Embracing Christ: Our Wonderful Counselor and Hope
Summary
Reflecting on Joan's story, we see a beautiful tapestry of how God works through personal relationships and community. Her journey is a reminder that God often uses individuals, not just organizations, to impact lives. As we reflect on the past year, it's important to recognize the people who have influenced us and consider how we might be used by God to influence others. This season, as we engage in our church's tradition of the all-in offering, we are reminded of the joy and significance of giving back to God. It's not about the amount but the heart behind the gift, an act of worship and gratitude for all He has done.
As we approach Christmas, we are invited to explore the profound meaning behind the names given to Jesus, particularly in Isaiah 9:6. These names are not mere labels but reveal the character and mission of Christ. In a time of darkness and uncertainty, Isaiah prophesied the coming of a child who would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. This prophecy was given during a tumultuous period in Israel's history, offering hope and light amidst despair.
Understanding Jesus as our Wonderful Counselor means seeking His wisdom above all else. In a world overflowing with information, true wisdom is found in Christ. We are called to listen to His word and live according to His ways. This involves not just hearing but doing, allowing His counsel to transform our lives. The wisdom of God surpasses all human understanding, and embracing it leads to a life of abundance and freedom.
As we celebrate Christmas, let us not merely see these names as festive titles but as the very essence of our hope. Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor, offers guidance and light in our darkest moments. May we open our hearts to His counsel, allowing His wisdom to guide us in every aspect of our lives.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Power of Personal Influence: Joan's story highlights the impact of personal relationships in God's work. Reflect on those who have influenced your spiritual journey and consider how you can be a vessel for God's love and truth in the lives of others. [00:00]
2. The Significance of Names: In the Bible, names often reveal character and purpose. The names given to Jesus in Isaiah 9:6 are not just titles but profound revelations of His nature and mission. Understanding these names deepens our appreciation of who Christ is. [07:39]
3. Seeking Divine Wisdom: In a world saturated with information, true wisdom is found in Christ, our Wonderful Counselor. We are called to seek His wisdom first, which surpasses all human understanding and leads to a life of abundance and freedom. [18:52]
4. Listening and Living God's Word: It's not enough to seek wisdom; we must also listen to and live by God's word. This involves allowing His counsel to transform our lives, moving from mere hearing to active doing. [36:59]
5. The Hope of Christmas: The names of Jesus are not just festive titles but the essence of our hope. Embracing Jesus as our Wonderful Counselor brings light into our darkest moments, guiding us with His divine wisdom and love. [45:22]
YouTube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Joan's Story and Personal Influence
- [02:45] - Reflecting on God's Work
- [05:00] - The All-In Offering Tradition
- [07:39] - The Significance of Names
- [12:40] - Context of Isaiah's Prophecy
- [14:49] - Light in the Darkness
- [16:08] - Jesus as Wonderful Counselor
- [18:52] - Seeking Divine Wisdom
- [22:58] - Listening to God's Word
- [24:12] - Living God's Way
- [32:30] - The Depth of God's Wisdom
- [35:06] - The Hope of Christmas
- [40:14] - Being Doers of the Word
- [45:22] - Embracing Jesus as Wonderful Counselor
- [48:37] - Offering and Worship
- [52:38] - Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Isaiah 9:6
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Observation Questions:
1. What are the four names given to Jesus in Isaiah 9:6, and what do they signify about His character and mission? [07:39]
2. How does Joan's story illustrate the power of personal influence in God's work? [00:30]
3. What was the historical context in which Isaiah prophesied about the coming of the child? How did this context influence the message of hope? [12:40]
4. How does the sermon describe the significance of the all-in offering tradition at the church? [05:00]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways do the names given to Jesus in Isaiah 9:6 reveal His nature and mission? How does this understanding deepen our appreciation of who Christ is? [07:39]
2. How does the concept of Jesus as our Wonderful Counselor challenge the way we seek wisdom in today's information-saturated world? [18:52]
3. Reflecting on the sermon, how can personal relationships be a vessel for God's love and truth in the lives of others? [00:30]
4. What does it mean to truly listen to and live by God's word, as discussed in the sermon? How does this go beyond merely hearing it? [36:59]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on someone who has significantly influenced your spiritual journey. How can you be intentional about influencing others for God in your community? [00:30]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of seeking divine wisdom. What practical steps can you take to prioritize seeking Jesus' wisdom in your daily life? [18:52]
3. Consider the names given to Jesus in Isaiah 9:6. How can embracing Jesus as your Wonderful Counselor bring light into a current dark moment in your life? [16:08]
4. The sermon discusses the significance of giving back to God with a joyful heart. How can you cultivate a heart of gratitude and worship in your giving this season? [05:00]
5. How can you move from merely hearing God's word to actively living it out in your daily actions and decisions? What might be a first step in this process? [36:59]
6. Reflect on a time when you sought wisdom from sources other than God. How did that experience compare to seeking wisdom from Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor? [24:12]
7. As we approach Christmas, how can you make the names of Jesus more than just festive titles, but the essence of your hope and guidance? [45:22]
Devotional
Day 1: The Influence of Personal Relationships
Reflecting on Joan's story, we see the profound impact that personal relationships can have in God's work. Joan's journey is a testament to how God often uses individuals, rather than just organizations, to touch and transform lives. As we look back on the past year, it's important to recognize those who have influenced our spiritual journey. Consider how you might be used by God to influence others, becoming a vessel for His love and truth. This is a call to action, to be intentional in our relationships, and to allow God to work through us in the lives of those around us. [00:00]
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life has been a significant spiritual influence, and how can you intentionally invest in someone else's spiritual journey this week?
