Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Advent 2007: Christmas Day

LEFC Family Advent Readings
Joy To the World, the Lord Has Come
Christmas Day
December 25, 2007

Joy to the World! Christmas is here!

Jesus has come and is coming again.

This Advent season, we have been preparing our hearts for Christmas and for Jesus by contemplating the differences between Jesus’ first coming and His second coming.

[LIGHT CANDLE #1 AGAIN]

Our first candle shines to show that Jesus came in surprising humility, but that one day, He will come with full majesty.

[LIGHT CANDLE #2 AGAIN]

Our second candle highlights that when Jesus first came, very few worshiped Him, but when He comes again, every knee will bow.

[LIGHT CANDLE #3 AGAIN]

Our third candle reminds us that Jesus first came to a life filled with sorrow, but that at His second advent, He will be full of glorious joy and bring amazing joy to His people.

[LIGHT CANDLE #4]

Our fourth candle is both a candle of salvation and condemnation. At Jesus’ first advent, He came to save, not to condemn. However, when Jesus returns, He will save His people, but He will also bring judgment on those who have not believed.

[LIGHT CHRIST CANDLE]

The Christ candle reminds us this Christmas Day that Jesus came the first time to bear sin but will come again to bring salvation.

[READ HEBREWS 9:26b-28]

Jesus is coming back, but not to bear sin again. He did that all the first time. But to bring salvation to those who are longingly waiting for Him.

Let that be us!

Amen.

Christmas Bible Study for Families

1. Observation. Re-read Hebrews 9:26b-28. Why is important to get right with God now? How did Jesus make that possible?

2. Interpretation. Review what you have learned about the differences between Jesus’ first advent and His second. What does Hebrews 9:26b-28 add to your understanding?

3. Application. What truth about Jesus’ two comings has been the most meaningful to you (ask each family member). What difference does this truth make in your life today? How can our family celebrate Jesus’ coming in a special way this Christmas day?

4. As a family, sing Joy to the World, the Christmas Carol by Isaac Watts:

Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

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