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ADVENT AT BRIDGEWAY 2019 - 1

OUR KING HAS COME Advent Guide 2019

Bridgeway Christian Church

Written by Pastor Brian Kiley

Edited by Pastor Matt Bach and Heather Johnson

Images Curated by Pastor Matt Bach

Design by David Kolin Kraning

Playlist Curated by Pastor Jake Owen

Family Activities by Ashley Danz

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Advent Playlist pg. 4

Intro pg. 5

Week 1 Hope pg. 9 Week 2 Peace pg. 18

Week 3 Joy pg. 31

Week 4 Love pg. 43

Family Activities pg. 48

4 - OUR KING HAS COME

Bridgeway Advent 2019 Playlist Available on Spotify as Bridgeway Advent 2019 by Bridgeway Worship Recap Joyful, Joyful- Pentatonix

Christmas Day- Chris Tomlin

Here Comes Heaven- Elevation Worship

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus- Meredith Andrews

It Came to Pass (Worthy, Worthy)- Vertical Worship

Seasons- Hillsong Worship

Born on That Day- Matt Maher

All Hail King Jesus- Jeremy Riddle

Star of Wonder- Phil Wickham

Go Tell It on the Mountain- Tenth Avenue North

We Three Kings- Tenth Avenue North

Noel- Hillsong Worship

What Child Is This- Phil Wickham

King of Kings- Hillsong Worship

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing- Jeremy Riddle

Face of God- Phil Wickham

Angels We Have Heard On High- Elevation Worship

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen- Tenth Avenue North

Emmanuel- Hannah Kerr

Light Of The World- Lauren Daigle

O Come, O Come- Mercy Me

Let Us Adore (Live)- Elevation Worship

O Come Let Us Adore Him- Hillsong Worship

The First Noel- Matt Maher

Crown Him- I AM THEY

Christmas Is Here- Stars Go Dim

God With Us- All Sons & Daughters

Silent Night (Christ is Born)- Jason Crabb

The Call of Christmas- Zach Williams

Joy To The World- Love & The Outcome

All Is Well- Jordan Smith, Michael W. Smith

O Holy Night- Lauren Daigle


Welcome to the 2019 Advent season.

Advent is a Latin word meaning “arrival” or “coming.” The Advent season is a time for God’s Church worldwide to celebrate Christ’s first coming as a child at Christmas over two millennia ago, and it’s also a time to live with the heightened anticipation of Christ’s promised second coming. It is a season of repentance, reflection, and the renewal of our minds. It’s a time to slow down and stir up our affection for our King.

Advent comes at the very end of the Gregorian calendar (January - December), but it actually marks the beginning of the Church calendar. The Church year begins with these four weeks of anticipation and preparation. The Advent season allows us to recapture the beauty and meaning of Christmas as we join with Christians around the world and throughout the centuries in this sacred time.

Advent has been celebrated since the beginning of Christian history, and over time a number of traditions have developed. One familiar tradition is the use of an Advent calendar. These calendars have a small door for each day of the season, and behind each door there is traditionally some sort of treat or figurine. The practice of opening a door each day increases the anticipation of Christmas. It is meant to remind us of the period of anxious yet hopeful waiting God’s people experienced in the time leading up to Christ’s first advent. They were eager for change to come, to feel alive again. Similarly, the calendar reminds us that we are a patient people, who are joyfully awaiting Christ’s return. The whole purpose of the season is to remind us that our King has come and He is coming again.

Candles are another popular Advent tradition. They remind us of the Scriptural teaching that Jesus is the Light of the World (Matt. 4:16; John 1:4-9, 8:12). Each week, a new candle is lit in anticipation of Christmas Eve. The last candle, called the Christ candle, is lit on Christmas Eve as a symbol of Christ’s first advent.


The increasing light from the candles is meant to be a picture of the light of the gospel penetrating the darkness of our world.

Traditionally, there have been four “watchwords” associated with the four weeks of Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Each reading in this guide centers around one of those concepts. While the material is not extensive, we encourage you to engage with it slowly and prayerfully. Read the passages, look at the images, listen to the music, pray, and take time to ask God what He wants to say to you and change in you during this season.

This year’s Advent Guide has two new elements: images and a playlist. We selected pictures to include with several of this year’s readings to help you engage with God in a different way. We know that some people connect best through the written word, whereas others are more inspired by artistic expression. Pastor Jake Owen also created an Advent playlist that you can find in this guide and on Spotify. On each day of the guide you’ll be encouraged to listen to one song from the playlist, but we think you’ll find that you’ll want to have the playlist on throughout the season. You can find the playlist in this guide and by searching “Bridgeway Advent 2019 by Bridgeway Worship Recap” on Spotify. We also listed the entire playlist on page four of this guide.