Day 2: The Profound Meaning of Names
In the Bible, names often reveal character and purpose. The names given to Jesus in Isaiah 9:6 are not just titles but profound revelations of His nature and mission. Understanding these names deepens our appreciation of who Christ is. During a time of darkness and uncertainty, Isaiah prophesied the coming of a child who would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. These names offer hope and light amidst despair, reminding us of the character and mission of Christ. [07:39]
"And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The Lord Is There." (Ezekiel 48:35, ESV)
Reflection: How does understanding the meaning behind the names of Jesus change your perspective on His role in your life today?
Day 3: Seeking True Wisdom
In a world overflowing with information, true wisdom is found in Christ, our Wonderful Counselor. We are called to seek His wisdom above all else, which surpasses all human understanding and leads to a life of abundance and freedom. This involves not just hearing but doing, allowing His counsel to transform our lives. The wisdom of God is a guiding light in our darkest moments, offering clarity and direction when we need it most. [18:52]
"For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." (Proverbs 2:6, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need divine wisdom, and how can you actively seek God's guidance in that area today?
Day 4: Listening and Living God's Word
It's not enough to seek wisdom; we must also listen to and live by God's word. This involves allowing His counsel to transform our lives, moving from mere hearing to active doing. As we embrace Jesus as our Wonderful Counselor, we are called to open our hearts to His guidance, allowing His wisdom to shape every aspect of our lives. This is a call to action, to be doers of the word, and to live out our faith in tangible ways. [36:59]
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific way you can put God's word into action in your life this week?
Day 5: Embracing the Hope of Christmas
The names of Jesus are not just festive titles but the essence of our hope. Embracing Jesus as our Wonderful Counselor brings light into our darkest moments, guiding us with His divine wisdom and love. As we celebrate Christmas, let us not merely see these names as festive titles but as the very essence of our hope. May we open our hearts to His counsel, allowing His wisdom to guide us in every aspect of our lives. [45:22]
"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." (Isaiah 9:6, ESV)
Reflection: How can you embrace the hope and guidance of Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor, in your life this Christmas season?
Quotes
"Well, good morning, everybody. Solid. We are all with it today. Well, Joan's story is cool because it's one story that is a picture of many stories. And I want to imagine that even in our place here today, if we were to go around, some of you may find a little bit of your own story in Joan's, just where you're at in life, some of the experiences that you've had, what you've seen God doing. And it's a good thing to just kind of recognize that." [00:00:00]
"And you never know how God may work in and through those conversations, relationships to change someone's heart. And so over the course of the past few weeks, we've spent some time looking at different areas or ministries or focuses, if you will, of Village Bible Church. And we're hearing testimonies of people from other campuses. We're seeing some of those ministries being lived out and some of the footage that you're seeing in those videos that's happening everywhere." [00:05:40] (27 seconds)
"These are just stories and testimonies that are examples of God's work at Indian Creek, Sugar Grove, Plano, Naperville, Aurora, El Camino. God's doing some pretty great and wonderful things. And so as we come this time of year, we have talked each and every year about an all-in offering. And this is something that we do as a unique thing as a church one time a year. We say, hey." [00:06:40] (24 seconds)
"Abram had his name changed to Abraham because he would be the father of many nations we think of Jacob whose name was changed to Israel because he had struggled with God see names carry some meaning when we're dealing with the scriptures so what's in a name what's in a name we're sitting here we're sitting here and we have to answer are we going to understand that a name is nothing more than just a name a label and it's something that we slap on somebody because that's what you call them or when we're embracing Christmas are we going to understand that when when the bible gives names for Jesus names for the lord they mean something." [00:11:03] (40 seconds)
"What's in a name I want to encourage you over the next few weeks that as we explore some of the names given to our lord that there's great meaning in them that it's not just a label that's slapped on this little baby it's not just a label that's slapped on this person so that all these years later we could have nice Christmas songs and have passages that we can read in a in a Christmas service together but that it would reveal something to us about who our lord is in Matthew chapter 1 Joseph was told that when Mary would have this baby." [00:12:03] (32 seconds)
"And then here in Isaiah chapter 9, we're given four names for Jesus. And Isaiah says in verse 6, for to us a child is born. We read this earlier. 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. These aren't just labels. They're not just titles given to the Lord who would come." [00:13:50] (33 seconds)
"And imagine the concern, the concern that may come with that. Imagine the fear that may come with, what's going to happen to us? What's going to happen to our homeland? What's going to happen to our livelihood? What's going to happen to my kids? And it's in the midst of all this fear, all this uncertainty, all this concern that Israel, under the leadership of King Ahaz, they had a choice to make. And they had one of two options. Either option one, they could trust in the promises of God, or option two, they could say, you know what? What if we go and we make an alliance with the Assyrians and we appeal to them for peace?" [00:16:50] (44 seconds)
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