Advent 2025 #4 – Study Questions
Simeon’s Song
Advent 2025 – The Songs of Advent (CGS#4) – Luke 2:22-38
INTRODUCTION: Advent is a season where we take time to both remember the birth of Jesus and look forward to his second coming. As a church, we’ve been walking through the songs in the book of Luke, and this week we looked at the prophecy of a man named Simeon when he met Jesus.
To set the stage, we’re told that Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to the temple “to do for him according to the custom of the law.” The law they were observing is outlined in Leviticus 12, which describes the process by which a woman could be purified after giving birth. It involved waiting 40 days and then bringing a lamb to the temple so a priest could make a sacrificial offering. Interestingly, Leviticus makes a concession for the less wealthy: “if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons.” Luke tells us that Mary and Joseph brought “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons,” indicating again that these two young Israelites were relatively poor. “Of humble estate” as Mary said in Luke 1:52. But Luke’s point is that Mary and Joseph were devout, faithful Israelites. They followed the law of Moses. They took God’s commands seriously.
While at the temple, they’re approached by an old man named Simeon. This would be such a sweet moment to witness. Picture Simeon, standing in the temple, longing for the consolation of Israel. He’d been promised that before he died, he would see the Messiah, the one who would console Israel. And in walks this young family. “Finally,” he must’ve thought, “the one we’ve all been waiting for.” Imagine the tenderness with which he lifts the child up to God and blesses him. With tears in his eyes, he pours out his gratitude to God for letting him see the means of not only Israel’s salvation, but the whole world’s. Knowing that God’s covenant promises were finally coming true, he essentially says, “Now that I’ve seen this child, I can die in peace.”
If that wasn’t surprising enough, the young family was then approached by another unexpected visitor in the temple, an elderly woman named Anna. We’re told she’s a prophetess who’s been a widow for decades. While Luke doesn’t record her exact words, we know she gives thanks to God and tells everyone present that now, finally, redemption has come to Jerusalem.
Mary and Joseph “marveled” at what these two dear saints said about Jesus, and we can marvel with them, but let’s not miss the un-marvelous part of this story: Simeon and Anna had been faithfully, expectantly, unglamorously waiting on God for years. They’re an incredible example of ordinary faithfulness. Think of it this way, they had been coming to the temple regularly—Anna didn’t bother leaving—and every day except this one had been a disappointment. Their hopes had never been realized until now. Were they ever tempted to give up and go home? We don’t know. But we do know they didn’t give up. They kept showing up, day after day, hoping that today would be the day their faith would be turned into sight. And then one day, it was. Their response? Overwhelming joy and gratitude.
One of the main points from Sunday’s sermon was that ordinary faithfulness builds thankfulness and gratitude. Not every day will be like the one we read about in Luke 2. You won’t always see God answer your prayers in such an astonishing way. Some days you just have to keep showing up, faithfully trusting that God hasn’t forgotten about you, and waiting for his promises to be fulfilled. Because ultimately, all Christians are waiting for God’s final promise to be fulfilled at the second Advent when Jesus returns. And our response will be the same as Simeon and Anna’s: overwhelming joy and gratitude.
GETTING STARTED – As you begin your group time, take time to answer this question together: Have you ever received a gift you’d been waiting a long time for? What was your response?
IN THE WORD – Let’s dig back into the passage. It is important to strengthen our muscles in reading God’s Word. On Sunday, we walked through the passage in the sermon. Hopefully, that helped you to see the landmarks of the passage with fresh eyes. Now, with your group, go back through it and see what God is saying to you specifically.
First, before you read the passage, take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to quiet your mind and heart and to illuminate the text to you. Second, read the passage out loud to the group. Then, follow the simple OPA method below:
O – Observe: Make 8-10 observations from the passage. Pay close attention to observe and note repeated words and phrases, names, places, and themes.
P – Principles: From your list of observations, what patterns or big ideas do you see emerging? Can you distill it down into 2-4 big idea truths?
A – Apply: Moving from your list of principles, it is time to apply God’s Word. Remember, we believe that God’s Word is living and active and that it can change the way we live every day. What is one tangible way to apply a truth from your list above?
Note: Another way to approach your time together is to talk through the following questions about the passage we are studying this week.
- What did you hear God’s Spirit say to you through the passage this week? How does it encourage you? How does it sharpen you?
- How have you seen God at work in your life this week? Have you enjoyed him? Have you heard his voice and the leading of his Spirit? Big ways or small ways.
- Over this Advent season, what have you been reminded of regarding the character and nature of God? How has this shown up in your life?
- How did the ordinary faithfulness of Simeon and Anna lead to their inclusion in the Advent story?
- What do you think sustained their consistency? How were they able to keep showing up?
- What rhythms of ordinary faithfulness have you stepped into over the years? What fruit have you seen from them?