We’ve also included a family activity for each week. These activities are meant to be fun, interactive ways for families to help their children engage with the themes of Advent. You can find these in back of this guide.

As we walk through this season of Advent together as a faith family, we will reflect on the reality of Christ’s coming. We have the opportunity to rescue this season from commercialism and stress. We can enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, and experiences that come with the season, all the while knowing that our true source of hope and joy is elsewhere. We can let this be a season where we are intentional about treasuring Jesus and preparing to celebrate Him.


We know there are endless demands on your time during this season. We know it is hard to find the motivation to complete a daily reading or prayerful reflection. Nevertheless, we believe the payoff for taking time each day to reflect on the core truths of Advent is significant. There is beauty to be found when we allow ourselves to be fully present to God, which compels us to be fully present to others.

As we move through this season, remember, there are hundreds of millions of Christ-followers around the world journeying with us. So join us on this journey and receive the blessings God has for you during Advent.


DAY 1HOPE IN THE PROMISE

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

Hebrews 6:19a, NIV

Hope is a fickle thing. Sometimes I look to the future and all I see is possibility and potential. In short, I’m filled with hope. And yet, there are other times when I feel overwhelmed and cynical and all I see in front of me is difficulty. Hope feels like a trite pipe dream in those moments.

One of the most inspiring figures in the Bible, in my opinion, is a man who makes a brief cameo in Luke 2. His name is Simeon, and Luke tells us that he was, “righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” His hope was not in some earthly circumstances. It was fixed wholly on God’s promise that the Christ would come and he would see Him. Sure enough, in the verses that follow, the infant Jesus is brought into the temple, and Simeon took the child in his arms and praised God saying, “My eyes have seen your salvation.” Simeon’s hope was in a promise, and he saw that promise fulfilled.

God invites us to be people who hope in His promises. Our earthly circumstances will change, but God’s promises never will. This season of Advent can be a time for us to reposition our hope. As we prepare to celebrate Christ’s first coming, we can have hope because of the promise that He is coming again. That kind of hope is not fickle. It is, indeed, an anchor for the soul.

Ask: Do you need to reposition your hope? What would it look like for you to use this season to remind yourself that your hope is in Christ, not earthly circumstances?


DAY 2HOPE IN THE WAITING

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Hebrews 11:1

When the writers of the New Testament use the word we translate “hope,” they aren’t referring to optimism or wishful thinking. They didn’t use the word the way we do when we say things like, “I hope the weather is nice on Saturday,” or, “I hope they show up on time.”

Instead, the word meant something more along the lines of eager anticipation of a promised reality. So when the author of Hebrews says, “Now faith in the assurance of things hoped for,” it means that faith is our assurance in God’s promises.

Take a few moments to look at the image to the right, and spend some time thinking about hope. Let the word bounce around in your head for a few minutes, and consider the promises of God. Consider the promise of His presence and the promise that He will one day return to make all things new. Spend time in prayer thanking God for the hope that we can have because of His promises.

Ask: How can the hope we have in Christ influence the way you live today?

Listen: “Here Comes Heaven” by Elevation Worship


DAY 3HOPE FOR A KING

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Zechariah 9:9

Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, the prophet Zechariah spoke of a king. This king would enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey. He would be righteous and he would have salvation. Jesus would fulfill this prophecy in Jerusalem less than a week before His death. Mark describes the scene this way in Mark 11:8-10: “And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!’”

Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem was an occasion for great celebration, but this celebration was based, at least in part, on expectations Jesus had no plans to fulfill. The people thought Jesus would be the one to drive out the Romans and return Jerusalem to Jewish rule. Jesus, of course, did no such thing. But Jesus’ lack of conformity to popular expectations in this instance fits with what we see throughout His life and ministry. Jesus is a king, but He’s different. He’s not a king who conquers His enemies, He is one who dies to show His enemies radical love. He’s not a king with a lust for power, He is one who gives freely of Himself. He is not a king who matches popular pictures of royalty, but He is the one we need. He is a King who is better than any we could ever hope for.

Ask: Listen to the song below. What does it teach us about the sort of king Jesus is? What is one lyric or line you find especially encouraging?

Listen: “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” by Meredith Andrews


DAY 4HOPE FOR DELIVERANCE

“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Psalm 18:2

I have innumerable memories from my childhood and adolescence of sitting in class and watching the clock. In those moments, it seemed ‘deliverance’ from my ‘captivity’ would never come. Those impatient childhood longings, of course, pale in comparison to the longing for real deliverance that is experienced by so many in our world today. You may be in need of deliverance yourself - from disease, from financial hardship, or from personal trauma.

