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The King Has Come An Advent Devotional Veritas Church, 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS Advent in your church... 4 Advent in your home... 4 This booklet... 5 Advent Devotions... 7 Daily Readings... 19 A Christmas Catechism... 20 The Real Santa Claus... 24 Recommended Resources... 26 3
Advent in your church For nearly two millenniums people have annually celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ. Today, we call this celebration Christmas. Historically, God s people have made this a 4-week celebration, leading up to the actual day of Christmas, called Advent, which means Arrival. The four weeks of Advent, in anticipation of Christmas Day, are meant to mimic the centuries during which God s people longed for the first Christmas Day, the day Jesus was born. At Veritas Church, the first four Sundays of December are devoted to celebrating the advent of Christ and, this year, we ll keep our tradition of taking up the Christmas themes of hope, love, joy, and peace. Advent in your home In addition to your Christmas Day traditions, we would encourage you to intentionally pull your personal celebration back, all the way into the first week of December. Part of your celebration should of course be weekly worship with your church family, but, in addition, we would encourage you, as individuals or families, to take time each week to celebrate Advent in your home. 4
Consider building traditions that will leave a lasting impression for generations to come - traditions like Advent calendars, Advent gifts, Advent wreaths, or weekly Advent devotions. Find Advent-celebrators in your church and ask them for ideas and advice. This booklet As you set out to celebrate Advent, one of the more difficult tasks can be the planning of a weekly devotion. This booklet aims to make that easier for you. On the following pages you ll find four devotions, one for each week of Advent, with themes that will correspond to the theme of each Sunday worship service. Choose a specific time each week when you will do the devotion, perhaps Saturday evening (first one being December 2), and begin and end your time with prayer. Each devotion includes scripture to read, thoughts to consider, and a song to sing. As well, if you have little ones, there are coloring pages available to help keep their hands occupied as you read and teach. You can find them for printing at veritasroseville.com under resources. Finally, at the end of this booklet you ll find daily readings, a list of recommended resources, and a Christmas catechism. 5
We pray you find all this useful as you set out to give glory to God in the highest this Advent Season. Merry Christmas 6
Advent Devotions Hope Sunday, December 3, 2017 Hope fills the afflicted soul with such inward joy and consolation, that it can laugh while tears are in the eye, sigh and sing all in a breath; it is called "the rejoicing of hope." - William Gurnall 7
Scripture to read Luke 1:26-38 Thoughts to consider If you have good news, you re supposed to tell people. If you read a good book or eat a good sandwich you may decide not to tell anyone. But you re obligated to tell people about good news because it is good news. This is what the angel is doing in these verses, and what Luke is doing in his entire book. They are spreading the good news; They are getting the word out. By the time Jesus was born, God s people had been waiting for him for a very long time, and the news of his birth was the dawning of hope to a hopeless world. The angel came to tell Mary the promised Savior was only 9 months away. 8
A song to sing Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus by Charles Wesley Come, thou long-expected Jesus, Born to set thy people free; From our fears and sins release us, Let us find our rest in thee: Israel s Strength and Consolation, Hope of all the saints thou art; Dear Desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart. Born, thy people to deliver; Born a child, and yet a King! Born to reign in us for ever, Now thy precious kingdom bring: By thine own eternal Spirit, Rule in all our hearts alone; By thine all-sufficient merit, Raise us to thy glorious throne. 9
Love Sunday, December 10, 2017 Oh the beloved of God. Had you had the hatred of all mankind, this honey would turn their hatred into sweetness. Charles Spurgeon 10
Scripture to read Matthew 1:18-25 Thoughts to consider Mary and Joseph did not have the liberty to name their first-born son. God made it clear that his name would be Jesus. Jesus is a combination of two Hebrew names, Yehovah and Yasha, which together mean God saves. What a perfect name for this little baby. He was God, and he would grow up to save his people from their sins. And why did God send Jesus to save his people? Do you remember? For God so loved the world that he gave his only son (John 3:16). The very name of Jesus, the name the angel told Joseph to give, is a testimony of God s great love for his children. 11
A song to sing What Child is This? By William Chatterton Dix What Child is this, who laid to rest On Mary s lap, is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, While shepherds watch are keeping? Why lies He in such mean estate, Where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christian, fear: for sinners here The silent Word is pleading. So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh, Come, peasant, king, to own Him; The King of kings salvation brings; Let loving hearts enthrone Him. Chorus This, this is Christ, the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing: Haste, haste to bring Him laud, The Babe, the Son of Mary! 12
