INDEX What is Advent and Why Do We Celebrate it at The Journey?...1-2 How Can I Celebrate Advent in my Home and with my Community Group?...3 Explanation of the Weekly Guides...4 Week 1...5-6 Week 2...7-8 Week 3...9-10 Week 4...11-12 Christmas Eve...13-14 Sources...,...15
WHAT IS ADVENT AND WHY DO WE CELEBRATE IT AT THE JOURNEY? Advent is a preparatory season in the historical church calendar that focuses on the coming or visitation of Jesus, culminating in the celebration of Christmas (adventurous is Latin for coming ). In higher liturgical churches, there may be four or five weeks set aside to wait and prepare for the incarnation of Jesus. There are even colors (pink and purple) and themes (hope, love, peace, and joy) tied to this season. The Bible doesn t command that we celebrate Advent, but the Journey elders believe that is it a helpful practice for the spiritual formation of our church. The following represent our hopes for you and your family as we participate in this season of preparation/waiting for the hope of Christ s coming both His first incarnation and His promised return. 1
ADVENT HELPS US DO MANY THINGS: 1) Advent helps us align our December calendars with the Story of God. Often we spend more time thinking about the demands of Christmas than the glory of Christ. Advent helps us use December as a time to reflect on Jesus gracious and radical intervention in the world (as opposed to the consumerism of our current culture). Through gathered worship (Sundays) and family devotions/readings, advent helps us worship Jesus - the God who humbly became a baby in order to establish His Kingdom and give Himself up for all of us so that we might have a restored life with God. 2) Advent stirs our longings for the second coming of Christ. Even as we celebrate the incarnation of Jesus, Advent reminds us that though Christ s Kingdom is already present in the world (and in us), it is also not yet fully realized. Thus, Advent stirs our hearts to pray for Christ s return, groan for the current brokenness of the world (and ourselves), and give ourselves more fully to participating in God s redemptive purposes in the world. 3) Advent gives us a strategic opportunity to share the hope of Christ s coming with our friends/family who aren t yet connected to Jesus or the church. Both as the church gathered (on Sundays) and the church scattered (throughout the week), Christmas/advent affords us a great opportunity to share the Gospel. Many of our friends/family who aren t connected to Jesus will consider coming to church and talking about Jesus during the holidays. We want to be available for these opportunities, for the glory of Jesus and the good of our loved ones. 2
HOW CAN I CELEBRATE ADVENT IN MY HOME AND WITH MY COMMUNITY GROUP? This guide is designed to help you and your family or community group read, reflect and pray together with the community of The Journey during this Advent season. We want everyone to take this time together to focus on spiritual formation as we all together praise God for his incarnation and cry expectantly with the church from all times, Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Advent is traditionally celebrated with an Advent Wreath, a circular candle holder that supports five candles. Each night, as the individual, the family, or the community gathers to celebrate and pray, a candle is lit (one candle during the first week, two candles during the second week, and so on, until all five are lit on Christmas Eve). Advent wreaths can be purchased inexpensively at local stores or online. But don t feel like you have to buy anything special. Many people celebrate Advent with five candles that they already have around the house. However you choose to arrange your Advent Wreath is unimportant; what is important is devoting ourselves to prayer, reflection and celebration as we look back at Christ s coming and look forward to his return. 3
EXPLANATION OF THE WEEKLY GUIDES These Guides Include: (1) Weekly lessons guiding you and your group/family through the Biblical events that led up to the birth of Christ. (2) Weekly responsive readings guiding you and your group/family through a time of reflection of who God is and what He has done. These include: i. Responsive Readings- These help set the tone that you are entering a time of reflection. ii. Hymns- These are songs that contain truths about God and what He has done for us. iii. Bible Readings- These will guide you through the story and life of Christ as you reflect during the Advent Season. iv. Catechisms- A question and answer guide to learning Biblical truth. v. Questions for Reflection- These are questions that will guide you in both your personal reflection time and the time you set aside for Advent with your group/family. vi. Benedictions- These are blessings you speak over your group/family at the end of your time together. 4