In Psalm 70:5 the psalmist declares, “I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!” Perhaps you can relate to the psalmist’s need and urgency. The image pictured here is of Joseph, Mary, and the newborn Jesus fleeing to Egypt to escape King Herod. They are a young family in need of deliverance. Spend a few moments studying the image. Notice its details and its contours. Let it be a reminder to you that God is One who delivers.

Ask: Where do you need deliverance? Spend time in prayer asking God to be your deliverer. Take a few minutes in silence to see if you sense God saying anything to you about your situation.

Listen: “Let Us Adore” by Elevation Worship


DAY 5HOPE FOR THE BROKEN

“As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, ‘Follow me. And he rose and followed him.”

Matthew 9:6

I remember having all sorts of long talks with my wife before our first son was born. We talked about what kind of parents we wanted to be, what baby equipment to buy, and how we imagined our life as parents would look. One question we faced turned out to be an unexpected struggle: What are we going to name this kid?

We knew his middle name would be James, a name that goes back at least five generations in my family. But his first name was more of a challenge. Ultimately, I knew I wanted my child’s name to teach him something about God. So I searched the Scriptures, studying different men in the Bible and considering what they represented. Then finally, I came to the verse above, Matthew 9:6. Matthew James Kiley. That was it.

What I love about the story of Matthew in the Bible is that up to this point in his life, he had made all sorts of bad decisions. He, a Jew, had become a Roman tax collector. There’s little else he could have done that would have been more dishonoring to his family and his culture. And yet, when Jesus sees him, he invites him to follow. And Matthew gets up and follows, and his life is never the same.

I chose to name my firstborn after Matthew the tax collector because I wanted him to know that no matter what happened in his life, Jesus would always be there, inviting him to follow. In many ways, the message of Christmas is similar to the message


of Matthew sitting at his tax booth. Christmas shows us there is hope, even for the broken. Whatever your past looks like, Jesus hasn’t given up on you.

Ask: How can the promise that Jesus is always there for you help you live with hope today?

Listen: “Light of the World” by Lauren Daigle


DAY 6HOPE FOR TODAY

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”

Philippians 2:5-7

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:3

“In the darkness, we were waiting, without hope, without light. ‘Til from Heaven You came running, there was mercy in Your eyes o fulfill the law and prophets, to a virgin came the Word. From a throne of endless glory, to a cradle in the dirt.”- Hillsong Worship, “King of Kings”

Take some time to contemplate this image of an empty throne. As you do, let it remind you that at Christmas, Jesus left His

throne in heaven to take on flesh. He came not as a conqueror, but as a child, and He came proclaiming blessing not to the most obedient or spiritual, but to those who recognized their need for God. Jesus came as a messenger of

hope and that hope can be yours today.

Ask: What does it mean to you that Jesus left His throne in heaven to live among us? What difference can that make for your life?

Listen: “King of Kings” by Hillsong Worship


DAY 7HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:3-5The season of Advent is not only a time of preparing to celebrate Christ’s birth at Christmas. It is also a time when Christians around the world live with heightened anticipation as we look forward to Christ’s return - His second Advent.

We can live as people of hope today because Christ’s promised return gives us hope for the future. A day is coming when our suffering will end, violence will cease, poverty will be banished, and grief will have no place. A day is coming when tears have no reason to flow, and there is an endless fountain of joy and love.

Take a moment before you continue with your day to consider the simple truth of the sign in the image: Good news is coming. Really, it is. Read over the sign again and again until you believe it, and spend a few minutes in prayer thanking God that you have hope for the future in Him.

Listen: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” by Jeremy Riddle


DAY 8 THE PEACE OF FORGIVENESS

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God.”

Luke 1:76-79

Scripture tells us that following the birth of John the Baptist, his father, Zechariah, was so overcome that he began to prophesy over his child. Included in that prophecy are the words quoted above, where Zechariah says that his child will “give knowledge of salvation to (God’s) people in the forgiveness of their sins.”

Sure enough, many years later, when John the Baptist began to preach prior to Jesus’ ministry, forgiveness was central to his message. Jesus, of course, would continue to spread this message. Throughout the pages of the gospels he set people free with the simple declaration, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Peace is elusive when we live under the weight of guilt. When Jesus offers us forgiveness, He offers us salvation, but ‘salvation’ is not something that only impacts our afterlife. You and I can experience salvation today. Forgiveness saves us from a life spent feeling condemnation. Forgiveness saves us from the peace-crushing power of guilt. Forgiveness makes us peaceful, so we are less likely to lash out and hurt others.

