Bible Study –Second Sunday after Christmas – Proclaim and Give Praise
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.
We now celebrate the birth of Christ and the light of the world that has come into our lives. We have heard of the salvation that Jesus is bringing us and revel in the stories of hope and joy that the prophets share with us. During this time of year, it is important to help the families of our community remember the focus of this season, the birth of Christ. Christmas isn’t just one day, it is a very important message to hear always.
We are still in the season of hope and joy the season of Christmas. Place a white candle near your prayer space, add a nativity scene if you have one and the three Kings.
Opening Prayer: Light the candle. If there are more than one person in your prayer circle, have one person lead the prayer with the others repeating each line of the following:
God you give us the light, (God you give us the light)
Thank you for loving us. (Thank you for loving us.)
God you give us hope, (God you give us hope)
Thank you for helping us. (Thank you for helping us.)
God you give us your love. (God you give us your love.)
Thank you for loving us. (Thank you for loving us.) Amen.
In the Bible we hear stories from special people called prophets, they said things to many people for God. One of the prophets was Jeremiah, he wanted people to know more about God, and begin to tell people about what would happen.
Please open your Bibles to Jeremiah 31:7-14 and read or read the scriptures below.
Jeremiah 31:7-14
7 This is what the Lord says:
“Sing with joy for Jacob;
shout for the foremost of the nations.
Make your praises heard, and say,
‘Lord, save your people,
the remnant of Israel.’
8 See, I will bring them from the land of the north
and gather them from the ends of the earth.
Among them will be the blind and the lame,
expectant mothers and women in labor;
a great throng will return.
9 They will come with weeping;
they will pray as I bring them back.
I will lead them beside streams of water
on a level path where they will not stumble,
because I am Israel’s father,
and Ephraim is my firstborn son.
10 “Hear the word of the Lord, you nations;
proclaim it in distant coastlands:
‘He who scattered Israel will gather them
and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’
11 For the Lord will deliver Jacob
and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they.
12 They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion;
they will rejoice in the bounty of the Lord—
the grain, the new wine and the olive oil,
the young of the flocks and herds.
They will be like a well-watered garden,
and they will sorrow no more.
13 Then young women will dance and be glad,
young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into gladness;
I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.
14 I will satisfy the priests with abundance,
and my people will be filled with my bounty,”
declares the Lord.
Questions:
- What do you think God wanted Jeremiah to know when he said he would gather them from the farthest parts of the earth?
- What do you think Jeremiah was talking about when he said the people will be radiant over the grain, the wine and the oil?
- How can we continue to care for the earth and be satisfied with God’s bounty?
Bible Memory Verse: Jeremiah 31:10 - “Hear the word of the Lord, you nations;
proclaim it in distant coastlands: ‘He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’
Click here for the young learner’s lesson:
Videos (Click on url)
Children’s Sermon by Deacon Darcy Mittelstaedt – Jeremiah 31:7-14: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOzWygiLznU
Gospel of Jeremiah Summary: A Complete Animated Overview – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSK36cHbrk0
Activities:
Story Cards: Jeremiah and the Scroll: Click on the following url and print out the cards, scroll and bookmarks on heavy paper. https://missionbibleclass.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/08.03-L-Jeremiah-and-the-Scroll-Document.pdf Write Scripture verses and thoughts of the lesson on them.
Option 1: Taking care of God’s bounty. Decide on a project to help care for the environment. This could be a small project such as picking up the trash in the neighborhood of your church, helping an older member of your church with outdoor chores, or a longer term project such as starting a recycling program in your church, adopting a member of the church for ongoing snow shoveling, mowing or raking. Decide on the importance of continuing to care for the beauty of God’s creation. Following is an ELCA resource on environmental stewardship:
https://lutheransrestoringcreation.org/advocacy/issue-based-advocacy/climate-justice/
Option 2: A snack that aids in retelling the story of Christmas. You can use a bible to tell the story by using snack items as the props for the story.
- An angel came to Mary – hand out blue napkin
- An angel came to Joseph and they went on to Bethlehem – Walking stick (pretzels – use gluten free pretzels if allergies)
- They went to the inn but there was no room – empty cup
- So they went to the stable to be with the animals – Hay (Triscuit – or gluten free option if needed for allergies)
- And angels appeared to the shepherds and said Glory to God in the highest – Shepherd’s crook (candy canes)
- And there was a great light that filled the sky – Three wise men followed this light bringing gifts.
- Gold – small chocolate coins
- Frankincense – cinnamon candies
- Myrrh – apple juice
Exile Is Coming – Coded Words: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/204702745553143791/
The Call of Jeremiah - Word Search: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/5066618330739374/
Prayer: God of Love and Light, thank you for the gift of your son and the gift of this earth. Help us to walk in the light. Amen.
