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Week 4 - Adore
Preparation
Sing!
I would hazard to guess that you have a favorite holiday song. My personal favorite is the Christmas Song as sung by Nat King Cole. Often times when I begin to sing it, my wife will exclaim, “Sing it normal!” because in my head, I can only hear it as him, and I subconsciously begin to try and imitate him.
How often do we really belt out our favorite tune? In the shower? Alone in traffic? It’s not often. Buddy the Elf said it himself, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!” (In case you can’t tell at this point, my favorite holiday movie is Elf. In fact, I have held a screening of it at the beginning of December for the last 6 years.) So, whether you do it alone, or with a friend. Sing your favorite holiday tune as loud and as proud as you can, because God gave you a voice that is unique to you. Be proud of it. It’s a particular tone of the God’s choir that only you have.
Scripture
Luke 1:39-55 Common English Bible (CEB):
39 Mary got up and hurried to a city in the Judean highlands. 40 She entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 With a loud voice she blurted out, “God has blessed you above all women, and he has blessed the child you carry. 43 Why do I have this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?44 As soon as I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45 Happy is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill the promises he made to her.”
46 Mary said, “With all my heart I glorify the Lord! 47 In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior. 48 He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant. Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored, holy is his name. 50 He shows mercy to everyone, from one generation to the next, who honors him as God. 51 He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations. 52 He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty-handed. 54 He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, remembering his mercy, 55 just as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants forever.”
Lesson
Throughout the Bible we find women singing around important events. After the Israelites pass through the Red Sea, Moses’ wife Miriam sings. In preparation of the wedding, the women in the Song of Songs lift their voices, and once Mary has come to grips with the reality of her situation...she crafts a hymn. Songs often mark important occasions. Adele and Taylor Swift have seemingly made millions singing about their breakups, and Bob Dylan made his name voicing the resistance and verbalizing the distress of an entire generation.
If you want someone to remember something put it to music and they will be more likely to be able to recall it. I can’t remember half my families birthdays, but I can sing to you every local company and lawyers jingle. Before many could read and write, stories were passed down orally. This is why old narratives like The Iliad and The Odyssey, as well as Shakespeare are set to pentameter (a fancy word for the beat, or rhyming scheme). Most likely, many of the stories of the Old Testament would have been carried on through song. More than likely, much of what you know about your faith has even come from song.
How many passages of Scripture can you quote? How many hymns or worship songs?
Music is an important part of the life of faith, and especially the season leading up to Christmas. Almost all of us have an opinion on how early we should be listening to Christmas music. Even more, without the great soundtrack, the Home Alone franchise would just be a bunch of movies about some creepy criminals, neglectful parents, and demented child.
As we enter this last week of the Advent season, our anticipation has reached it’s climax. The first Christmas was accompanied by the music of the heavenly hosts. This week use your voice to add to the album. Be joyful! Be glad! The Lord is with you! Christ came for you! Christ will come again for you!
Advent Action!
Each week, you’ll be given a small challenge to help you grow in your faith, help you focus beyond the noise of the season, and prepare for Christ.
This week’s challenge: Write down the lyrics of your favorite holiday song (or maybe just your favorite lyric), and carry it with you throughout the week. Whenever you are feeling overwhelmed, sad, anxious, or frustrated...look at the lyric...think about it...maybe even sing it. And remember that the God of the universe loves you so much he was willing to come to this earth so you wouldn’t have to go through this life without knowing it!
Prayer for the Week
Holy child, born of a singing mother,
Forgive us our monotone lives,
for seeing darkness rather than light,
for hearing bad news rather than magnificent music,
for living with dread rather than delight.
Redeem us, enliven us.
Give us hope in our hearts and a song on our lips. Amen.
Week 3 - Ask
Preparation: Ask for something. I know that may sound simple, but it can also be incredibly difficult. How many times do we go without something we could really use, or even need, simply because we don’t ask. Maybe it’s some information, or maybe it’s help. When you find yourself in need of something this week. Don’t assume...don’t be proud...ask someone. Start this lesson by asking God to help you to be open to asking others for help.
