Bible Study – Third Sunday of Advent “Everlasting Joy”
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 the candle 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.
The third Sunday in Advent the candle is often represented by the color rose or pink. It is called Gaudete Sunday which in Latin is rejoice. The candle of Joy. Jesus came to bring us joy. He will come again to take us to a place of everlasting joy.
Some wondering questions –
- What do you think of when you hear the word joy? We are still in the season of waiting and listening, the season of Advent.
- What is one thing that makes you really happy?
Opening Prayer: Light the first and second candle on your Advent wreath. Then light the pink candle. Use your strand of prayer beads that you made a couple of Sunday ago for our opening pray. (If you don’t have prayer beads, the instruction to make them are located under Activities, Option 1, in the First Advent Sunday “Come Let Us Walk in the Light)
- At the cross – say, “Let us pray.”
- For the Invitational beads – say, “Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”
- For the first Cruciform bead – say 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 something you want help for.
- For the second seven beads – repeat the line “Guide us, Lord.”
- When you reach the third Cruciform bead – say something you want to pray for.
- For the third seven beads – repeat the line “Be with us, Lord.”
- 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 35:1-10 and read or read the scriptures below.
Isaiah 35:1-10
Joy of the Redeemed
35 The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God.
3 Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
4 say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
he will come to save you.”
5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.
7 The burning sand will become a pool,
the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.
8 And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness;
it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
wicked fools will not go about on it.
9 No lion will be there,
nor any ravenous beast;
they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
10 and those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Questions:
- Where have we heard ‘Do not be afraid, do not fear’? in the Christmas story?
- Look up the visitation to Mary (Luke 1:26-38) and to Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25). How do the words compare in the stories?
- Who do you think Isaiah was speaking of when he said the eyes of the blind would be opened? What other healing was mentioned?
- What do you think God wanted us to know about joy? How can we show joy to others during the Advent and Christmas season?
Bible Memory Verse: Isaiah 35:10 - “and those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”
Click here for the young learner’s lesson.
Videos (Click on url)
Stories:
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: I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy (Down in my heart): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRkj9f7ZJyo&list=RDFRkj9f7ZJyo&start_radio=1 or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix7Oejda4OI&list=RDix7Oejda4OI&start_radio=1
Activities:
Cookie Creation: Create cookies for those who are homebound in your church or if you have a connection to a nursing home. You can use pre-baked cookies to frost and decorate. Package the cookies for delivery on paper plates and add a homemade Christmas card. You may want to organize a delivery time with your families.
Bringing Joy: How could you bring joy to other families? As we prepare for the birth of Christ, what do you think it takes a family to prepare for the birth of a child today? What are the needs? What if you didn’t have everything you needed? Perhaps you could ask everyone in the congregation to bring some items specifically for infants to be donated next week. Items could include, baby wipes, diapers, formula, bottles, blankets, etc. Or you can bring Hygiene Products to church for the Lutheran Family Services Well Being Box Program such as Shampoo/Conditioner, Body Wash, Deodorant, Toothbrush/Toothpaste, and Wash Cloths/Loofa Sponges.
Joy to the World – Crossword: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/joy-to-the-world-2
Joy to the World - Word Search: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/joy-to-the-world-4
Joy to the World – Decoder: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/joy-to-the-world-3
Prayer: Open my eyes to see your light.
Open my hands to receive your bread.
Open my ears to hear your word.
Open my mouth to speak your love. Amen.
