Hope on the Horizon Advent Guide

Advent is the season leading up to Christmas, when the church gives attention to the coming of Jesus and gives reflection to what it means for us. During the season of Advent, we strive to prioritize a personal rhythm of daily Bible reading and a corporate rhythm of weekly worship. 

Our Advent teaching series this year is Hope on the Horizon. There are times, when we are aware of the darkness of the world around us. Like the beauty of the dawn of a new day, we need a glimpse of light breaking into the darkness—the promise of hope that Jesus brings for those who trust in Him. 

This Advent season, our teaching series and our Advent Guide are both from the Old Testament book of Isaiah. This guide provides twenty-five daily Scripture readings from Isaiah 40-66, using the SOAP method of Bible study and reflection questions to support your time in Scripture.

• Overview & Context of Isaiah

• 25 Day Reading Plan

• SOAP Method of Bible Study

• More on Advent

Reading Scripture

If Scripture reading isn’t a regular rhythm we encourage you to reorder your daily routine to make it a priority. We encourage you to use your own notebook or journal and use the SOAP method for Bible Study detailed down at the end of this page.

Overview & Context of Isaiah

Isaiah, which means “The Lord is salvation,” is the first book in the Prophets section of the Old Testament. God commissioned Isaiah to bring messages of judgment and hope to God’s people. God had chosen Israel to be His special people who would honor God and bring God’s blessing to the whole world. Instead of being faithful and obedient to God, Israel repeatedly rejected God and rebelled against Him. This prevented Israel from experiencing God’s blessing and extending it into the world. In love, God chose to intervene to turn His people back to Himself.

The first half of Isaiah, chapters 1-39, communicate God’s judgment to Israel and describe how they will experience the consequence of their sin through conflict with other nations. The trouble Israel will face is intended not simply to punish them for their sins but rather to purify them of their sins, so that they will return to the God who loves them. This section ends with an ominous prophecy about Babylon destroying Jerusalem and carrying the Israelites into exile (Isaiah 39), which surely happened about 100 years later. 

If this was where Isaiah ended, all hope would be lost. But God’s message to His people never ends in judgment. He always speaks a word of hope to assure them that light is coming into their darkness. In Isaiah 40-66, God gives the prophet a message of comfort and hope regarding what God will do to rescue His people from the consequences of their sin. It begins with the words of Isaiah 40:1, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” While the events of God’s restoration would occur 150 years after Isaiah’s ministry, they assured Israel and all who read Isaiah’s words that no darkness will last forever for those who trust in the Lord. 

There is not, in all the Old Testament, a greater concentration of Jesus-prophecies than what is contained in Isaiah 40-66.  When God brings hope on the horizon or our darkness, He does so through the arrival, ministry, suffering, and future kingdom of “His Servant.” Isaiah 42:1 speaks of Jesus, “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.” 

This Advent season, we invite you to glimpse the dawn of hope in the coming of Jesus, as promised through the prophet Isaiah. Whatever darkness you see right now, Jesus is the light who breaks into our night to bring the hope of a new day. Whether you already know it or need to see it for the first time, we pray you behold the beauty of the coming of Jesus this Advent.

For more, check out these helpful links and videos from the Bible Project.

• Book of Isaiah overview with resources

• Isaiah 40 -66 video overview

25 Day Advent Reading Plan

SOAP: Read the Scripture. Write down your Observations and Application to your life. Pray in response to what you’ve read.

Use the questions to guide your reflection as you read through Isaiah.

Observation
• What does this Scripture reveal about God?
• How would this have given hope to Israel during their time of darkness?

Application
• How does this point to what God has done for you through Jesus?
• How does this Scripture give you comfort or hope in whatever you’re facing?

BRIDGEPOINTE’S APPROACH TO SCRIPTURE READING

S.O.A.P. is an acronym for Scripture, observation, application and prayer. It’s a powerful tool that moves you from the text into the reality of your life. Using this method consistently will make it a habit and something you are familiar with. Use a journal or notebook and apply this method to work through any passage of Scripture.

Scripture

Write the Scripture reference and read through the passage slowly.

Observation

Write down what you notice from the reading. For example...

• What’s the main point the author is trying to get across?
• What’s something challenging or new?
• Is there anything in the passage you want to study more?

Application

Write down how this applies to your life today.

• How does this challenge you to live as a disciple?
• How does it intersect with your current life circumstances?
• Is God speaking a word of encouragement or challenge to you directly?

Prayer

Write your prayer to God in response to what you’ve read.

More on Advent

You can read more about the history of Advent and learn more about the symbolism by checking out these online articles and resources:

What is Advent? - from Christianity.com

The Season of Advent - The Village Church

Related content:

Blog post: What is Advent

Resource: Previous advent guides