesar at the time? How does Jesus’ reign compare to the greatest rulers of our age?
3. What are the three key images portrayed in these verses? What do they symbolise
4. How can we be left without a doubt that God truly has power of everything
5. Where will you spend most of your time this week? What difference does it make to you to know that God is truly on the throne?

READ 1 Thessalonians 4:6-10

1. Describe the creatures featured in these verses. What are their distinctive features? Who are they worshipping? What do they represent?
2. What is significant about the perpetual nature of their praise? What is significant about the actual words that they are saying? How does this relate to us?
3. What does it look like for us to be vigilant in awaiting the return of Jesus?
4. Do you remember what the sea of glass is all about? How does it point to God’s power over chaos?

READ Revelation 4:11

1. Why is God worthy to receive all glory, honour, and power? If this is true, how do we express this with our lives? (Try to think of really practical examples.)
2. How – to an interested onlooker (e.g., a friend, family member, colleague, or peer who is not a Christian) – would it be evident in your life that God is worthy of all glory, honour, and power?
3. How does our worship (not just on a Sunday) anticipate Jesus’ return and our future with God? How can we be more mindful of this?

APPLY This Week: How can your life as worship anticipate Jesus’ return?

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For Families

• ‘Brushstrokes in the Big Picture– Symbols in Revelation’ (p.6-7) from Creek Road Presbyterian
• ‘Bible Story: Revelation – Heaven’ by LifeKids TV

Sermons

• ‘The Slaughtered Lamb Roars’ by Dominic Steele
• ‘God will Win’ by Mike Raiter
• ‘1. Rev 4’ by D.A Carson
• ‘God-Made or Self-Made?” by Phillip Jensen
• ‘Through the Open Door: The Transcendent and Redeeming God” by Kathleen Nelson
• ‘Heaven’ Simon Ponsonby
• ‘God is on His Throne – Worship Him’ by Sandy Wilson
• ‘Revelation 4:1-11’ by William Taylor

Other Helpful Articles and Courses

• The Ridley Certificate Course: Revelation Unwrapped
• Open Yale Course on Introduction to New Testament History and Literature (see Revelation Handout):
• ‘Reading the Book of Revelation’ by Zach Lee

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