In our most popular stories, people are always – either physically or metaphorically – wondering from home, coming back home or feeling at home. A homecoming is the deployed soldier's nightly dream, the team’s big day, and the prodigal’s greatest act of courage. And this theme of “home” runs deeply throughout the Scriptures, map out out the path of the human heart as we start at home, wander in exile, then finally commence our return home. Home. Exile. Return. This is the way of the human heart in the biblical narrative. Have you ever noticed that, when compared to the other Gospels, the Gospel of John gets so little attention during the Christmas Season? John, known as the ‘Beloved Apostle,’ does not begin his telling of the life of Jesus with a birth narrative, a documentation of His lineage or anything that resembles a “hark the herald angels sing” moment. There are few Christmas plays that attempt to bring the cosmic metaphors of John 1 to the stage; Matthew, Mark, and Luke get top billing as children dress up in the shepherds’ robes, angels’ gowns, and cow costumes, all to reenact the vivid scenes of the nativity. Instead, John brings his Christmas story with what amounts to a retelling of Genesis! That is where we pick up in Week 2, This first Sunday of Advent. The Heart Comes Home – To Peace.

1. The Heart Comes Home – To

2. Peace within comes from being
known for who we are, and
being accepted without
judgement or a need to
perform.

3. Not a familiar tale after all.

4. In the Christmas story so
familiar to us all, there is one
women who gets the most of
the attention – Mary.

5. In John’s Gospel, Mary is only
mentioned twice – once when she
asks Jesus for some practical help
with a little-wedding-wine wonder
working (1 John 2:1-11)….

6. ..and a second time, at the foot
of the cross, where Jesus asks
John to care for her as he would
his own mother (John 19:26-27)

7. Why do you think John does not
readily refer to Mary?

8. Mary as an Apostle-ish.

9. Apostle (apostolos) appears
seventy-nine times in the New
Testament. It refers to those
appointed by Christ for a special
function in the church (Kingdom).

10. Their unique place is based not only
on having witnessed the
resurrection, but also on having
been commissioned and
empowered by the resurrected Lord
to proclaim the gospel to all nations.
Bakers Evangelical Dictionary

11. The other woman.

12. The beginning of John’s
account, puts another woman
more central.

13. John devotes almost a whole
chapter to this woman’s encounter
with “Word-Made-Flesh.”

14. Let’s read John 4:4-10.

15. What were the things that stood
out to you, as we read this
familiar passage?

16. What did Jesus offer her?

17. From Genesis to Revelation,
God makes it clear that when
He is looking at a person, He is
looking at their heart.

18. The heart is where peace begins
and ends.

19. Do you believe peace can come
outside of the acts of changing
human hearts?
Why or Why Not?

21. Jesus is already present where
broken people are.

22. Jesus is approachable to dirty
and broken people.

23. In the Bible, water is used as
much as a metaphor, as it is
used for drinking.

24. In this story, again we see that
when God is looking at a person,
He is looking at their heart.

25. The Heart Searches for Peace.

26. Jesus suggests He is the bearer
of living water, even as the
women draws from the natural
well.

27. “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see
that you are a prophet. Our
ancestors worshiped on this
mountain, but you Jews claim
that the place where we must
worship is in Jerusalem.”

28. She is asking what place is
correct. She wants to know what
location for worship brings God
pleasure.

29. In her excitement, she runs towards
her Father’s house after a long exile
in her heart. She then runs to tell
others and many believe as a result
of her testimony.

30. Ask God for a Gift this Christmas.

31. If your heart is restless, come to
the well – and renew your rest in
the Father’s acceptance.