advent guide
Intro The theme of Advent this year is Servant-King. As a church we will be taking four weeks to look at and memorize Philippians 2:5-11. This passage of Scripture is no ordinary section of Paul s letters to the Christian churches. There is widespread agreement among biblical scholars that it was an early church hymn predating Paul s letter to the Philippians. One biblical scholar translates this passage in its exact and poetic form in 6 stanzas: (1) The one existing in the form of God did not consider it an advantage to exploit to be equal with God. (2) but he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming in the likeness of human beings; (3) and in appearance being found as a human being, he humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death even death on a cross. (4) Therefore also God highly exalted him and gave to him the name that is above every name, (5) that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (6) and every tongue will acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. If you notice, the first and sixth stanzas begin and end with the highest and most exalted positions of Christ. Then the last line in the third stanza ends at Christ s lowest humiliation: even death on a cross. Thus, you have the perfect depiction of a Servant-King. The one who began in glory, humbled himself to death by crucifixion in order to serve sinners and give his life as a ransom. Because of this, the Father highly exalted him to the place of King of the cosmos. Why? Precisely because he served the world and the Father s mission in redeeming a people for himself, though he was equal with God; though he was and still remains the King. Advent Guide -1-
Week 1: Divinity Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. (Philippians 2:5-6) 1. The first phrase talks about the nature of Christ before his Incarnation: he was in the form of God. The word form literally means outward appearance. Before the Son of God became man, he eternally existed in the outward appearance of God the Father. Look up Hebrews 1:3 and identify what the Son appears as? What does this tell you about the early church s understanding of Christ? 2. The second half mentions Christ not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. This phrase is not found anywhere else in the Bible. The precise meaning is something already possessed to be selfishly exploited. After putting that definition into the verse, what does this reveal about the character of God? How does it relate to our theme of Servant-King? 3. Knowing this about the nature of Christ and his plan with the Father to use his power and glory to serve and save, in what way can you specifically seek to model this to people in your life this Advent season? Family Discipleship: Jesus is God Read: Philippians 2:5-6 together. Family Scripture Memory: Gather popsicle sticks and write Philippians 2:5-6 on the sticks horizontally, writing a few words on each stick. For younger kids, consider using a marker to make a circle on the right end of the stick. Then, using the same marker, make a circle on the left end of the next stick. Continue the process using a different color for each pair of matching circles. Store craft sticks in a jar and each night as a starter to devotion time, have children put the verses together like a puzzle. Say the verses as a family. Family Activity: At some point during the week make frozen whipped cream shapes together as a family. To make, simply spread whipped cream on a parchment lined cookie sheet and pop in the freezer. Use cookie cutters to make frozen shapes. During family devotion time, enjoy frozen shapes in hot chocolate while talking about the nature of Christ. Say: We made these whipped cream shapes. Jesus made everything. He was with God in the beginning. Jesus is God. He is king, and he sits on the throne. Angels sing to him. And yet he was willing to give it all up. Why? So that we could be with him. He is a self-less king. Ask: Who is Jesus? Why do you think Jesus gave up his throne? What is one way you can be like Jesus and give up your privileges to help others this week? Pray: Thank you God that you had a plan from the beginning. Thank you that you had a plan to make your enemies your friends. Thank you for the unselfishness of Jesus that he was willing to give up his privileges as king and come down to us. Advent Guide -2-
Week 2: Humanity [Christ] emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. (Philippians 2:7) 1. There has been much debate throughout church history on what it means for God to empty himself. According to Malachi 3:6, how do we know it cannot mean God lost some of his divine attributes? How does the word by sandwiched between emptied himself and taking the form of a servant help us understand what it means for God to empty himself? 2. The word form is the same Greek word used in verse 6: in the form of God, which (again) means outward appearance. Thus, how could Christ retain his full divinity while taking the [outward appearance] of a servant, being born in the likeness of men? How does this translate into our own lives in being willing to take on the outward appearance of servanthood and simplicity, rather than the outward appearance of pride and excessiveness this Advent season? 