I fear that too many of us neglect the power forgiveness has to change our lives today. We may intellectually believe God forgives us, and we have eternal life, but we are still weighed down by nagging feelings of guilt and shame. If this describes you, then perhaps there is salvation you need to experience today. Perhaps you need to recognize that God’s forgiveness gives you peace right now. Let the truth of full forgiveness sink in where you are


feeling shame, condemnation, or guilt. Only when we sit in that truth can we experience the deeper peace that Jesus offers.

Ask: Are you feeling a lack of peace in your life? Is it possible that lack of peace is rooted in an inability to believe you are truly and fully forgiven? Spend time in prayer thanking God for his forgiveness.

Listen: “God with Us” by All Sons & Daughters


DAY 9THE PEACE OF PRESENCE

“And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

Luke 1:46-55

The first Christmas carol ever sung made no reference to silent nights or the decking of halls. It was a song sung by Mary, the mother of Jesus, when she realized the child she was carrying was the Son of God.

Luke recorded the song in Luke 1:46-55, and its words are so subversive that it has been banned by at least one autocratic regime for fear that it would encourage oppressed people to riot. In his commentary on Mary’s song, Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggeman says, “No wonder Jesus was a radical. His mother sang Him protest songs for lullabies.”

Within these subversive words, we see confidence and peace


that can only come from God’s presence. There was no earthly reason for Mary to believe that the mighty would be humbled, and the humble would be lifted up. But Mary had the peace and confidence that comes when we experience the presence of God. As we prepare for Christmas, we can look out onto our lives and, like Mary, find peace in His goodness, faithfulness, and active presence. God gives us His presence, and with that presence comes peace and confidence. .

Ask: Read over Mary’s song two or three more times. What promise or statement from the song is most meaningful to you? What does it inspire you to pray for? Spend a few minutes talking with God about what most resonates with you.

Listen: “Crown Him” by I Am They


DAY 10DREAMS OF PEACE

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”(which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.”

Matthew 1:18-25

The image on the next page is a unique interpretation of this scene from Matthew 1. The angst Joseph must have felt in this moment is captured by his posture. He isn’t sleeping soundly in his bed. Rather, he is sitting up, cheek collapsed into his fist as if he had nodded off while deep in thought about how to respond to the news he heard from Mary. And he’s in that state when the angel meets him and helps him see that he’s part of something bigger than he could imagine. The angel helped him move forward with peace.

Our God is a God who loves to give us peace. He doesn’t always send angels or provide precise clarity, but we can be confident He wants us to have peace. When Jesus was born, His birth announcement came with a promise of peace (Luke 2:14).


Throughout the gospels, when Jesus sent people away, he told them to, “Go in peace.” When He was preparing for His death, he said to His disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” (John 14:27) Two decades after Jesus’ death, Paul would declare that peace is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

Maybe as you enter into this season, you can relate to the weariness in Joseph’s face. Maybe today, you need to remind yourself that while there is much in the world that brings chaos, God is a God who brings peace. He wants His peace to be yours, whatever circumstances you face.

Ask: What does the Scripture passage above show you about God’s desire to bring peace to his people, even in difficult circum-stances?

Listen: “Noel” by Hillsong Worship


DAY 11PEACE IN THE CHAOS Take a few moments and study this image. It is a depiction of Joseph and Mary with Jesus mere hours after his birth.

See the utter exhaustion of a new mother. See the contemplative seriousness of a man who now has a wife and child to care for. See the light radiating from the infant Jesus. Imagine the quiet of this moment and the hours of pain and uncertainty that came before it. Feel the peace and quiet. Do you resonate with the exhaustion of Mary, or the burden of responsibility of Joseph? This image is a beautiful reminder that when Jesus came into the world, He came into a world of weariness, stress, uncertainty, and chaos. And He brought peace.

Once you have studied the image, spend five minutes in silence. Seek to quiet your heart and ask God to fill you with His peace. Listen: “Emmanuel” by Hannah Kerr


DAY 12PEACE IN THE PROCESS

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7

Lately, I’ve had the opportunity to spend a few Friday mornings with a friend in his garage, building some shelves for my office. Technically, we’re working together, but it’s obvious who is doing the real work. He is the expert, he’s calling the shots, and I’m just trying to avoid cutting a finger off.

If I were tasked with building shelves by myself, it would not be pretty. I have enough know-how to build something serviceable, but the process would be fraught with anxiety and stress. The final product would look more like the work of a middle school woodshop student than that of a capable builder. But, with my expert friend involved, we’re building something great. I have complete faith in his ability. There is no doubt in my mind these shelves are going to look fantastic. I’ve placed this project in his capable hands, and I have complete peace and confidence in the final outcome.