Scripture: Luke 3:7-18 Common English Bible (CEB)
7 Then John said to the crowds who came to be baptized by him, “You children of snakes! Who warned you to escape from the angry judgment that is coming soon? 8 Produce fruit that shows you have changed your hearts and lives. And don’t even think about saying to yourselves, Abraham is our father. I tell you that God is able to raise up Abraham’s children from these stones. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be chopped down and tossed into the fire.”
10 The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” 11 He answered, “Whoever has two shirts must share with the one who has none, and whoever has food must do the same.” 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. They said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13 He replied, “Collect no more than you are authorized to collect.” 14 Soldiers asked, “What about us? What should we do?” He answered, “Don’t cheat or harass anyone, and be satisfied with your pay.”
15 The people were filled with expectation, and everyone wondered whether John might be the Christ. 16 John replied to them all, “I baptize you with water, but the one who is more powerful than me is coming. I’m not worthy to loosen the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 The shovel he uses to sift the wheat from the husks is in his hands. He will clean out his threshing area and bring the wheat into his barn. But he will burn the husks with a fire that can’t be put out.” 18 With many other words John appealed to them, proclaiming good news to the people.
Lesson
Around this time of year, most of us are bound to get asked this question at least once…“What do you want for Christmas?” Parents take their kids to malls to sit on hefty bearded strangers lap just to get the answer sometimes. Yet, how many of us simply answer…“Nothing” or “Whatever” You know who you never hear say this? Kids.
Kids start their lists on December 26, as soon as they find out what Santa left out. Over the last several years, I found myself in that position. However, I really didn’t want anything. I was just happy to have a break and be with family. Yet, I still relished in the joy of giving others presents. It has taken me sometime to realize just how selfish that position was. For me to receive the joy of giving without granting that opportunity to others was not only rude...but self centered. It pointed to pride. I have all I need, or I can take care of myself...but don’t worry...I’ve got something that could make your life better. Of course, I didn’t have this sort of conscious malicious intent in my actions, but pride rarely works that way.
I’m not using this example to reinforce the commercialism and consumerism of the American holiday that has co-opted Jesus’ birthday. Rather, I’m using it to highlight the enthusiasm that the people in the passage show when approaching John the Baptist with their questions, and later on, Jesus with their needs.
How often do we not pray for our needs feeling there are others who need it more, or not wanting to seem selfish? However, when we don’t seek God for our needs, we deprive God the opportunity to serve us with his abundance. That’s not to say God won’t fill our need without being asked, but as a parent, there is something fulfilling about knowing that I am responding to my child’s request.
At the same time, if you need something, don’t keep it to yourself. God has a tendency to prefer to work through the hands and feet of others! Don’t deny someone else the chance to serve you.
Advent Action!
Each week, you’ll be given a small challenge to help you grow in your faith, help you focus beyond the noise of the season, and prepare for Christ.
This week’s challenge: Take a piece of paper and draw a line, or fold it down the middle. On one half, write at the top “Thanks”, and on the other half at the top write “Needs.” First, fill up the half under “Thanks” with all the things you are thankful for. Feel free to use another piece of paper. Then, once you’ve exhausted that list move on to a list of your needs. When we take the time to catalog what we’re thankful for, it helps us to focus on what we really need. Then, beside your needs, write a person or a place that might be able to help fill that need. Once you’ve finished, pray that God would give you the courage to reach out to those sources throughout the Advent season to fill your needs.
Prayer for the Week
O God, you are our deliverer and our salvation. We give thanks this day that you are not deterred from coming to our aid by our indifference or our lack of trust in you. Though we have ignored you and turned our trust to lesser gods, you have never given up on us. We acknowledge in these quiet moments that you are the one true God, and we yearn to be your faithful people once again. Restore to us the joy of our salvation. Help us, O God, to turn to you more quickly when we are afraid and to rely on you more fully when we have decisions to make. Give courage to those who fight against temptation. Give relief to those who bear the burden of grief. Give hope to those who struggle with illness. Give reassurance to those who doubt you. Prepare us by your Holy Spirit to receive the gift of Jesus Christ, our Savior, once more. Amen.
