Discussion Questions:

1. Encountering Jesus at the Well

• In John 4, Jesus meets the Samaritan woman in the bright light of day—unlike Nicodemus who comes to him under the cover of night in the previous chapter. What does this contrast reveal about how people come to faith?
• What strikes you about the way Jesus interacts with the Samaritan woman? How does he show relational power instead of dominant power?

2. Relational Power

• Pastor Mark referenced a BUILD gathering where relational power was described as “power with” rather than “power over.” How do you experience these two kinds of power in your daily life?
• How might we as a church live more fully into relational power, especially in the way we welcome others or advocate for justice?

3. Testimony and Transformation

• The woman leaves her water jar behind and rushes to tell her community about Jesus. Why do you think she was so compelled to share?
• Have you ever had a moment when you felt truly seen or known, like the woman at the well? How did that change you?

4. Our True Identity

• The sermon quoted Rev. Joanna Adams: “There are so many voices that would tell us who we are… but all of that is a lie. We are first and last the beloved of God.” What are the voices in your life that try to define your worth?
• What helps you return to your identity as God’s beloved?

5. Applying the Sermon

• What’s in your well? What sources of living water—grace, love, justice—are bubbling beneath the surface of your life right now?
• As you go into this week, how can you leave behind your own metaphorical “water jar” and live out your testimony with joy?

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Discussion Questions:

1. Silence and Spiritual Growth

• Zechariah is struck mute after expressing doubt. How do you interpret the role of silence in his story? Was it a punishment, or something more?
• Have you ever experienced a time when silence—chosen or imposed—deepened your faith or changed your perspective?

2. Doubt and Divine Encounter

• Zechariah questions the angel’s message due to his and Elizabeth’s age. What does this reveal about the human response to divine promises?
• How do you navigate doubt in your own faith journey? What does this passage teach us about God’s response to doubt?

3. Reflection on God’s “Severe Mercy”

• Pastor Mark referenced Robert Dykstra’s phrase “God’s severe mercy” to describe Zechariah’s silence. What might this mean in the context of Advent and waiting?
• Can you think of a time when something difficult or unexpected in your life became a space for spiritual growth or clarity?

4. Listening for God

• Silence can be unsettling, yet it may also make room to hear God more clearly. In what ways might our noisy lives be drowning out the voice of God?
• What practices help you listen for God during this Advent season?

5. A Community of Waiting and Witness

• Zechariah’s muteness may have impacted the whole community. How do our personal experiences of faith affect those around us?
• How can we, as a church, embrace both silence and speech in ways that prepare us for Christ’s coming?

6. Applying the Sermon

• What is one concrete way you can create space for silence or reflection this week?
• How might your story—like Zechariah’s—shift from doubt to declaration as you prepare for Christmas?

The post Sermon Discussion Guide: Voices of Advent: Zechariah appeared first on Roland Park Presbyterian Church.

Discussion Questions:

1. Preparing the Way

• In what ways is Advent like the quiet morning before a great feast? How might slowing down and reflecting help prepare your heart for the coming of Christ?
• What practices—spiritual or otherwise—help you enter into the kind of preparation John the Baptist calls for?

2. John’s Voice in the Wilderness

• John the Baptist is described as a disruptive voice calling people to honesty and change. Where do you hear modern echoes of that prophetic voice?
• What voices today are calling attention to injustice or spiritual complacency? How might God be calling you to be a truth-teller?

3. Hope and Honesty

• The sermon reminds us that Advent allows space to say, “It’s okay not to be okay.” What does that mean for your life right now?
• Who are the “hope bearers” in your life—those who carry light in dark times? How can you become a hope bearer for someone else this season?

4. Repentance as Readiness

• John’s message of repentance isn’t about shame but about readiness. How do confession and truth-telling make space for grace and growth?
• What is one small step you can take this week to “make straight” a path for God in your life?

5. Being Voices of Advent

• The Advent season reminds us to use our voices rather than remain silent. What truth do you feel called to speak right now?
• As a church community, how can we be a prophetic voice—like John—helping prepare the world for love, justice, and the coming of Christ?

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