The Prophecy of Christmas Cornerstone Advent 2014:Family Worship Guide What is Advent? The word advent comes from the Latin word adventus which means the coming. The Christian Season of Advent starts 4 weeks before Christmas and serves as preparation time and celebration for the birth of Jesus. Advent looks back at the incarnation but looks forward to the 2 nd coming of our Lord. Advent is all about anticipation. There is no better time to anticipate Christ than to spend time in worship as a family. The Prophecy is now...christmas is the Cornerstone 2014 Advent sermon series. The Old Testament is filled with prophecies about the birth of Jesus. He will crush the head of the serpent, The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and we will call Him Immanuel, A shoot from the stump of Jesse, For to us a child is born, He will reign on David s throne, His kingdom will have no end. What do these prophecies mean? What do they mean for our celebration of Christmas this year? This family worship guide will follow the sermon series at Cornerstone this Advent season. We encourage you to take the time to engage in family and personal worship this Advent season as we celebrate and anticipate the coming of our Lord. Instructions: The following is a guide for family worship for the whole body at Cornerstone to prepare for the most wonderful time of the year Christmas! The birth of our Lord. The guide is is particularly designed for adults and families with older children (6 th grade and above). Follow the dates to the best of your ability - don t fret it you miss a few days. Spend at least 5-10 minutes on each day s devotion. Use the guide either at breakfast or after an evening meal - choose the time that is best for you. Read the assigned Scripture. Invite several family members to share in reading the passage each day. the passage. Use the questions as a guide each day. Think about it: use the think about it question to apply the passage to your walk with the Lord. Pray: spend time each devotion praying about what you learned. 1
December 1 Read: Isaiah 7:14, 9:1-7 Who is Isaiah talking about? What four names are used to describe Jesus? these four names and what they mean. How long will Jesus be king? Think about it: What does Jesus kingship mean for your everyday life? Pray: Spend some time specifically praying to and about King Jesus. Use the four names in Isaiah 9 to praise Him in your prayer. December 2 Read: Isaiah 7:14 Immanuel means God with us. Name as many ways that you can in which God is with you. How does the fact that God is with you in the mission of His kingdom? (See Matthew 28:10). Think about it: How is Jesus Immanuel for you today? Pray: Praise God that Jesus is Immanuel! December 3 Read: Isaiah 9:6-7 How does Isaiah 9:6-7 further define Immanuel from Isaiah 7:14? that Jesus is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Think about it: What would Christmas be like if Jesus were not God? Pray: Spend some time praising Jesus for all the ways He is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 2
December 4 Read: Isaiah 9:6-7 the passage in light of today s sermon. Think about it: Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! Pray: Praise the Lord Jesus Christ who has reconciled sinners to God! December 5 Read: Micah 5:1-6; Matthew 2:1-12 Who is the one that will come out of Bethlehem from Micah 5:2? What does it mean that His origins are from old, from ancient times? (See Daniel 7:13-14) Think about it: Jesus is the one from Daniel 7. Pray: Praise God for the one who was born in Bethlehem. December 6 Read: Matthew 2:1-12 How is Matthew 2:1 a fulfillment of Micah 5:2? Who were the Magi? Why did the Magi come to Jerusalem? Think about it: The Magi, wise and wealthy men from far away, came to Jerusalem for one purpose and one purpose only. to worship! Pray: Pray that Christmas for you and your family would be about worship. 3
December 7 Read: Matthew 2:1-12 Why did the Magi rejoice exceedingly with great joy when they saw the star (v.10)? Why did the Magi fall down and worship the child (v.11)? Think about it: What would cause powerful, wise, and wealthy men to worship a child? Pray: Rejoice in your King! December 8 Read: Matthew 2:1-12 What were the three treasures that the Magi offered Jesus (v.11)? What do the three gifts symbolize? Think about it: The Magi offered their finest treasures to the King. What are the treasures that Jesus has opened to us? Pray: Pray that we would offer Jesus all that we have and all that we are. December 9 Read: Matthew 2:1-13 (Christmas trivia) How many Wise Men (Magi) were there? Read the text very carefully? How many gifts were there? How old was Jesus when the Magi came? Think about it: How has culture and media influence your views of Christmas (think about the Wise Men)? Why must we be careful to let the Bible alone shape our thinking and worship of Christmas? Pray: Ask the Lord to create in you a clean heart and a right spirit to worship this Christmas. 4
