Bible Study – First Sunday of Advent - Keep Alert
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.
Advent means “coming.” The coming of the baby Jesus, God among us in human flesh. The coming of Christ again "the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. In between those two great comings is God’s constant longing for each of us to come to God, to love God, and to let God love us. "Be alert." Notice. Listen. Watch. For what? For the ways God will choose to get our attention this season. For those moments when we notice that our ways are not in alignment with God’s ways. For those shimmering glimpses of the Kingdom of God.
Ominous warnings of end times: These warnings and words of hope heard in a community that was pretty sure the world was coming to an end. The message: Keep alert! Stay awake! Pay attention! Jesus just might come this very night. Implicit is the invitation to make some changes in our priorities and to notice what really matters.
Opening Prayer: Thank you God, for being with us today. Thank you that we are beginning a New Year in our church. Help us to ‘Keep alert’ as we prepare for your coming. Amen.
Please open your Bibles to Mark 13: 24-37 and read or read the scriptures below.
Mark 13:24-37
24 “But in those days, following that distress,
“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
25 the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’[a]
26 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
28 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it[b] is near, right at the door. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
The Day and Hour Unknown
32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert[c]! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”
Questions:
- Who is speaking here? (Jesus)
- Who is Jesus speaking to? (his disciples – the people that have been traveling with him)
- If Jesus is speaking to us, what do we think he means by "Keep alert!" or "Keep Awake?"
The disciples were pretty sure that the world was coming to an end very soon. They asked Jesus when it would happen and Jesus told them not to worry about it. Since the world did not come to an end, people in the Church have come up with the tradition of Advent as a time of getting ready for Christmas, celebrating the coming of Jesus and, just in case Jesus does choose to show up, being ready.
- If you thought Jesus was really going to come this year, what things might you do differently?
- What would Jesus expect to find?
- What might you add to your life or what might you start doing?
- What might you stop doing?
Click here for the young learner’s lesson
Videos (Click on url)
Mark 13:24-37: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_gfcbGkHtI
No one knows the day or time (Mark 13:24-37): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0SNLeSoGA4
Gospel of Mark Summary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGHqu9-DtXk
Song: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Pt2IrM4LQo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez6QPDpgzXI
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/
The first Sunday lit candle represents sorrow, repentance or a plea for pardon. The candle is called the “PEACE candle, a symbol of the preparations made to receive and to cradle the Christ child.
Activities:
New Year Resolutions: We are now in the season of Advent which begins a new year in the church. Advent means “coming” and we wait for the coming of Christ at Christmas. Today we heard, "Be alert." Notice. Listen. Watch. For what? As we prepare for the coming of Christ what can we notice? What do we listen and watch for?
Write some “New Year’s Resolutions” for this time of Advent. Resolutions are promises we make to ourselves and each other. They usually involve something we want to do differently, something we want to start doing, or something we want to stop doing. Think about preparing for the coming of Christ at Christmas. What resolutions would help you prepare yourself and “Be alert” for the coming of Christ? Write down your resolutions. Also what resolutions might you suggest for the faith community, for the world?
As we draw closer to Christmas, how do you and your family get ready? In light of the resolutions, how might getting ready be different this year?
Painting A Joy Chart: Paint the word “JOY” in the middle of a 9 by 13 pieces of paper or poster board. Then use a small paint brush and paint the words Worship, Praise, Love, Serve, Share God’s Love, etc around the word “JOY”.
Christmas is ……. Banner: Take a sheet of long white paper and decorate it in ways that will help you anticipate Christmas and to know the TURE MEANING of Christmas such as JESUS IS CHRISTMAS or GIVING INSTEAD OF RECEIVFING, CELEBERATE JESUS BIRTH or WORSHIP AND PRAISE JESUS, SERVE AND LOVE JESUS, SHARE HIS LOVE!
The Waiting Place - Crossword: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/waiting-place
Waiting For His Return - Word Search: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/waiting-for-his-return-1
The Waiting Place – Decoder: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/waiting-place-1
Prayer: Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