Life is filled with an array of events and activities that provoke real anxiety and stress. Jesus, in Matthew 6, warns us to not be anxious. That warning would be unnecessary if anxiety weren’t so natural to so many of us. Later in the New Testament, Paul gives us an alternative to anxiety. In Philippians 4, he says that instead of succumbing to anxiety, we can pray and ask for God’s intervention in our lives. And Paul says when we do that, we receive the promise of God’s peace. When we ask for God’s intervention, we are taking our worries and concerns out of our hands and placing them into the capable hands of our Heavenly Father, who is wise,


loving, and good. Similar to trusting the bookshelves to my friend, the expert craftsmen, I can trust my worries to my heavenly Father. When we do this, it brings real peace, because we’re trusting in God’s faithfulness, not our own abilities. We’re trusting in God’s infinite wisdom, not our limited perspective..

Ask: Think about areas of your life where you are feeling a lack of peace. Is there anything you are carrying in your hands that needs to be placed in God’s hands?

Listen: “All Hail King Jesus” by Jeremy Riddle


DAY 13 PEACE IN THE HURRY

“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28

Pastor and author John Ortberg tells a story of calling his mentor, Dallas Willard, to seek some advice. Ortberg had recently moved to a new city and taken a job at a large, fast-moving church. He and his wife were raising children and trying to manage the demands of shuttling their children to various activities while maintaining some sense of family togetherness. What do I need to do, Ortberg asked, to be spiritually healthy?

There was a long pause.

Finally, Willard broke the silence. “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”

After another pause, Ortberg said, “Okay, I’ve written that one down. That’s a good one. What else is there?” By this point, Ortberg was getting impatient. He was a busy guy, and this was back when long-distance calls were expensive. He was looking for as much help as he could squeeze out of his mentor.


“There is nothing else,” Willard said. “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.” In his writing, Willard referred to hurry as, “The great enemy of the spiritual life.”

In 21st-century America, we are baited into a lifestyle of hurry at every turn. Like Ortberg, so many of us manage stressful jobs, family demands, and a dizzying array of other commitments and responsibilities. Hurry is the air we breathe, but it’s the air that leaves us gasping.

While we might be able to microwave our lunch or receive purchases with free two-day shipping, we can’t rush our spiritual lives. There is no plan for spiritual maturity that fits into a life that is stuffed to the breaking point.

God’s invitation into a relationship with him is an invitation to a life that does not take the bait from our culture. Life with God is better than a life spent addicted to hurry. When we look at the life of Jesus, we see a man who was purposeful. We see a man who knew He had important work to do. But we don’t see a man in a hurry. Jesus knew what Dallas Willard articulated all those years later, and He models for us a life that is productive, purposeful, and not ruled by hurry.

Ask: How hurried does your life feel? What is one practical step you can take this week to eliminate hurry from your life?

Listen: “O Come Let Us Adore Him” by Hillsong Worship


DAY 14THE PRINCE OF PEACE

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth...And from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”

John 1:14,16

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it.”

Isaiah 9:6-7

Ask: Why does it matter that God became a man? Why does it matter that when God came, He came as a humble child? What does all of this teach us about who God is? How can the fact that Jesus is the Prince of Peace make a difference in your life?

Listen: “What Child is This” by Phil Wickham


DAY 15JOY IN THE WAITING

“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

James 5:7-8

There is a lot of waiting and anticipation involved in the Christmas story.

Mary and Joseph waited for months for Jesus’ birth. Just imagine the conversations they must have had as Mary progressed through her pregnancy. Imagine the quiet moments where each of them


talked to God about what He had promised. Then there was the waiting on the journey to Jerusalem, a journey that must have felt endless.

The shepherds didn’t have to do nearly as much waiting, but there were surely anxious moments as they ran from their fields into Bethlehem. Would it be as the angels said?

Then we’re told that some wise men came to see Jesus some time in the months following His birth. Matthew 2 tells us that they followed a star that they believed indicated the birth of the King of the Jews. Scholars believe their journey likely took weeks and could have been as long as 800 miles. During their journey, there was surely ample time for them to wonder if they would ever reach their destination and if there would indeed be a king to greet when they arrived.

All of these people, in unique ways, went through a period of waiting. And yet, they continued their respective journeys because of the joy of what they knew to be true: a king had come.