WEEK ONE: HOPE DECEMBER 1ST - DECEMBER 7TH, 2013 In this first week of Advent, we reflect on the tension of the already-but-not-yet; of being sure of the hope that we have, but of having but a small taste of that which has been promised. The nation of Israel, God s chosen people, had heard from God through the patriarchs and prophets since its very beginning. He had taught them how to live life in the very best way, life lived close to Him and to others. But the people of Israel had rejected God and did whatever was good in their own eyes. God sent prophets to warn Israel of what would happen if they continued to rebel against God. Prophets also foretold of a new covenant God would make with his people. They pointed people to a coming Messiah, an eternal king who would fulfill this covenant, save them, and rule forever. Despite the warnings of the prophets, the people of Israel stopped listening to God and God did not speak to humans again for 400 years. And it is against this backdrop that we begin our first week of Advent, wondering with the Israelites what God is going to do and how he is going to fulfill his promises. In a similar way, though Jesus has already brought about our salvation by his life, death and resurrection, we eagerly await with great hope the day when he will come again and fulfill all of his promises and put the world to rights. Directions: Each night when you gather with family or friends to pray: Sing the hymn below together, read one of the readings, and then recite the Q&A from the catechism. As you pray the prayer appointed for the week, light the first candle in your Advent Wreath, the candle of Hope. Talk through the reflective questions together. Conclude your time together by reading the benediction. 5
WEEK ONE: HOPE DECEMBER 1ST - DECEMBER 7TH, 2013 Responsive Greeting (for Community Groups): Reader: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. R: As we enter this season of Advent, may the love of God the Father, and the grace of Jesus the Son, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be and abide with us all. P: Amen. Hymn: Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice Rejoice Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel Readings 3 : 1. Isaiah 2:1-5 2. Psalm 122 3. Romans 13:11-14 4. Isaiah 40:1-5 5. Matthew 24:36-44 Catechism 4 : Question 1 Adults: What is our only hope in life and death? That we are not our own but belong, body and soul, both in life and death, to God and to our Savior Jesus Christ. Children: What is our only hope? That we are not our own but belong to God. Prayer: Adults God of hope, you call us from the exile of sin with the good news of restoration; you build a highway through the wilderness; you come to us and bring us home. Comfort us with the expectation of your saving power, made known to us in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 5 Children King of Glory, you are God. You are powerful. You rule the entire world. We praise you because you are so great. But you became a baby. You were tiny and weak. You were just like us. We praise you because you came, and we look forward to when you will come again. In your name we pray. Amen. 6 Questions for Reflection: Why is it good and right for us to hope in God? How has the Lord proven Himself to be worthy of our trust? Why is Jesus coming a source of hope for us? Benediction 7 (for Community Groups): Isaiah says, The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 6
WEEK TWO: PEACE DECEMBER 8TH THROUGH DECEMBER 14TH, 2013 In the second week of Advent, we take time to reflect on God s peace that he supplies to us without end in Jesus. While it is true that Jesus came to put an end to sin and its penalty once and for all, his coming into the world has accomplished so much more than that Jesus coming has given us peace with God that cannot be undone. And God has purposed from the beginning to restore us to himself by his own plan and power. The prophecies of the Old Testament that are fulfilled in Christ s coming give us confidence and peace that God is who he says he is and that God does what he says he will do. And for those of us who are in Christ, our peace is doubly sure, because we not only have the peace of God with us right now, we have the peace that comes from knowing that nothing at all, not even death, can separate us from the love of God that is our in Christ Jesus our Lord. Directions: Each night when you gather with family or friends to pray: Sing the hymn below together, read one of the readings, and then recite the Q&A from the catechism. As you pray the prayer appointed for the week, light the second candle in your Advent Wreath, the candle of Peace. Then, light the first candle. Talk through the reflective questions together. Conclude your time together by reading the benediction. 7
Responsive Greeting (for Community Groups): Reader: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. R: As we enter this season of Advent, may the love of God the Father, and the grace of Jesus the Son, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be and abide with us all. P: Amen. Hymn: Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind In one the hearts of all mankind; Oh, bid our sad divisions cease, And be yourself our King of Peace. Rejoice Rejoice Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel Readings 3 : 1. Isaiah 11:1-10 2. Psalm 72:1-7; 18-19 3. Romans 15:4-13 4. Matthew 3:1-12 5. Micah 5:2-5a Catechism 4 : Adult: Is there any way to escape punishment for sin and be brought back into God s favor? Yes, to satisfy his justice, God himself, out of mere mercy, reconciles us to himself and delivers us from sin and from the punishment for sin, by a Redeemer. Child: Is there any way to escape punishment for sin? Yes, God reconciles us to himself by a Redeemer. Adults: Who is the Redeemer? The only Redeemer is the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, in whom God became man and bore the penalty for sin himself. Children: Who is the Redeemer? The only Redeemer is the Lord Jesus Christ. WEEK TWO: PEACE DECEMBER 8TH THROUGH DECEMBER 14TH, 2013 Prayer: Adults O promised Christ: We are a world at war. Our peace depends on your coming. We are a sinful people. Our pardon depends on your coming. We