3. In what way do Philippians 2:17 and 2 Timothy 4:6 illustrate the practical way in which the selfemptying Servant-King looks in someone s life? Family Discipleship: Jesus the Servant Read: Philippians 2:5-7 together. Family Scripture Memory: Add more popsicle sticks to your collection so that you now have Philippians 2:5-7. Have your children put the verses together and practice the verses as a family. Family Activity: Take out your family manger scene or look at a picture in a book. Talk to your children about the marvel of Christ s absolute humility being born as a baby in a stable, while you set up the manger scene. Say: Jesus gave up glory for earth, he gave up angels singing to him, the shininess of the glory of heaven, all of his riches. He gave it all up to be born a tiny human. Why? So that he could know what it is like when we are sad, or thirsty, or hungry. So that he could bring us to God. Ask: What is a stable? Do you think this was a good place for the Son of God to be born? Why do you think Jesus was born in a stable instead of a palace? How can we be like Jesus at home or school this week? Pray: Thank you God that Jesus left everything pleasant and comfortable to be born in a stable. Thank you that he was born in a manger so that he could know what it is like to be human like us. Thank you that he came to earth to bring us to God. Advent Guide -3-
Week 3: Humility And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:8) 1. This section of the hymn takes us to the essence of Servant-King. The supreme expression of Christ s humility is seen, not only in his obedience to the Father ( by becoming obedient ), but to the extent of his obedience: to the point of death. In light of verses 9-11, what was it that kept Jesus obedient under such suffering? 2. Paul could have just said, by becoming obedient to the point of death on a cross. Instead, Paul writes, by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. How does this specific rendering add to the drama and shock of Christ s humble obedience? Then read Hebrews 12:2 and identify how Christ endured the humiliation of the cross like the King of heaven. 3. How does this portrayal of the self-humiliation and suffering of the Servant-King provide courage and power to endure unexpected disappointments and discouragements this Advent season? Hansen, G. Walter, The Letter to the Philippians, Edrdmans Publishing Co. 2009, p. 145. Family Discipleship: Chosen one of God chosen to die Read: Philippians 2:8 together. Family Scripture Memory: Add more popsicle sticks to your collection so that you now have Philipians 2:5-8. Have children put the verses together and practice the verses as a family. Family Activity: inspect a seed. Talk about how it has to die, or go down into the earth, in order to produce life. Connect to Jesus, the one who died so that others might live. Say: Jesus was so humble. He was God but when he came to earth people thought he was only man and not God. He obeyed God when God told him to die. He said, not my will but Thine be done. He died on a cross that was for criminals! This is the God who created everything! He did this for us! We needed a savior who was willing to come down to us. We needed a savior king. Jesus is our savior king. This is the love of God. Ask: Jesus obeyed the father because he loves God and he loves people. How can knowing that Jesus suffered help you when you are having a hard day? Pray: Thank you God that you loved us so much that you sent your only son to die in our place. Thank you that Jesus was faithful as a son. Thank you that Jesus loves us, that he died and rose again because it is his joy to bring people who don t love him and are not his people to himself so that they love him and are called his people. Advent Guide -4-
Week 4: Doxology Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11) 1. Everything before the therefore leads to the dreadful darkness of death on a cross, but everything after therefore leads to the glory of Christ and his Father. What does the word Therefore at the beginning of verse 9 teach you about the relationship between verses 5-8 and verses 9-11? 2. What are the three ways in which God highly exalts Jesus Christ in the end of this hymn? What do each of them signify in regards to Jesus exaltation as the Servant- King? 3. How does 1 Peter 5:5-7 apply Christ s humiliation and exaltation to our own lives today? In what way do you think the humiliation of Christ on Christmas morning teaches you about the way you remain patient and hopeful during the Advent season? Family Discipleship: Highly Exalted King Read: Philippians 2:9-11 together. Family Scripture Memory: Add more popsicle sticks to your collection so that you now have Philipians 2:5-11. Have children put the verses together and practice the verses as a family. Family Activity: Make crowns out of paper, coloring with markers/crayons and decorating with stickers. As you help children make their crowns, explain that Jesus is our King forever. Consider writing this phrase on the crown. Say: God lifted Jesus up into the sky and sat him at his right hand in the seat of honor. He sat down in his throne because his work was done. He went down to the mire and the muck and pulled his people out. Now God honored him and gave him the name above all names so that at the name of Jesus everyone and everything would sing and shout and worship. Ask: What did Jesus do for you? Why do you think Jesus is called the greatest gift? How can you show him how thankful you are that he came to bring you to God? Pray: Thank you Jesus that you left your heavenly home to come down to the dirty muck and bring us out. Thank you that now we can be with God in heaven. Teach us to be like Jesus. Help us to see the glory of the Servant King Jesus Christ and to obey him as our King. Advent Guide -5-