Bible Study – First Sunday of Advent – Choosing to Notice
Share: Your highs (something that made you happy) and lows (something that made you sad) this week with others around you or write them down.
Our Church Year begins today with the First Sunday of Advent. Using the Gospel according to Luke as our primary guide, we will journey through the heights and depths of the liturgical year. We begin in Advent by preparing for a coming that has already come and will come again. The explosive joy of Christmas sends us out into the seven weeks of Epiphany to show the world the Good News we are receiving.
Advent extends an invitation. The invitation: don't just do something – stand, watch, prepare. Stand - Choose to believe that ours is a safe universe – a universe God chose to enter as an infant. Watch - Look for a coming that has already come and will come again. Prepare - Snatch moments from our busyness. Watching for wisps of awe and wonder to show up. Rediscover that God has chosen to dwell in us and we are invited to dwell in God.
What if – just what if – Jesus is already right here, standing silently with us, walking ahead of us, showing us we don't have to do it all? Could it be that we are called to be still, notice, listen – and then follow?
Advent Theme: Christ will come again: We watch, we prepare, we get ready
While the world frantically shops, hoping to find the joy which is announced in the piped-inmusic to show up in purchases, we are being called to STOP. No, not to zone out, but to stand and be alert for signs. The Psalm for today calls out: "to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul." And so we hold in tension the delicious preparations of celebrating Christmas with seeking moments of silence in which to be vigilant – to lift up our souls.
"Happy New Year." Today is the first Sunday of the Year for our church. This season of four weeks we are beginning is called: Advent - which means something is coming.
Opening Prayer: Thank you, God, that we have seasons in our church life. Help us to be alert to the signs you send us. Amen.
Please open your Bibles to Luke 21: 25-36 and read or read the scriptures below.
This passage occurs near the end of Luke's story of Jesus' life here on our earth. People are delighting in their fancy temple and not focusing on the things Jesus has been teaching them. Jesus realizes he does not have much time left in which to get their attention and he apparently is pretty sure that ‘time’ as they knew it was coming to an end.
Luke 21:25-36
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
32 “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
Questions: Answers are find at the bottom of the page.
Luke 21: 25-28 Reflection Questions:
- What signs do you think Jesus says to look for? (verse 25)
- What is the hopeful sign Jesus promises? (verse 27)
- Can you think of times in our worship service we claim this promise?
Luke 21: 29-33 Reflection Questions:
- What "signs" is Jesus telling the people they know about here?
- What might help us believe "the kingdom of God is near."
Luke 21: 34-36: Reflection Questions:
- How would you define "be alert?"
- What kinds of things weigh us down and "catch" us unexpectedly?
- What things help us stay "alert" and not bogged down in discouragement?
Click here for the young learner’s lesson
Videos (Click on url)
Luke 21:25-36: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qqjfSTptnA
Gospel of Luke Summary Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26z_KhwNdD8
Song: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Pt2IrM4LQo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIOY0dXQh9w
Activities:
The Advent Wreath: The custom of having an Advent Wreath originated centuries ago in Germany, and today its use has become popular in homes and churches with the observance of Advent. The continuous wreath stands for eternity. The holly with its thorny, prickly leave is regarded as a symbol of the Crowns of thorns and so recalls the Passion of Christ. In this way the Advent Wreath connects the birth and death of Christ. The liturgical color is purple or blue. The four colored candles refer to the four Sundays in Advent. All of the candles refer to the ushering in of the Kingdom through the birth of Christ.
How To: Make Your Own Advent Wreath: https://news.xcp.org/7401/faith-in-action/how-to-make-your-own-advent-wreath/ or https://thevirtuoushome.com/how-to-celebrate-advent-with-an-advent-wreath/
The first Sunday lit candle represents sorrow, repentance or a plea for pardon. The candle is called the “HOPE candle, a symbol of the preparations made to receive and to cradle the Christ child.
24 Days of Christmas Kindness Activities: Christmas is a time for giving and spending time with loved ones. Click on the 24 Days of Christmas Kindness Activities and print them out and enjoy activities.
Modern Day: "Pretend" that Jesus is here – for the first time – in our town and giving this talk. What examples might he use? What might he mention, instead of The Temple? What temptations might he describe – that were not around 2000 years ago. Write down what you think this might look like.
Good News Stories: Be on the lookout for stories of Good News: hungry children being fed, doctors caring for poor children and not charging, stories from our community and around the world. The stories can be clipped from newspapers, downloaded from the Internet, or just reported.
Waiting for Jesus Return: On a slip of paper write things that we can do while we are waiting for Christ’s return. (Here are some examples: pray, read the Bible, worship, tell others about Jesus, help our neighbor, feed the poor, give clothing for the needy, visit the sick, visit the elderly.)
Christ Is Coming Again – Alphabet Soup: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/christ-is-coming-again
Christ Is Coming Again - Crossword: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/christ-is-coming-again-1
Christ Is Coming Again – Multiple Choice: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/christ-is-coming-again-2
Christ Is Coming Again - Word Search: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/christ-is-coming-again-3
Are You Ready – Word Shape: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/are-you-ready-2
Are You Ready – Decoder: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/are-you-ready-1
Prayer: God, as we begin this New Year in the church, help us to be alert to the signs you put before us – signs that you love us and are in this with us. Amen.
Answers to the above Questions:
Luke 21: 25-28 Reflection Questions:
- What signs do you think Jesus says to look for? (verse 25) 25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.
- What is the hopeful sign Jesus promises? (verse 27) 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
- Can you think of times in our worship service we claim this promise? (The Creed, for example, and at the Eucharist when we say: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.)
Luke 21: 29-33 Reflection Questions:
- What "signs" is Jesus telling the people they know about here? (How to tell when summer is near)
- What might help us believe "the kingdom of God is near." (Our worshipping community, the Eucharist, the outreach activities we are engaged in.)
Luke 21: 34-36: Reflection Questions:
- How would you define "be alert?" (Not zoning out - paying attention, noticing, etc.)
- What kinds of things weigh us down and "catch" us unexpectedly? (Yes, heavy loads of homework, but draw out of the children the "weights" of fear that hold us back.)
- What things help us stay "alert" and not bogged down in discouragement? (Might be music that speaks to us – a friend who will really listen – even a sport we are good at or a musical instrument we enjoy playing.)
