week-1-sermon.docx

Devotional

Day 1: Quiet Seasons Are Fertile Ground for God

For long stretches in Scripture, God’s people experienced seasons when God did not speak in obvious ways. Those intervals were not emptiness but preparation: unseen shaping, covenant keeping, and rearranging of hearts and circumstances. The silence between Malachi and the coming of John the Baptist shows that God’s work can be deep and slow, taking place beneath the awareness of those living through it.

You may be living in a silence now—an unanswered prayer, a stalled dream, or a long season of waiting. Instead of reading silence as absence, try to posture yourself to receive what God might be doing in the hidden places. Ask for the patience to trust and look for small, quiet signs of growth: new clarity, softening of a heart, or a changed desire.

Habakkuk 2:3 (ESV)
For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

Reflection: Name one situation where you feel God is silent. This week, list three small signs you can watch for that might show God is at work, and record any one of those signs when you notice it.

Day 2: Trust the Promise More Than Visible Proof

Promises in Scripture often come long before their fulfillment. The call is not merely to believe that something will happen but to hold fast to the promise itself when evidence is lacking. Trusting the promise reshapes the way a person lives during the interval; it keeps hope alive and trains the heart to depend on God’s faithfulness rather than on immediate results.

You are invited to cling to God’s word instead of your circumstances. Write down a promise you are holding to, remind yourself of God’s past faithfulness, and let that promise govern your choices today—how you pray, speak, and respond to discouragement. This practice redeems waiting and deepens dependence.

Hebrews 10:35–36 (ESV)
Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

Reflection: Choose one biblical promise you rely on. Today, write it on an index card or set a daily phone reminder to read it aloud each morning for the next week.

Day 3: God Works to Open Hardened Places First

Before the arrival of salvation, God often prepares hearts through a prior work of turning and softening. The role of the messenger—like John the Baptist—was to break open stubbornness, call for repentance, and make pathways straight. Spiritual readiness matters; God’s gifts are received most fully when the heart is tender and honest.

Consider what closed or defensive places you carry—anger, pride, fear, or numbness. Invite God to do preparatory work there: confess, repent, seek reconciliation, and practice simple acts of obedience that show willingness to change. A cultivated openness is the soil in which new life can grow.

Malachi 4:5–6 (ESV)
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.

Reflection: Identify one relationship or inner habit you sense is hardened. What is one concrete step you can take in the next 48 hours to begin softening it (a phone call, a written apology, a time of confession, or a specific prayer)?

Day 4: Divine Timing Redeems Our Seasons of Waiting

God’s deliverance sometimes arrives later than hoped, but that lateness is not failure; it can be the very means by which God brings greater faith and clarity. Stories of barren women conceiving, exiles returning, and long-promised kings finally appearing remind that God keeps timing that aligns with redemptive purposes. Waiting reshapes character and refines worship.

If you are tempted to rush or manufacture outcomes, practice surrendering your timetable. Remember a past moment when something arrived "in due season" and let that memory steady you. Release at least one deadline or control effort today and replace it with a short prayer of handing the outcome back to God.

1 Samuel 1:19–20 (ESV)
They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”

Reflection: What is one timeline you are clinging to right now? Today, take one concrete action to surrender it (speak a five-minute prayer handing it to God, delete a monitoring app, cancel an anxious-planning task) and note how that feels.

Day 5: Called to Be Messengers of Restoration Today

God uses people to bring reconciliation and healing in the world. The preparation that comes before a great arrival is often communal: someone turns, someone speaks truth, someone reaches out. Believers are invited not only to receive restoration but to be active agents who help rebuild relationships, offer hope, and bring light into dark places.

Look around your family, neighborhood, and workplace for places that need repair—small injustices, broken conversations, or people living in isolation. Ask God for one specific way to join in restoring what is broken: a visit, a practical gift, advocacy, or a sustained prayer partnership. Participation in God’s work is both ordinary and powerful.

Isaiah 58:10–12 (ESV)
If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.

Reflection: Who in your circle needs hope or reconciliation this season? Choose one tangible action you will do in the next seven days (invite someone for coffee, send a thoughtful note, volunteer to help, or begin praying for them daily) and follow through.