December 10 Read: Micah 5:1-5 Who else was born in Bethlehem? (See 1 Samuel 17:12). Jesus is the King in the line of David. What does vv.4-5 say about His kingship? Bethlehem was small, insignificant and Jesus was born there - as well as King David who was also small and insignificant. What do these humble beginnings say about our Great King? Think about it: Micah 5:5a - And He will be their peace. Pray: Praise God that Jesus is our strength and His greatness will reach to the ends of the earth and He will be our peace. December 11 Read: Matthew 2:1-12 the passage in light of the recent sermon. Think about it: How is Christmas more wonderful to you in light of today s sermon? Pray: Pray that God will help you to live in light of the message of Christmas. December 12 Who is Jesse? (See 1 Samuel 16) What do you think of when you think of a tree stump? Why is Jesse s line referred to as a stump? The stump of Jesse is another way to refer to the covenant promise made to King David is 2 Samuel 7. This promise was that a king would sit on David s throne forever. Therefore, who is the shoot that will come forth from the stump of Jesse? Who is the Branch that will bear fruit (v.1)? Think about it: What is the fruit that this Branch will bear? Pray: Praise God for the hope that is in Jesus when all hope was seemingly lost. 5
December 13 We have determined that the shoot and branch from v.1 is Jesus. Discus what it means that the Spirit of the Lord, of wisdom and understanding, and of counsel and might, and of knowledge and fear of the Lord will be upon Jesus. What does it mean that Jesus will delight in the fear of the LORD? Think about it: What does it mean to delight in the fear of the LORD? Pray: Praise King Jesus specifically for who He is in Isaiah 11:2-3a. December 14 Jesus is not only Savior but He is Judge. What observations can you make about the Judge from Isaiah 11:3b-5? How is God s judgment different from man s judgment? What is the rod of His mouth in v.4? (See Hebrews 4:12) Think about it: Read Isaiah 11:5. Now read Revelation 1:12-16. Pray: Praise God for His righteous judgment through King Jesus. December 15 What are vv.6-9 describing? What is odd about the animals in vv.6-8? What is wonderful about the animals? (See v.9a) Think about it: According to this passage, there will be animals in heaven. Think about heaven with animals that behave very differently because the Fall has been reversed! Pray: Praise God for the hope that the Fall will be reversed in the new heavens and the new earth - that even the animals will behave differently. 6
December 16 What does it mean that the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD? How is v.9 a fulfillment of Revelation 21:1-4? Think about it: Think about God s goodness and His presence being so vast that it covers the earth like the waters cover the sea. Pray: Praise God with anticipation that new heavens and the new earth will be filled with His presence. December 17 Who is the Root of Jesse that will stand as a banner for the peoples (v.10)? What does it mean that Jesus will be a banner (see v.10b)? What does v.10 tell you about what the new heavens and new earth (heaven) will be like? Think about it: His resting place will be glorious. Pray: Pray that daily our lives would be re-centered on God by railing to Jesus. December 18 the passage in light of today s sermon. Think about it: How is Christmas more wonderful to you in light of today s sermon? Pray: Pray that God will help you to live in light of the message of Christmas. 7
December 19 Read: Luke 1:26-38 Why is it important Mary was a virgin? (See Isaiah 7:14) Why is it important that Joseph was a descendant of David? (See 2 Samuel 7 and Isaiah 11) What do you think Mary was thinking when the angel announced this news to her? What would your reaction be? Think about it: For nothing is impossible with God - v.37. Pray: Pray that we would have a heart like Mary to say, I am the Lord s servant. December 20 Read: Luke 1:46-55 Mary s song here is often called The Magnificat which means my soul magnifies. How is Mary magnifying or glorifying God in this song? How might this song help you to glorify the Lord? Think about it: How has God remembered to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants? See Genesis 12-17. Pray: Use Mary s song to praise God in prayer. December 21 Read: Luke 1:67-80 What exactly is Zechariah prophesying? Why is this such good news to Zechariah? What does it mean that his child will guide our feet into the path of peace (v.79)? Think about it: Was Zechariah more excited about his son being born or another son being born? (See Luke 1:57-66) Pray: Use Zachariah s song to praise God in prayer. 8
December 22 Read: Luke 2:1-7 Why was it important that Joseph go to Bethlehem for the census? What was interesting about Jesus being born in a manger? Is this where you would expect a king to be born? Think about it: Sing and reflect on the song Silent Night. Pray: Praise God for the birth of our Savior! December 23 Read: Luke 2:8-20 What is so special about shepherds? What was the reaction of the shepherds to angels? What do you think your reaction would have been? What do vv.13-14 tell you about this child who was born in Bethlehem? Think about it: Read v.19. How might you treasure the things of Christmas and ponder them in your heart? Pray: Glorify and praise God for the things that you have seen and heard about Christmas (v.20). December 24 Read: Luke 2:1-21 the passage in light of tonight s sermon. Think about it: How is Christmas more wonderful to you in light of tonight s sermon? Pray: Praise God for Christmas! 9
December 25 Read: Matthew 1:18-25 What does Immanuel mean? Think about it: How does the fact that Jesus is Immanuel give you joy? Pray: Praise God that Jesus is Immanuel not just at Christmas but now and always! 10