Faithfulness as Firm as the Heavens

Small Groups

Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, if there is a meal).

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). Invite participants to discuss the following in pairs or groups of three: “Has a song ever inspired you or come to mind in a way that oriented you to the ‘task at hand’? Share with one another how a song has encouraged you in your spirit.”

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). You likely won’t get through all the questions in the time you have together. Consider inviting group members to work through any remaining questions on their own throughout the week.

• Read Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26. Invite participants to have the scripture in front of them, either in a Bible, on a phone app, or printed on paper. After reading it, ask the following questions:
  • In the first part of Psalm 89, the psalmist is rehearsing declarations of God’s faithfulness, saying it is as “firm as the heavens.” What do you think that means? Why is that a compelling affirmation of God’s faithfulness?
  • The psalm points to the important role of David in the life of Israel. What does the psalmist say about David throughout verses 1-4 and 19-26?
    • Based on just this section of scripture, what do you know about David?
• We have a second scripture text this week, which is a familiar part of the Advent scriptures. A pregnant Mary is visiting Elizabeth, also miraculously with child. After Elizabeth’s baby leaped for joy in her womb (Luke 1:44), Mary responds with what has come to be known as the Magnificat. Read Luke 1:46b-55.
  • How does the song that Mary sings show a turning upside down (or rather, right side up) of the typical ways of the world? How is this restoration?
  • While not noted in this text, Mary is a descendant of King David. How does Mary’s song reflect what you learned about David from the previous discussion?
• The Preaching Notes for December 13 say:

“Mary chooses to rejoice—not as a Pollyanna, rose-colored-glasses kind of approach that ignores the harsh realities. But she chooses instead to believe that we don’t have to accept the upside-down world as it is…We can live in anger, as our society seems determined to do. Or we can rejoice in our spirits because we get to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, something healing, something loving, something that will last into eternity. We can be a part of the quickening of the kingdom… Maybe we can get the world to sing with us, to rejoice with us in spirit and in truth, when we start with testimony. ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices with God my savior.’ Tell how you feel, and others might come feel with you…Rejoice….Let it come to life [in this Christmas season], born of the steadfast love of the Lord and the faithfulness that is as firm as the heavens. That’s the gift we celebrate this season. That’s the hope by which we live. We wrap ourselves in hope, in peace, in joy, and in love, in Advent and the rest of the year as well.”

• How does the season of Advent teach you about the restoration of the world?
• Read back through the scripture passage. Is there a word or phrase that stands out? Write it down for consideration in the week ahead.
• Just One Thing: What is one learning that you’ve had in this Advent season?
• Going Deeper on Your Own: This week, consider studying one of the other lectionary texts in the following pattern:
  • Prayerfully ask God to open your eyes to the scripture. (Psalm 119:18)
  • Read the text of your choice [2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16, Romans 16:25-27, Luke 1:26-38] out loud.
  • What do you notice about the text?
  • What questions arise?
  • What do you think God might be saying to you in this text?

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End with the following prayer, a similar prayer, or the Lord’s Prayer:

We will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord! We celebrate your faithfulness through all generations as we remember the promise kept to your servant David. We thank you for the faithfulness we see in Mary as she bore witness to the new call you gave her. May we receive anew the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, in this Advent season, so that we may be restored. May the love demonstrated through his life (and death, and resurrection) plant seeds of hope, peace, joy, and covenant faithfulness in each of our lives today. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

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Rev. Dr. Ashlee Alley Crawford, Director of Adult Discipleship, an elder in the Great Plains Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, served in campus ministry for twelve years and in leadership with the Great Plains Conference for over a decade. She has a passion for connecting people with resources and encouraging them to nurture their faith and walk in step with Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. She has a D.Min. in spiritual direction from Asbury Theological Seminary. Ashlee also has a Certificate in Discipleship Coaching through Discipleship Ministries.

1. Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. ↑
2. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ↑
3. Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. ↑