As Christmas nears, you may find yourself in a period of waiting. This waiting may well be painful and frustrating. Both the pain and the hope of waiting are captured beautifully in these lyrics from the song “Seasons” by Hillsong Worship. Read them over slowly and prayerfully. Ask God to help you trust Him in this season of waiting:

I can see the promise, I can see the future You’re the God of seasons, and I’m just in the winter If all I know of harvest , is that it’s worth my patience Then if you’re not done working, God I’m not done waiting You can see my promise, even in the winter Cause You’re the God of greatness, even in a manger For all I know of seasons, is that you take your time You could have saved us in a second, Instead you sent a child.

Listen: “Seasons” by Hillsong Worship


DAY 16 JOY FOR THE OUTCAST

“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Luke 2:8-15

The announcement of Jesus’ birth could have been given to anyone. The world at that time had no shortage of royalty and social elites. God could have sent His angels to Jerusalem, or Rome, or any other seat of power. He could have summoned wealthy landowners to that stable in Bethlehem.

But He didn’t.

He made the announcement to common shepherds. Night shift shepherds, at that. And those shepherds received the message of the good news of great joy for all people, and before they knew what was happening, they were swept up into the scene depicted in this image. The outcasts had been invited in. Whatever unworthiness they might have felt was swallowed up by the heavenly invasion in their midst.

When Jesus started His ministry, this theme of welcoming the outcast continued. He dined with “tax collectors and sinners” while religious elites looked on in suspicion. The down-and-


out were comfortable at His feet while the well-to-do kept their distance. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus proclaimed his loyalty to the lowly saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for there’s is the Kingdom of God."

In our hyper-connected world, it’s easy to feel like an outcast. It seems there is always someone whose life is a bit more put together than ours. Our social media feeds consistently remind us of all that we’re missing. But Jesus’ life - especially the Christmas story - reminds us that there is joy for us, even when we feel like an outcast. There is joy because Jesus always seeks us out, and He invites us to be swept up into all that He is doing in the world.

Ask: Is there anything going on in your life that is making you feel like an outcast? Spend time talking to God about that, and thank him that He is the one who welcomes outcasts.

Listen: “Star of Wonder” by Phil Wickham


DAY 17JOY FOR THE PRESENT

“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 18:3

Earlier this year, I was reading a parenting book, and the author shared one insight that was profoundly enlightening for me. "Young children," the author wrote, "live in the perpetual present." In other words, because of their brain development, they have a very difficult time understanding time outside of the present moment. That’s why a promise that “You can play with your blocks later,” is of little consolation to a child who has been told they cannot play with their blocks now. “Later” is a concept too abstract for their developing brains to fully grasp.

I cannot conceive of what it would be like to live in the perpetual present. If anything, I spend so much time and energy either rehashing the events of the past or thinking about the future that I struggle to be fully present in the moment. Living in the perpetual present would, of course, have profound disadvantages, and I’m not suggesting that any responsible adult should do that. However, I do think there is something for us to learn from the children in our midst. As I play with my own children, I often think about how their minds are not distracted with the worries that so often distract me. They’re fully present... all the time.

Life is not only meant to be planned for and remembered. It’s meant to be experienced and savored. These moments we have - and none of us knows how many we have left - are God’s gracious gift to us. Planning for the future - whether it be that night’s dinner or a family’s retirement - is part of being a responsible adult, but in this season, may we accept God’s gracious invitation to experience the joy of the present moment.


DAY 18JOY FOR THE EVERYDAY

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Opportunities for thankfulness and joy often come to us as familiar, everyday occurrences. I know that in my own life, I am prone to take for granted God’s blessings simply because they seem so normal. Whether it’s a roof over my head, loving family and friends, a fulfilling career, or the opportunity to live in relationship with the Creator of the universe, I can easily

overlook blessings that have become familiar. Worse yet, I can neglect the goodness around me and fixate on trivial inconveniences or temporary challenges.

I don’t want to live that way. I want to live with a sense of

thankfulness and wonder in the everyday, not just on my best days. I believe one of the reasons God calls us to join with other believers in worship on a weekly basis is so we can recover our sense of thankfulness for who He is. In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude leads to more positive emotions, improved health, and stronger relationships. I think one of the reasons the Scriptures continuously call us to thankfulness is because life is simply more joyful when we’re thankful.

Ask: What are some familiar things you are thankful for? Take a few minutes to thank God for them.

Listen: “Go Tell It On the Mountain” by Tenth Avenue North


DAY 19JOY FOR THE SEASON

“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38-42

What words come to mind when you think of this time of year? Too often, I hear people describe the month of December with words

like “hectic” or “crazy.” Admittedly, once the calendar hits December, I can’t help but feel like time moves twice as fast. It’s much easier to be like ‘Martha’ than ‘Mary.’