are full of good intentions but weak at keeping promises; our only hope of doing God s will is that you should come and help us do it. Lord Christ, Word made flesh, our world waits for your peace, for your pardon, and for your grace. Even so: come, Lord Jesus. Amen. 5 Children King of Glory, you are God. You are powerful. You rule the entire world. We praise you because you are so great. But you became a baby. You were tiny and weak. You were just like us. We praise you because you came, and we look forward to when you will come again. In your name we pray. Amen. 6 Questions for Reflection: Is our world peaceful? Why or why not? What do you think it means that Jesus is our peace? Where do we need peace right now? How can Jesus bring peace there? Benediction 7 (for Community Groups): Isaiah says, The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 8
WEEK THREE: JOY DECEMBER 15TH THROUGH DECEMBER 21ST, 2013 The third week of Advent is about the joy that is ours because God has entered the world. Angels heralded the birth of the Messiah and kings came from the east to worship and marvel at what God has done. And we marvel as well, that God would step into our world, broken and marred by our sin. And the knowledge that God is accomplishing something new, and that he cannot be stopped or deterred, brings us great comfort and great joy, even as we still live in a world with sorrow and pain. Jesus said to his disciples: Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:20-24 ESV) We look back with joy and wonder that God would come into the world, and we look forward to his return, expecting the great unceasing joy that he has promised us Directions: Each night when you gather with family or friends to pray: Sing the hymn below together, read one of the readings, and then recite the Q&A from the catechism. As you pray the prayer appointed for the week, light the third candle in your Advent Wreath, the candle of Joy. Then, light the first and second candle. Talk through the reflective questions together. 9
Responsive Greeting (for Community Groups): Reader: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. R: As we enter this season of Advent, may the love of God the Father, and the grace of Jesus the Son, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be and abide with us all. P: Amen. Hymn: Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high, And cheer us by your drawing nigh, Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice Rejoice Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel Readings 3 : 1. Isaiah 35 2. Psalm 146:5-10 3. Isaiah 12 4. Matthew 11:2-11 5. Luke 1:26-38 Catechism 4 : Question 6 Adults: How can we glorify God? We glorify God by enjoying him, loving him, trusting him, and by obeying his will, commands, and law. Children: How can we glorify God? By loving him and by obeying his commands and law. WEEK THREE: JOY DECEMBER 15TH THROUGH DECEMBER 21ST, 2013 Prayer: Adults God of timeless grace, you fill us with joyful expectation. Make us ready for the message that prepares the way, that with uprightness of heart and holy joy we may eagerly await the kingdom of your Son, Jesus Christ, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen. 5 Children King of Glory, you are God. You are powerful. You rule the entire world. We praise you because you are so great. But you became a baby. You were tiny and weak. You were just like us. We praise you because you came, and we look forward to when you will come again. In your name we pray. Amen. 6 Questions for Reflection: How does Jesus coming to earth bring us joy? What brings you the most joy? What do you think it means to enjoy and love God? Benediction 7 (for Community Groups): Isaiah says, The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 10
WEEK FOUR: LOVE DECEMBER 22ND THROUGH 23RD, 2013 In the fourth week of Advent, we celebrate the love of God that is demonstrated in the coming of Jesus into the world. Even though God is self-sufficient and does not need man, God has from the very beginning chosen to bind himself to man, first through his covenant with Noah, then with Abraham and his offspring, and with the nation of Israel through Moses and David. And in the coming of Jesus, we have the ultimate binding of God: as he has always done, God makes a covenant promise with his people. But as he hasn t done since Abraham, God fulfills his own promise in the flesh by coming to Earth, the immortal God enfleshed as mortal man. God s love for us is not demonstrated in his coming to us alone, however. The prophets foretold that when the Messiah came, he would be coming to suffer and die for the sake of his people, to restore them to God. And as we celebrate Jesus coming, we also know that he is coming as a man of sorrows, to bear the sins of the world. We have great cause for joy, but also for sorrow, knowing that the baby born in Bethlehem will be soon facing execution on a cross to pay the penalty for our sins. But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 ESV) Directions: Each night when you gather with family or friends to pray: Sing the hymn below together, read one of the readings, and then recite the Q&A from the catechism. As you pray the prayer appointed for the week, light the fourth candle in your Advent Wreath, the candle of Love. Then, light the first, second, and third candle. Talk through the reflective questions together. Conclude your time together by reading the benediction. 11