Week 2 - Announcement
Preparation
At some point during the week, find a friend, a family member, or maybe even a stranger, and take the opportunity to announce their entrance to the room (Example: “Hear ye, hear ye peasants dining at the tables of this establishment! May I announce to you the Burger King!”) For added fun, don’t warn the person that you are going to do it. If you’re too shy to try this, you can always just pray this prayer: “God amidst the noise and excitement of the season...help me be aware of your presence, and know that the true king of kings is always with me.”
Scripture: Luke 3:1-6 Common English Bible (CEB)
3 In the fifteenth year of the rule of the emperor Tiberius—when Pontius Pilate was governor over Judea and Herod was ruler over Galilee, his brother Philip was ruler over Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was ruler over Abilene,2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas—God’s word came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 John went throughout the region of the Jordan River, calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins. 4 This is just as it was written in the scroll of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
A voice crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight. 5 Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be leveled. The crooked will be made straight and the rough places made smooth. 6 All humanity will see God’s salvation.”
Lesson
Right around the time I turned 7 or 8, my family moved to Arkansas. This was significant for a couple of reasons. One, I didn’t know anyone...and two, it meant moving a great distance from all of our relatives. So, around the holidays became our annual trek back to the east coast to see family in our pop up conversion van (I mean...how else do you travel with 3 boys?). Our trips were full of travel board games, Krystal burger, and plenty of yelling and crying.
My father always tried to time the trip so that at least about half of the time we’d be asleep. Usually we would arrive at my Granny’s house somewhere well after midnight. My body could always sense the change in road conditions from the smooth highway to the dirt roads of rural Georgia. The uneven surface was a precursor to a weekend of games, fishing, and of course plenty of pumpkin pie.
Shortly after my wife and I got married, we too moved a great distance away from our family. Because the rest of our family all still lives near where we grew up in Northwest Arkansas, it is almost always us who travel around the holidays. Right around mid to late October, our family starts to try and plan our trip home. It’s a constant game of phone tag between the in-laws to figure out which dates we’ll be in town. Which is often followed by a thorough discussion of who will stay and eat where on what night. This process has only been exacerbated by the presence of the first grandchild.
For those of us traveling, we have to decide what means of travel we’ll take, and what dates we’ll be gone. For those of us hosting, there is the cleaning and arranging for our guests. This time of year is truly a season of preparation. Yet, how much time do we spend preparing our lives, and homes for the Kingdom of Heaven?
When the opportunity presents itself to serve God, will we be ready...or will we be too busy to even hear the call?
Amidst the hullabaloo (I have to use at least one Dr. Seuss word), take some time to make yourself aware of the magic and awe that is the reality of God’s kingdom that has already began to break in all around us.
Advent Action!
Each week, you’ll be given a small challenge to help you grow in your faith, help you focus beyond the noise of the season, and prepare for Christ.
This week’s challenge: Find someway to prepare to serve others. Maybe it’s setting aside money for someone who may ask for it, or maybe it’s making an extra serving for dinner. Then, try to stay observant of opportunities to make use of whatever you have prepared.
Prayer for the Week
All-loving and forgiving God, how long will you remain patient with us? How long will you wait for us to turn from our broken and sinful lives and take upon ourselves the mind of your Son, Christ Jesus? All you ask is for us to accept your love, accept your grace, accept your forgiveness, and fall into your arms. But we hold back. We’re too busy right now, or we’re this or that. God, forgive us. O Lord, have mercy. We confuse the shabby rewards of this world with the perfect and eternal rewards of Jesus Christ. We cling to our possessions as if our lives depend on them. And all the while, you lovingly whisper that our lives depend on letting this stuff go. We do not wait on your Son very faithfully at all, but we wait and we believe. Give us the faith to persist. In his holy name. Amen.
Week 1 - Anxious
Preparation
Light a candle, plug in some Christmas lights, or make a cup of your favorite holiday beverage. Allow yourself to be still...take in the atmosphere of the season...and breath.
Now, once you have found your calm, stilled yourself enough and let whatever troubles this year has brought be set aside (if even just for a moment), open a newspaper, magazine, or the internet.