For that reason, I often remind my-self that this is meant to be a sea-son of joy. December is not about

stress and obligations, it’s about savoring the beauty of Christmas and experiencing the love of God. When we slow down enough to savor, we can enjoy everything that makes Christmastime special - the lights, the treats, the parties, the family time, the gifts - because by enjoying the season, we give honor to the One who makes it special.

Ask: Christmas is almost here. What would it look like for you to truly savor the richness of this season in the few days we have left. What one holiday event or activity you can purposefully enjoy this week?

Listen: “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” by Tenth Avenue North feat. Sarah Reeves


DAY 20 JOY FOR THE CHURCH

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.”

Isaiah 9:2

The metaphor of darkness to light is found throughout Scripture, and in the metaphor, God’s truth is ‘the light.’ These words from Isaiah 9 are echoed in Matthew 4 to describe the start of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus was bringing light to a land that had known generations of darkness.

My favorite symbols of the Advent season are Advent candles. I especially love seeing the Advent candles flickering in our weekend services. Seeing the light of the candles pierce the darkness of our large worship center is a powerful metaphor for the light of Christ piercing the darkness of our world. In this season, when we come together in worship, those candles serve to remind us that we are people who have been called into the light. The Church (which refers to all Christians in all churches)


is meant to live in the light of Christ, and we are invited to be representatives of His light into the world.

The candles also serve as a reminder that light will win out over darkness. In describing the coming of Jesus, John writes in John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” As overwhelming as the darkness in our world can appear, its time is limited. During Advent, we celebrate that the light of Christ came at Christmas, and the light of Christ is coming again when He returns to make all things new. In the time in between, the light of Christ lives in us. This promise of God’s light is reason for joy for us, His Church.

Ask: Where are you facing darkness in your life? Spend a few min-utes asking God to shine His light into the darkness. Listen: “The Call of Christmas” by Zach Williams


DAY 21 JOY FOR THE WORLD

“And the angel said to them,”Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.’”

Luke 2:10

Good news. Great joy. All people.

That’s what the coming of Jesus is meant to be. That’s what the Kingdom of God is meant to be. As ambassadors of God’s Kingdom, we have the opportunity to play a part in making sure that the miracle of Christmas is good news of great joy for all people. Today, we want to encourage you to embrace this opportunity in two ways:

First, spend some time praying for a person or people group in another country. This could be anyone from a missionary you know to a people group whose hardships have been in the news.

Second, as you go about your day today, try to think of small ways you can help others experience the joy of Christmas. This could be through something as simple as a kind word to a stranger, a phone call to a friend, or some extra patience and encouragement to a flustered retail employee. Ask God to help you be His representative of joy this season to those around you.

Listen: “Joy to the World” by Love and the Outcome


DAY 22LOVE THAT CAME FOR US Read these lyrics from the song “It Came to Pass” by Vertical Worship. Better yet, listen to the song and follow along!

It came to pass, a child was conceived A virgin girl betrothed in Galilee The angel came, revealed the ancient plan A baby boy, Christ the Son of Man Though she could not comprehend such a mystery Just a glimpse of You revealed was compelling her to sing Holy, holy is the Lord, God Almighty Worthy, worthy is Your name All of heaven joins the universe ever crying Worthy, worthy is Your name And so they went, no place to lay their heads The Son of God, a stable for a bed| A helpless child wrapped in ragged cloth His parents praised, a simple gift of awe

Though they could not comprehend such a mystery Just a glimpse of You revealed was compelling them to sing

Holy, holy is the Lord, God Almighty Worthy, worthy is Your name All of heaven joins the universe ever crying Worthy, worthy is Your name”

Ask: Which of these lyrics resonate with you most deeply? What does it mean to you that Jesus came for us?


DAY 23 LOVE IN THE FACE OF GOD

“And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.”

Luke 2:16-19

Take a moment to imagine the scene described in the passage above. The shepherds, after receiving the news of Christ’s birth, ran to see Him. When they arrived, they not only saw the child, they breathlessly reported all that the angels had told them. Luke tells us everyone wondered at what they heard, but Mary treasured what she had heard in her heart. Can you imagine what she must have been feeling?! She was a new mother gazing with love upon her newborn child, knowing that as she looked upon His face, she was looking into the face of God.

Ask: Take a moment to study the image and re-read the Scripture passage. Try to imagine what Mary must have been feeling in this scene.

Listen: “Face of God” by Phil Wickham


DAY 24 OUR KING HAS COME Christmas is here. The season of Advent is drawing to a close. Our King has come. Take some time to slowly read through these passages.

“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.”

