Surrey Chapel Fellowship Group Notes 9/10th December 2015
Isaiah 9:2
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
As we approach Christmas there are constant reminders that we live in a dark and fallen world. This verse in Isaiah speaks of people walking lost in darkness, in sin, misery, oppression and death. Thankfully a light has dawned. (Other translations say a light has shined.) This light is not subjective wishful thinking. Instead it is an objective, deep rooted joy breaking into the hearts and minds of sinners through the grace of Christ.
Light is a key theme and image used throughout the Bible from the early verses of Genesis through to Revelation. Tonight we look at two particular areas as covered in the New Testament.
The Light of God’s revelation
This light is a key theme of John’s Gospel where John builds on the Old Testament use of the word light which we see in Isaiah 9:2 but is also used throughout the OT. (See also Isaiah 42:6-7, 49:6, 60:1-5, Luke 1:78-79, Genesis 3:1-5.) Here John tells us of the true light that has come into the world.
Read John 1:1-10 Notice the parallels between verses 5-9 and Isaiah 9:2.
Notice also the strong contrast between light and darkness which can be see throughout the Bible. What does this contrast mean to us practically? - In how we live our lives and view the world around us?
Read John 3:17-19 from Jesus’ discourse with Nicodemus. How is verse 19 evident in 21st century Britain?
John 8:12 & 9:5- One of the great “I am” statements of Jesus recorded in John’s gospel. The light here can refer to Jesus teaching but the statement is also deeper and more profound. Jesus proclaims himself to be the fulfilment of OT prophecy, the light of salvation and the light of God and also has echoes of Exodus 3:14.
The Light of God’s holiness
1 John 1:5 - God is light. This verse speaks of God’s very being. Expand on what this means. 
1 Timothy 6:16 - God dwells in unapproachable light.
Therefore…
Ephesians 5:8-9 Here Paul (as he often does) contrasts what we once were with what we are now - Children of Light. What does it mean to be a child of light? How does/ should it affect how we live?
1 Thessalonians 5:5 - Another contrast from Paul; - being a son of the light with belonging to the darkness.
Prayer Topics 										ADB
Thank God for sending His Son to be the light of the world.
Pray for God’s help in walking as children of the light in a dark world.
Pray for the various outreach events this Christmas time.