Bible Study – Second Sunday of Advent “A Branch Will Grow”
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 begins with darkness. In the days of the prophets, the Israelites looked to God for hope and promise. The prophets began to speak of the hope and light that would be coming to the people of God. Today we continue to share the stories of the prophets to remind us that we have been given this hope and light through the birth of Jesus Christ. During this time in the calendar year our days are getting shorter, and we wait for the light of Christ to shatter this darkness. In Advent we are encouraged to stop and listen and hear what the prophets are saying.
Advent Wreath: the first Sunday of Advent candle which is called the “HOPE” candle (also called the Prophecy candle), a symbol of the prophecy where Isaiah tells of the birth of Christ and all of the promises God gave us in the Old Testament that would be fulfilled by the birth of Jesus.
The second Sunday candle which represents “PEACE” (also called the Bethlehem candle). We reflect on our lives and focus on becoming better versions of ourselves in preparation for Jesus coming. We remember the journey Joseph and Mary took from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
Some wondering questions –
- What do you think of when you hear the word peace?
- We are now in the season of waiting and listening, the season of Advent.
- What is one thing that you have to wait for?
Opening Prayer: Light the first and second candle on your Advent wreath. Take your strand prayer beads you made last Sunday for our opening pray.
- At the cross – say, “Let us pray.”
- For the Invitational beads – say, “Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”
- For the first Cruciform bead – say out loud or in your hearts something you have to wait for.
- For the first seven beads – repeat the line “Help us to wait, Lord.”
- When you reach the second Cruciform bead – say out loud or in your heart something you want help for.
- For the second seven beads – repeat the line “Guide us, Lord.”
- When you reach the third Cruciform bead – say out loud or in your heart something you want to pray for.
- For the third seven beads – repeat the line “Be with us, Lord.”
- When you reach the fourth Cruciform bead – say out loud or in your heart something you have to wait for.
- For the fourth seven beads – repeat the line “Help us to wait, Lord.”
- When you reach the first Cruciform bead again – say the Lord’s Prayer, ending with Amen.
Please open your Bibles to Isaiah 11:1-10 and read or read the scriptures below.
Isaiah 11:1-10
The Branch From Jesse
11 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling[a] together;
and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.
Questions:
- Do these animals naturally live in harmony?
- Why do you think God wanted all of the animals to live in peace?
- What do you think God wanted us to know about peace? When Isaiah continued by talking about the root of Jesse
- Who do you think the branch of Jesse could be?
Bible Memory Verse: Isaiah 11:6 - “The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling[a] together;
and a little child will lead them”
Click here for the young learner’s lesson.
Videos (Click on url)
Stories:
Righteous King Story – Isaiah 11 Storytellers Bible Project - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-zUwtoHhxk
Isaiah God’s Story - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-hZA0f0RH8
Book of Isaiah Summary: A Complete Animated Overview (Part 1) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0A6Uchb1F8&t=461s
Song: Prince of Peace: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnlg3zfTXZE&list=RDpnlg3zfTXZE&start_radio=1
Activities:
Option 1: The Jesse Tree is decorated with ornaments that represent the stories of the Old Testament. Think of various favorite Old Testament stories and what symbol you might draw or create for the Jesse Tree. Then create ornaments using various craft supplies – these can be as simple or as elaborate as you would like. Below are online Resources for Jesse Trees version of 25 Jesse Tree ornaments
https://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/2018/10/25-jesse-tree-ornaments.html
History and information https://www.crivoice.org/jesse.html
Option 2: Growing in Faith - What does it mean when someone says they are ‘growing in faith’? Using the picture of the tree, write or draw those who are important to your own growth as a person of faith. .
Option 3: Click on A Table of Scripture Readings for Stories for Advent.
The Peaceable Kingdom – Crossword: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/the-peaceable-kingdom-1
The Peaceable Kingdom - Word Search: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/the-peaceable-kingdom-4
The Peaceable Kingdom – Decoder: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/the-peaceable-kingdom-2
The Peaceable Kingdom – Multiple Choice: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/the-peaceable-kingdom-3
Prayer: God of Love, as we wait for you coming, help us to live in the light. Amen.
