Sunday, December 07, 2008

Advent 2008: Week 2

LEFC Family Advent Readings
Advent Week #2: To Us a Child Is Born
“Mighty God” - Isaiah 9:6-7
December 7, 2008

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

This Advent season, we are celebrating the arrival of the Messiah foretold 800 years before His birth, in Isaiah chapter 9, verses 6 and 7:

[READ ISAIAH 9:6-7]

[LIGHT CANDLE #1 AGAIN]

Our first candle was a candle of Jesus’ wisdom. He is the Wonderful Counselor.

[LIGHT CANDLE #2]

Our second candle is a candle of worship. Jesus is the Mighty God!

The most astounding thing happened when Jesus was born in Bethlehem–God became a man.

Almighty God became a human like we are–flesh and blood.

Jesus is not just another man, a good teacher, a prophet–He is Mighty God in the flesh–worthy of our eternal worship.

This candle calls us to worship Jesus, the Mighty God, as the Christmas carol says:

Christ, by Highest Heav'n Adored;
Christ the Everlasting Lord;
Late in Time, Behold Him Come,
Offspring of a Virgin's Womb.
Veiled in Flesh the Godhead See;
Hail Th'Incarnate Deity,
Pleased with Us in Flesh to Dwell,
Jesus Our Emmanuel.
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,
"Glory to the Newborn King!"

Amen.


“To Us a Child Is Born”
Advent Bible Study for Families

1. As a family, read Isaiah 9:6-7 again. Do you notice anything new this week? George Frideric Handel thought these words to be exceedingly beautiful and incorporated them into the one of the most famous pieces of music in all of history: Handel’s Messiah. What makes this passage of Scripture so powerful?

2. The child born to us is the Mighty God. This is astonishing and should cause us to marvel and worship. Jesus is both fully God and fully Man. As a family, make a list of the attributes of God and the attributes of humanity that Jesus embodies. Why is it so important that Jesus be both God and Man? Why is it important for us think about Jesus as Mighty?

3. What does it mean to worship Jesus as Mighty God? How can we, as a family, live that out together?

4. As a family, sing Hark, the Herald Angels Sing:

Hark! The herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th'angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ, by highest Heav'n adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time, behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;Hail th'incarnate Deity,
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'nly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris'n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"

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