2010 Advent Week #1

LEFC Family Advent Readings
Advent Week #1: “I Will Surprise You”
O Little Town of Bethlehem  - Micah 5:2-5
November 28, 2010

“Advent” means “coming.”  Christmas is coming.  Jesus has come and is coming again.

This Advent season, we are reminded of God’s promises of a coming Savior which He gave in the book of Micah chapter 5, verses 2 through 5.

God had a message for Bethlehem.  [Read Micah 5:2-5]

These words were prophesied over 700 years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem.  The wise men were told to look for the baby king in Bethlehem because of these promises.

But Bethlehem was an unusual place for a Savior to be born.

Bethlehem was small.

Nobody really expected a Messiah to come from little old Bethlehem.

But God loves to surprise us.  He loves to make big things out of small things.

Jesus was a surprise.  He didn’t come to the strong, the beautiful, the rich, the powerful.

He came to the small, the insignificant, the humble, the weak, the undeserving.

Jesus continues to surprise us today!

Our first candle is a candle of surprise. [LIGHT FIRST CANDLE]

Over the next four weeks, while we get ready for Christmas, let us think about the surprising way that Jesus came to Earth in the little town of Bethlehem.


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O Little Town of Bethlehem: “I Will Surprise You”
Advent Bible Study for Families
1.  As a family, read Micah 5:2-5.  What jumps out at you?  Have every family member share something.

 

2.  What is surprising about Bethlehem as a choice for the birthplace of the Messiah?  How else did God surprise people when He sent Jesus?



3.  Jesus is still surprising us.  List some ways that Jesus is surprising to your family right now.  Thank Him for those surprises in prayer.




4. Learn the song this month.  As a family, sing O Little Town of Bethlehem.

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born in us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel