2010 Advent Week #4

LEFC Family Advent Readings
Advent Week #4: “I Will Be Your Peace”
O Little Town of Bethlehem  - Micah 5:2-5
December 19, 2010
“Advent” means “coming.”  Christmas is coming.  Jesus has come and is coming again.

This Advent season, we are hearing about God’s promises of a Savior to come.  God gave these promises through the prophet Micah in Micah chapter 5, verses 2-5.

God had a message for the little town of Bethlehem.  [Read Micah 5:2-5]

[LIGHT CANDLE #1 AGAIN]  Candle One was a candle of surprise.  God loves to do big things through small people.

[LIGHT CANDLE #2 AGAIN]  Candle Two was a candle of promise.  God always keeps His promises, even if we have to wait a long time to see them fulfilled.

[LIGHT CANDLE #3 AGAIN]  Candle Three was a candle of care.  The Messiah would shepherd His people in the strength of the LORD.  There is no safer place to be than in Jesus’ flock.

[LIGHT CANDLE #4] Candle Four will be a candle of peace.

Micah’s prophecy ends with the words, “He will be their peace.”

Jesus doesn’t just bring peace. He is our peace.

The war is over.  Jesus is the one who makes peace between us and God.

His death on the Cross reconciles us to God, changing us from enemies to friends.

When Jesus was born, the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”  Jesus is our peace.


O Little Town of Bethlehem: “I Will Be Your Peace”
Advent Bible Study for Families
1.  As a family, re-read Micah 5:2-5 one more time.  Review what you have learned so far during the Advent Season from this passage.

2.  What is peace?  Peace is not just the absence of hostility.  It is the presence of harmony.  The Hebrew word for peace is “shalom” which means health and wholeness and harmony.  Peace is “the way things ought to be.”  What does peace mean to you?  Have every family member share something.

3.  How is Jesus our peace?  In what ways does Jesus bring peace?  How does this truth comfort us today?  How should we live differently because we know that Jesus is our peace?

4.  Who could we tell this to?  Who could our family reach out to and share about the peace that comes from knowing Jesus?

5.  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