Joy Sunday, December 17, 2017 There are two things, which I have always looked upon as difficult. The one is, to make the wicked sad; the other is, to make the godly joyful. Dejection in the godly arises from a double spring; either because their inward comforts are darkened, or their outward comforts are disturbed. Thomas Watson 13
Scripture to read Psalm 98:1-6 Thoughts to consider You and I were made to be happy. Most people have a sense of this. This is the pursuit of happiness, and we all pursue it, and we encourage those we love to pursue it. That said, many of us don t know how to find it. We often settle for what we think is true happiness, not knowing the real thing, but there s usually no convincing us. Our pursuit of happiness is not the problem, but our pursuits are misguided. We re following the wrong map. Joy can only be found in God. True happiness can only be found in God. Nothing else will be enough. This explains the joy with which the Psalmist wrote (in Psalm 98) when he looked forward to the day when the Savior would be born. 14
A song to sing Joy to the World by Isaac Watts Joy to the world! the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King. Let ev ry heart prepare Him room, And heav n and nature sing, And heav n and nature sing, And heav n and heav n and nature sing. Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns; Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, and wonders of His love. 15
Peace Sunday, December 24, 2017 You will never have true peace until your mind is satisfied. If you merely get some emotional or psychological experience it may keep you quiet and give you rest for a while, but sooner or later a problem will arise, a situation will confront you, a question will come to your mind, perhaps through reading a book or in a conversation, and you will not be able to answer, and so you will lose your peace. There is no true peace with God until the mind has seen and grasped and taken hold of this blessed doctrine, and so finds itself at rest. Martin Lloyd Jones 16
Scripture to read Luke 2:8-14 Thoughts to consider Ever since the first man and woman sinned (Genesis 3) we have been at enmity with God, and enmity is the opposite of peace. Our own sin against God has made a barrier between us. We have dishonored God and disobeyed him. We have disregarded him. And yet, God sent his son Jesus to die in our place, that our sin might be forgiven, and we may be at peace with God. Jesus came, lived, suffered, died, and rose again in the place of sinners, so that sinners could be reconciled to God. This message of peace was the theme of the very first song the angels sang when they came and announced the birth of Jesus. Finally, peace on earth was born. 17
A song to sing O Come, All Ye Faithful Latin Hymn, 18 th century O come all ye faithful, joyful, and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem! Come and behold Him born the King of angels! Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation, O sing, all ye bright hosts of heav n above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest! Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning, Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv n; Word of the Father, now in the flesh appearing! O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord! 18
Daily Readings First Week of Advent (December 3) Sunday Romans 13:11-14 Monday 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Tuesday Mark 13:33-37 Wednesday John 1:1-5 Thursday John 1:6-9 Friday 1 Peter 2:13-25 Saturday Genesis 3 Second Week of Advent (December 10) Sunday Romans 15:4-13 Monday Psalm 43:3-6 Tuesday Psalm 27:1-4 Wednesday Psalm 119:105-106 Thursday John 12:35-36 Friday Ephesians 5:6-14 Saturday 1 Peter 2:5-9 Third Week of Advent (December 17) Sunday Isaiah 60:1-3 Monday 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 Tuesday 1 John 1:4-7 Wednesday John 3:16-21 Thursday Isaiah 40:1-11 Friday John 9:1-7 Saturday Luke 3:1-6 Fourth Week of Advent (December 24) 19
Sunday Isaiah 11:1-10 Monday Zephaniah 3:14-17 A Christmas Catechism A catechism is a summary of Christian principles in the form of questions and answers, used for instruction. For those of you with children, below is a sort of Christmas catechism that may help your family to promote the glory of God this holiday season. Consider asking them in the car, around the table, around the tree, or next to the bed. How long have people celebrated Christmas? Christians have been celebrating Christmas for nearly 2000 years. The day was first made a recognized holiday on December 25, 325 (that s nearly 1700 years ago!) This makes Christmas our oldest annual holiday. When was the Christmas tree first used? Legend says that an evergreen tree was first associated with Christmas by St. Boniface in the 8 th century (nearly 1300 years ago). What is a Christmas Tree a symbol of? A Christmas tree is an evergreen tree a tree that stays green through the long, dark, cold winter. 20