Responsive Greeting (for Community Groups): Reader: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. R: As we enter this season of Advent, may the love of God the Father, and the grace of Jesus the Son, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be and abide with us all. P: Amen. Hymn: Oh, come, O Key of David, come, And open wide our heav'nly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. Rejoice Rejoice Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel Readings 3 : 6. Matthew 1:18-25 7. Jeremiah 31:31-34 Catechism 4 : Question 4 Adults: How and why did God create us? God created us male and female in his own image to know him, love him, live with him, and glorify him. And it is right that we who were created by God should live to his glory. Children: How and why did God create us? God created us male and female in his own image to glorify him. Question 24 Adults: Why was it necessary for Christ, the Redeemer, to die? Since death is the punishment for sin, Christ died willingly in our place to deliver us from the power and penalty of sin and bring us back to God. By his substitutionary atoning death, he alone redeems us from hell and gains for us forgiveness of sin, righteousness, and everlasting life. Children: Why was it necessary for Christ, the Redeemer, to die? Christ died willingly in our place to deliver us from the power and penalty of sin and bring us back to God. WEEK FOUR: LOVE DECEMBER 22ND THROUGH 23RD, 2013 Prayer: Adults Father in heaven, our hearts desire the warmth of your love, and our minds are searching for the light of your Word. Increase our longing for Christ, our Savior, and give us the strength to grow in love, that the dawn of his coming may find us rejoicing in his presence and welcoming the light of his truth. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen. 5 Children King of Glory, you are God. You are powerful. You rule the entire world. We praise you because you are so great. But you became a baby. You were tiny and weak. You were just like us. We praise you because you came, and we look forward to when you will come again. In your name we pray. Amen. 6 Questions for Reflection: Why did Jesus come to the earth as a baby? How do we know that God loves us? Benediction 7 (for Community Groups): Isaiah says, The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 12
CHRISTMAS EVE DECEMBER 24TH, 2013 On the night of Christmas Eve, we celebrate that what God has promised is arriving. We celebrate the incarnation of God, Immanuel, God with us. Though we could not reach up to God, he has reached down to us, taking the form of a servant and being born in the likeness of man (Philippians 2:7). And we worship our great God, who has been pursuing us from the very beginning, who loves us because he chooses to, he gives of himself for our good and his glory. In the story of the birth of Jesus, we see the first act of God s glorious victory over sin, Satan and death. And we who are in Christ look back with joy and forward with hope to the final act, when Jesus will return and restore all things to himself. Directions: When you gather with family or friends to pray on Christmas Eve: Sing the hymn below together. Read the first reading aloud. As you read the second reading aloud, light the first four candles. As you read the third reading aloud, light the Christ candle. Everyone present read the fourth reading aloud in unison. Pray the prayer appointed for this night, reflecting on Christ s humble birth, His substitutionary death, and his promised return to restore the world. Talk through the reflective questions together. Conclude your time together by reading the benediction. 13
Responsive Greeting (for Community Groups): Reader: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. R: As we enter this season of Advent, may the love of God the Father, and the grace of Jesus the Son, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be and abide with us all. P: Amen. Hymn: Joy to the world, the Lord is come Let earth receive her King Let every heart prepare Him room And Heaven and nature sing And Heaven and nature sing And Heaven, and Heaven, 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, wonders, of His love Readings: 1. Luke 2:1-21 2. Isaiah 60:1-3 3. Philippians 2:5-11 4. Revelation 21:22-27 CHRISTMAS EVE DECEMBER 24TH, 2013 Prayer: Adults All glory to you, great God, for the gift of your Son, light in darkness and hope of the world, whom you sent to save us. With singing angels let us praise your name and tell the earth his story, that all may believe, rejoice, and bow down, acknowledging your love through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 3 Children King of Glory, you are God. You are powerful. You rule the entire world. We praise you because you are so great. But you became a baby. You were tiny and weak. You were just like us. We praise you because you came, and we look forward to when you will come again. In your name we pray. Amen. 4 Questions for Reflection: How does Jesus birth change your life? How does Jesus birth change your community? How does Jesus birth change the world? Benediction 7 (for Community Groups): Isaiah says, The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 14
Sources: Greeting from Worship Sourcebook, D.1.3.1 <http://worship.calvin.edu/resources/publications/the-worship-sourcebook/> Readings adapted primarily from the Revised Common Lectionary <http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu> Catechism Questions and Answers from New City Catechism <http://www.newcitycatechism.com/q-parent/q1.php> Prayer from Worship Sourcebook D.1.4.25 ibid D.1.4.4 Romans 15:12-13 (ESV) 15