Wk 50

ADVENT

Candle of Hope or Prophecy

This first candle represents hope or expectation in anticipation of the coming Messiah.

Bethlehem Candle or Love

On the second Sunday of Advent, the second purple candle is lit.

This candle typically represents love. Some traditions call this the "Bethlehem Candle," symbolizing Christ's manger:

Luke 2:12 NLT

12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

GENEROSITY

The Bible teaches that Christian giving must be willing and free.

We learn in 2 Corinthians 9:7 that ...

2 Corinthians 9:7 NLT

7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

But doesn’t this contradict what we learned under the f irst principle, that Christian giving is not optional?

The answer, of course, is no.

True Christian giving is both mandatory and voluntary.

It is required by God, but it is always willingly given by the believer.

So, we ask “Is your giving willing?”

BIG THOUGHT:

To discover the Spiritual window behind the celebration of gifts and carols of God reaching down to mankind and bringing us our Savior, forgiveness, restoration of the World.

GEST:

To investigate God’s plan to restore mankind to His heart, in the midst of tinsel and lights.

BEST LINE:

CHRISTMAS A-Z: Finding God in the tinsel and lights.

Here’s a selection of Christmas-related words organized from A to Z, showcasing various aspects of the holiday season:

A - Angel, Advent, Advent Calendar

B - Bauble, Bells, Bethlehem

C - Candy Cane, Carol, Christmas Tree

D - Decorations, December, Donkey

E - Elf, Eggnog, Evergreen

F - Festive, Festival, Frosty, Fruitcake

G - Gifts, Gingerbread, Garland

H - Holly, Hope, Hymn

I - Icicle, Immanuel, Invitation

J - Joy, Jingle Bells, Jesus

K - Kringle, Kindness, Kwanzaa

L - Lights, Love, Laughter

M - Mistletoe, Merry, Miracle

N - Nativity, Noel, Nutcracker

O - Ornaments, Outreach, O Holy Night

P - Poinsettia, Peace, Presents

Q - Quiet, Quarters (as in holiday quarters)

R - Reindeer, Ribbon, Rudolph

S - Santa Claus, Sleigh, Stocking

T - Tinsel, Tradition, Tree

U - Unity, Unwrap, Usher

V - Vixen, Vigil, Vows

W - Wreath, Wonder, Warmth

X - Xmas, Xylophone (as in Christmas music)

Y - Yule, Yuletide, Yearning

Z - Zeal, Zest, Zany (as in festive fun)

CAROLS

O Come O Come Emanual

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

O Holy Night

O Little Town of Bethlehem (3rd verse)

CHRISTMAS A-Z: Finding God in the tinsel and lights.

WEEK 1: A, B, C, D, E, F

ANGEL

Zachariah

Luke 1:8–9 NLT

8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.

Mary

Luke 1:31–33 NLT

31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

Joseph

Matthew 1:19 NLT

19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

Shepherds

Luke 2:9 NLT

9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified,

Luke 2:13 NLT

13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

Joseph

Matthew 2:13–15 NLT

13 After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” 14 That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, 15 and they stayed there until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “I called my Son out of Egypt.”

Why Does This Matter?

The angelic messages to Zechariah, Mary, Joseph, and the Shepherds all convey significant news.

Not only did Gabriel predict the birth of John the Baptist, who would prepare the way for the Lord,

but he also announced the coming of Christ.

The other angels, supported these messages. Joseph learned that the child Mary bore was the Son of God, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Likewise...

the angel who appeared to the shepherds delivered a message that reminds us that Jesus identified with the lowly and common people.

He is the promised Messiah, the Savior of all the world.

What about today and Angels?

Angels are not all that uncommon today.

Guardian Angels

have you heard of a story about an angel, often it’s about protecting us?

have you seen the picture of a guardian angel protecting children walking over a bridge?

Psalm 91:11 NLT

11 For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.

Psalm 34:7 NLT

7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

Angels Harken to God’s Word

Angels are obedient to do what God says, they KNOW His Voice!

Psalm 103:20 NLT

20 Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands.

Isn’t that RICH… the Angels, just didn’t show up to Mary and the Shepards because it was their idea— it was God’s idea and they brought the news to Mary and the others.

It is no different today

Angels

When you see this next verse, you might see God in His wisdom and why His Word is so important for us to read, meditate, speak, and obey?

Hebrews 1:14 NLT

14 Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.

Angels are more than messangers,

they are powerful beings created by God to serve His purposes.

They are not to be worshipped but respected as part of God's divine order.

God uses His creation, including angels, to accomplish His will. 

Just as angels serve God faithfully, we are called to serve and obey God in our lives, using our gifts and abilities for His glory.

Angels are sent to assist and protect believers— you and me.

When we speak God’s Word — Angels harken to fulfill His Word.

Jesus is coming to save the world cause God said it...not Elf, Santa… not tensile, presents, pretty decor — BECAUSE SALVATION WOULD COME BY BLOOD — NOT SNOWMEN AND LIGHTS!

We can use all those things to accentuate the Christ Story, but don’t let the Message get lost this season...

A to Z

A - Angel, A!dvent, Advent Calendar

B - Bauble, Bells, Bethlehem

C - Candy Cane, Carol, Christmas Tree

D - Decorations, December, Donkey

E - Elf, Eggnog, Evergreen

F - Festive, Festival, Frosty, Fruitcake

CAROLS — DECORATIONS — FESTIVALS

Decorations and Festivals MAKES SENSE in the light of the stories the Angels brought to all mankind. It is a,

Celebratory events have...

special decor

special music

special presentations that lead to

special memories

Let’s end today with one Carol of Christmastide

CAROLS

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Let’s Pray