Sermon Summary

This sermon, “Promise in the Silence,” opens our Advent series by reminding us that the story of Christmas begins not with angels or shepherds, but with a long period of silence—400 years between the Old and New Testaments when God seemed quiet. Yet, even in that silence, God was at work, preparing the way for the fulfillment of His promises. Through the prophecies of Isaiah and Malachi, we see that God’s promises are trustworthy, even when their fulfillment seems delayed. The birth of John the Baptist breaks the silence, showing that God’s timing is perfect and that He is always working to prepare hearts for Jesus. We are invited to trust God in our own seasons of waiting, to surrender our barren places to Him, and to let Him turn and soften our hearts as we anticipate the coming of Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Silence Is Not Absence The 400 years between Malachi and John the Baptist were not wasted or forgotten by God. In our own lives, seasons of silence can feel endless and discouraging, but God is often working most deeply in the quiet. His apparent silence is an invitation to trust that He is preparing something greater than we can see. Faith grows when we learn to wait on God’s unseen work.
2. Hold Onto the Promise, Not Just the Outcome Isaiah’s prophecy was spoken centuries before Jesus’ birth, yet God’s people were called to trust in the promise even when there was no evidence of its fulfillment. Our faith is tested and refined when we cling to what God has said, rather than what we see. The reliability of God’s word is not diminished by delay; in fact, waiting can deepen our dependence on Him and remind us that His promises never expire.
3. God Prepares Hearts Before He Fulfills Promises Before the arrival of Jesus, God sent John the Baptist to prepare people’s hearts. Spiritual readiness is often the first step in receiving what God wants to do. We are invited to examine the “closed” or hardened places in our own hearts, allowing God to soften and prepare us for His work. True celebration of Christmas begins with a heart open to God’s transforming presence.
4. God’s Timing Is Perfect, Even When It Feels Late Zechariah and Elizabeth’s story shows that God’s promises arrive exactly when they are meant to, even if it seems impossible or overdue. Our barren seasons, disappointments, and longings are not overlooked by God. He is never rushed or delayed without purpose; His timing is always for our good and His glory. Trusting God means surrendering our timelines and believing that He can bring life out of what seems hopeless.
5. We Are Invited to Participate in God’s Restoring Work Just as God used John the Baptist to turn hearts and prepare the way, He invites us to be part of His work in our families, friendships, and communities. Christmas is not just about receiving, but about being agents of reconciliation, healing, and hope. As we allow God to work in us, we become vessels through which He can restore relationships and bring light into the darkness around us. This season, ask God how you can join Him in turning hearts toward Him.

Bible Study Guide

**Small Group Bible Study Guide: Promise in the Silence**

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### Bible Reading

- **Isaiah 9:2, 6**
- **Malachi 4:5–6**
- **Luke 1:5–15a, 57-60**

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### Observation Questions

In Isaiah 9:2, 6, what kind of hope does the prophet offer to people living in darkness?
According to Malachi 4:5–6, what is the role of the messenger God promises to send before “the great and dreadful day of the Lord”?
In Luke 1:5–15a, 57-60, what details show that John the Baptist’s birth was both unexpected and significant?
From the sermon, what are some ways God was working during the 400 years of silence between the Old and New Testaments?

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### Interpretation Questions

Why might God choose to be silent for a long period, as He was between Malachi and John the Baptist? What could He be accomplishing in that silence?
How does waiting for God’s promises to be fulfilled test and shape a person’s faith, according to the sermon and the stories of Zechariah and Elizabeth?
What does it mean for God to “prepare hearts” before fulfilling His promises? How is this seen in the role of John the Baptist?
The sermon says God’s timing is perfect, even when it feels late. How might this truth change the way someone views their own seasons of waiting or disappointment?

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### Application Questions

Think about a time in your life when God seemed silent. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that season? Is there a current area where you feel God is quiet?
The sermon invites us to “surrender our barren places” to God. What is one area of your life right now that feels barren, broken, or stuck in waiting? What would it look like to give that to God this week?
Are there any promises from God’s Word that you struggle to believe because you haven’t seen them fulfilled yet? How can you hold onto the promise itself, not just the outcome?
The message talked about “closed” or hardened places in our hearts. Is there a relationship, habit, or attitude in your life that you sense God wants to soften or change? What step could you take to open your heart to Him?
John the Baptist’s role was to prepare people for Jesus. Who in your life might need encouragement, hope, or a gentle nudge toward God this Christmas season? How could you be part of God’s work in their life?
The sermon mentioned that Christmas is not just about receiving, but about being agents of reconciliation and hope. Is there a specific way you can bring healing or light into a family, friendship, or community situation this month?
God’s timing often doesn’t match our own. Is there a dream, prayer, or longing you’ve been tempted to give up on? What would it look like to trust God’s timing and keep hoping?

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Sermon Quotes

"The story of Christmas begins not with angels and shepherds, but with silence. For centuries it seemed God had gone quiet, yet He was preparing to fulfill His promises in a way greater than anyone could imagine."

"Before there was a stable and a star, there was a promise spoken into silence. God’s delays are not His denials—His promises always arrive right on time."

"Trust in the dark what you know to be true in the light. Sometimes we live between God’s promise and its fulfillment, but His Word doesn’t change, and His promises don’t expire."

"God never wastes anything. Not a moment, not a season, not a single heartbeat of waiting is wasted. Even when the world feels still, He is preparing the way for something greater."

"Christmas is full of decorations, lights, and gifts—but the true heart of Christmas isn’t in the tree or the presents. It’s in hearts that are ready to welcome Jesus."

"Even in silent seasons, God’s promises are taking root. Like seeds hidden beneath the soil, what He plants will grow, flourish, and come to fulfillment in perfect timing."

"John’s birth was miraculous. He came to prepare hearts for Jesus. Those years of waiting weren’t wasted—God’s plans are never rushed, never forgotten, and never delayed without purpose."

"This Christmas, ask yourself what feels barren or stuck in a long silence. Give those things to God. Trust Him. Surrender them to His timing. He can take the impossible and birth something new and beautiful."

"Seasons of waiting, silence, or ‘winter’ may feel endless. But God is orchestrating events, preparing hearts, and sending exactly what is needed at the perfect moment."

"Advent is a time of eager anticipation, a season when God’s people remember and celebrate the incredible truth that the eternal God took on flesh and came among us as a baby."

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