Hebrews 1:1-3a

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”

Colossians 1:15-20

“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:21


The world changed forever on a night in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. A baby was born, but He was no ordinary baby. He was the author of creation, the placer of the stars, the maker of all humankind. The one who “upholds the universe by the word of his power,” entered human history in a manger. He came to show us what God is like. He came to save us. And He came to inaugurate the Kingdom of God.

As you celebrate Christmas, may you remember the hope, peace, joy, and love that is yours because of Jesus. Our King has come, and nothing will ever be the same.

Listen: “Born on that Day” by Matt Maher

merrychristmas!


HOPE - Family ActivityMaterials Needed:• Little treats • One big treat surprise to share

Activity: Call everyone to the table and give a very small treat to each person to enjoy and say:

"Do you know that the Bible says in James 1:17 that all good things come from God? That means this special Christmas treat can be traced back to God as a gift from Him!" What are your favorite things God has given you? Bring out the big surprise sharable treat and say: "Check out this treat! What a sweet Christmas treat!"

This awesome treat reminds us of God’s good plan for us. He gives us good things here- like the little treat we just had, but we have HOPE for even better things in heaven.

The things of this world seem very cool and awesome, but being with God in heaven is WAY better. This treat is WAY better than the little first treat we got. God gives us hope for being with Him in heaven. God promised this to us, and God always keeps His promises. Heaven is way better than we can even imagine.

Read 1 Peter 1:3-4

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you...

Discussion Questions: 1. What do you hope will be in heaven?

2. Because of the hope we have from God, how can we share hope with the world?


PEACE - Family Activity Materials Needed: • Plastic cups• Deck of cards

Activity: Take turns building the tallest tower you can build in one minute.

Round 1: Peaceful Build Everyone is silent, the builder is calm and takes three deep breaths before beginning the build.

Round 2: Unpeaceful Build Everyone sings Jingle Bells loudly, the builder must run in place for ten seconds before beginning the build

Ask: Which round went better for our family? What was the difference?

Say: There are a lot of things that disrupt our peace, even our family disrupts peace sometimes. In John 16:33, Jesus tells us that there will be trouble in this world, but in the end, He wins. God gives us the best peace ever. In Isaiah 9:6, God gave us a hint that one of Jesus’ jobs would be to bring peace. Jesus did bring peace! He made a way to be at peace with God. Read Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Discussion Questions: 1. What things disrupt peace in your life? What things bring you peace?

2. Because of the peace we have from God, how can we be peacemakers in the world?

• Blocks • Legos


JOY - Family ActivityMaterials Needed: • Clear plastic water bottle • A balloon

Activity: Put the balloon in the water bottle with a little bit of the mouth of the balloon hanging out. Invite someone to blow up the balloon in the water bottle (it won’t really work).

Say: Today we are talking about the JOY. Did you know that there is a difference between JOY and happiness? The balloon represents us. The water bottle represents the limits of happiness. What are things that make you happy, but DON’T last? Let’s write those things on the water bottle. (treats, toys, even friends and family will sometimes disappoint us) How full does the balloon get inside the water bottle? Not very full!

Let’s take away trying to be happy, and let’s talk about JOY. (Take the balloon out of the water bottle and blow it up)

The JOY that Jesus gives us does not have limits. The joy from God is different than happiness. It never goes away, and it can always keep us full. I Galatians 5:22 it says that joy is something that God grows un us. Joy comes from God. Joy can keep growing and live forever.

Read 1 Peter 1:8-9

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Discussion Questions: 1. What parts of Christmas bring happiness? What parts bring joy?

2. How can we bring more of God’s joy to each other and others?

• A sharpie


LOVE - Family Activity

Materials Needed: • Rubber bands, • A marker or kitchen tool

Activity: Put the rubber band around each person’s wrist. ASK: Did you know God loves you and is so patient with you? It says in 2 Peter 3:9 that God wants ALL people to be saved. This rubber band reminds us of God’s patient love. When I do wrong things, it gets stretched, ready to snap me. I do wrong things over and over and over again (stretch the rubber band each time), and the consequence is the snap. (Stretch the rubber band a few more times.) All sin leads to death- not just a rubber band snap. This rubber band is really stretched! I’m getting nervous!

Jesus came to take the rubber band snap for each one of us- for each sin we do. Jesus did not deserve punishment. He loves us, and taking our punishment is one way He proves it. This marker represents Jesus (have someone hold it between your wrist and the rubber band), and He took the snap (let go of the rubber band letting it snap on the marker).

Read 1 John 4:9-11

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Discussion Questions: 1. How does it make you feel to know Jesus loves you that much?

2. How can you show love for others like God shows love for us?

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