Find an article on global news. No doubt you will quickly find some story of something tragic. It was only a few weeks ago that our world was rocked yet again by coordinated terrorist attacks, to which many people’s response, was yet more violence. Once you’ve read over it, pray for all those involved.
You may be asking yourself, “Why would someone begin a Christmas study like this?” The answer… This isn’t Christmas...this is Advent. The season of great anticipation!
Scripture: Luke 21:25-36 Common English Bible (CEB)
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On the earth, there will be dismay among nations in their confusion over the roaring of the sea and surging waves. 26 The planets and other heavenly bodies will be shaken, causing people to faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world. 27 Then they will see the Human One coming on a cloud with power and great splendor. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, stand up straight and raise your heads, because your redemption is near.” 29 Jesus told them a 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 In the same way, when you see these things happening, you know that God’s kingdom is near. 32 I assure you that this generation won’t pass away until everything has happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will certainly not pass away.
34 “Take care that your hearts aren’t dulled by drinking parties, drunkenness, and the anxieties of day-to-day life. Don’t let that day fall upon you unexpectedly, 35 like a trap. It will come upon everyone who lives on the face of the whole earth. 36 Stay alert at all times, praying that you are strong enough to escape everything that is about to happen and to stand before the Human One.”
Lesson
Whoa, whoa, whoa! This isn’t joyful! This isn’t cheery! This isn’t...this isn’t….CHRISTMASY!
You’re right! Like I said...this isn’t a Christmas study. Christmas is the season starting on Dec. 25, and the weeks following. This is Advent, the season of waiting.
As a child, I can remember waiting anxiously in my bed. Eyes squeezed shut as tightly as possible hoping it would whisk me away to sleep. However, my ears were left to observe my surroundings.
Each creak painted images of reindeer on the roof, and each gust brought hopes that Santa had finally arrived. One year, my imagination had finally gotten the best of me, and I crept out of bed only to find...SPOILER ALERT!...that my parents had taken Santa’s place. That’s right. I spilled the beans. Mr. and Mrs. Claus are in fact the aliases of Mr. and Mrs. Lyles. Yet, I recognize now, as I approach this first Christmas season with my own son, the privilege I was given with the life I was granted.
How many kids went to bed, not with dreams of toys and cookies, but nightmares of what the next day would bring? Whether it be war, abuse, or general uncertainty. It’s a great tragedy how we have allowed the commercialism and advertising of the season to overwhelm and blind us to the reality of many people’s predicaments this time of year. Our obsession with materialism will lasso many more into debt they’ll never climb out of, and others will wonder how we can continue to ignore their suffering, because Elf is on for the one millionth time.
Advent is the reminder that things are not yet as they should be. It is the longing for redemption. The anticipation of Jesus Christ is a reminder of just how near that redemption is. The Apostle Paul, and many in the Early Church believed Jesus would be back within their lifetime. Yet, while all the signs have persisted...he hasn’t yet returned. Should we be worried?
No. Our redemption is near. Advent is our reminder to stay ready!
Advent Action!
Each week, you’ll be given a small challenge to help you grow in your faith, help you focus beyond the noise of the season, and prepare for Christ. This week’s challenge:
Find a news story each day (could be from the radio, tv, internet, print media, etc.) in which someone’s life has been dramatically affected. It could be the story of an individual, or a community. Print it off, cut it out, or make a reminder to carry with you throughout the day of those involved. Each time you catch yourself recognizing the news story, pray for those affected, and pray that God would make you aware of what gifts you have that may have been, or could be of service to the situation. While you may not be able to help with that particular incident, it will make you better aware of your capability if a time should ever arise that your help is needed.
Prayer for the Week
We are watching, Redeeming God. In all times, in all places, we watch for a sign that your Redeeming One is drawing near. We keep the vigil for ourselves and for the earth, for we desire to know the time for your visitation. Only the Redeeming One can ease the load and make our burdens light. Only the Redeeming One can transform our poverty of spirit into abundance. Only the Redeeming One can restore our neglect of truth into a commitment to justice. We wait. We watch. We wonder. Amen.
(SUSAN HENRY-CROWE)