This is a symbol of the eternal life we have through Jesus. By bringing an evergreen tree into our home we remember that because we have Jesus we have eternal life. Many decorate their trees with lights and personal ornaments a reminder that Jesus, the light of the world, has come into our hearts and saved us (1 John 5:12). What is the Star on top of a Christmas tree a symbol of? A star is placed at the top of some Christmas trees as a reminder of the star that was over Bethlehem to announce the birth of Jesus. (Matthew 2:1-2) What is a candy cane a symbol of? A candy cane is shaped like the staff (crook) that would have been carried by the shepherds who came to visit Jesus after his birth (Luke 2:8ff). As well, Jesus is called our Good Shepherd (John 10:11). In 1670, a choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral in Germany began giving children candy sticks bent into canes to symbolize the crooks of the shepherds who came to meet Jesus. What does the holly plant have to do with Christmas? Christians have historically connected the thorns and red berries of holly to the crown of thorns worn by Jesus at the crucifixion as he shed his own blood to save his people. 21
Why are so many Christmas decorations red or green? Red symbolizes the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross. Green represents the eternal life we have through the blood of Jesus. How does giving and receiving gifts help us to celebrate the birth of Jesus? It reminds us of the great gift giver God and his greatest gift to us, his only son Jesus Christ. What was Santa Claus real name? Saint Nicholas, born in the year 270. Where did Saint Nicholas grow up? Saint Nicholas grew up in a village next the Mediterranean Sea in Turkey. What was Saint Nicholas childhood like? Saint Nicholas family was very wealthy. He always had a warm place to sleep and plenty of food to eat. His parents were Christians and they taught him to love Jesus more than their wealth. They both died when Saint Nicholas was just a boy. How did Saint Nicholas use his wealth? Saint Nicholas believed that everything he had was from God and that it was his duty to share with others who did not have what they needed. 22
Why was Saint Nicholas so generous with his wealth? Saint Nicholas was generous because he knew God had been generous to him by sending Jesus to die for his sins. He loved to give much because he had been given much. Why do we find gifts in our stockings on Christmas Morning? The gifts that appear in our stockings on Christmas Eve remind us of the secret gift-giving of Saint Nicholas. Some nights, the poor in his village would leave their shoes outside, and Saint Nicholas would leave in them gold coins (which is what chocolate coins wrapped in gold paper are a symbol of). Name something Saint Nicholas was known for? Devotion to Jesus. Generosity. Love of children. Secret gift-giving. 23
The Real Santa Claus The real Santa Claus would not want to be the center of our attention. The center of his attention would be Jesus. You see, the man we know as Santa Claus was born in 270 (almost 1800 years ago) and named Nicholas by his parents (he would later become known as Saint Nicholas; and saint because of his love for Jesus and people). Nicholas was raised in a fishing village on the coast of modern turkey along the Mediterranean Sea. His parents were very wealthy, so he always had a warm place to sleep and plenty of food to eat. His parents were also Christians and they taught him to love Jesus more than their money. Sadly, when Nicholas was just a boy, both of his parents died, leaving Nicholas alone, and with much wealth. But Nicholas wasn t really alone. And as he grew he knew this. God was always with him. Nicholas believed that everything he had was from God and that it was his duty to share with others who did not have what they needed. And so that s exactly what Nicholas did he freely gave of all he had to those who were poor and needy. Saint Nicholas was generous because he knew God had been generous to him by sending Jesus to die for his sins. He loved to give much because he had been given much. 24
One of the ways that Nicholas loved to give was through secret-giving. He didn t want people to know the gifts were from him. So some nights, the poor in his village would leave their shoes and socks outside, and in the morning they would sometimes find them filled with gold coins or gold balls. Tradition tells us one particular story about Nicholas helping a poor man with three daughters. Three daughters who were to marry, but their poor father had no dowry to offer any potential suitors. And so the poor father worried he would never be able to give his daughters to good men for marriage. Well Saint Nicholas took it upon himself to remedy this. One night, while they all lay nestled in their beds, Saint Nicholas tossed three bags of gold through an open window, and they are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. You see, Santa Claus was not magical, but he loved a magical God. He would not appreciate being the center of our Christmas celebration. If he were here today, he would want to celebrate Christmas with us. 25
Recommended Resources Just Nicholas by Annie Kratzsch The Christmas Promise by Alison Mitchell Come Let us Adore Him by Paul David Tripp Peace: Classic Readings for Christmas by Stephen J. Nichols Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas by Various Authors Hidden Christmas by Timothy Keller God Rest Ye Merry by Douglas Wilson Come Thou Long Expected Jesus by Nancy Guthrie My Soul Magnifies the Lord by Martin Lloyd Jones 26