Skip to main content

Celebrating Advent - December 13

By

Sing: What Child Is This?

Reading: Luke 1:39-42
In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

Summary (for your preparation): There are some fantastic things that happened in the accounting of Jesus' birth. John the Baptist doing a somersault in the Elizabeth's tummy is no exception. In all reality, it is a little far-fetched that an unborn infant would be able to sense the presence of another unborn infant. We make sense of it as the work of the Holy Spirit. This reaction by the baby John is a way that we see him fulfilling what was prophesied of him in Luke 1:17 (that he would prepare the way for Jesus). It also seems to fulfill what verse 15 says of John, that he would be filled with the Spirit even from his mother's womb. All that to say, God is truly amazing for the ways that he works even in the lives of infants. Jesus is Lord and worthy to be worshipped, even in the womb!

Teaching Tip: Have your children turn to the earlier part of chapter 1 so that they can see how God kept his promises. Your children can also begin to see that our questions (how did John leap in the womb and sense Jesus?) are answered if we carefully observe and remember what God said. We want our children to think about how the Bible applies and answers our questions. This is a great lesson to show them how this happens. 

Questions/Responses:

What happened? Mary and Elizabeth met. Which means Jesus and John were in each other's presence, even though they were in their mommy's tummy. John leaped with excitement at Jesus' presence.

 Does this seem far-fetched? How could a baby in his mother's tummy know that Jesus was near or even know anything about who Jesus was going to be? (Let your children wrestle with this one).

Do you remember what God told us about John? Lets look at verse 15:

for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 

 Do you think the Holy Spirit helped John know that Jesus was near him? Yes!

 Do you remember what God said about John in verse 17? Lets take a look:

"and he [John] will go before him [Jesus] in the spirit and power of Elijah...to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

 Is John already going before Jesus to prepare a way for Jesus? Yes!

 How is John preparing a way for Jesus? He is praising Jesus and getting ready to receive him as his king.

 Is anything too hard for God? Nothing is impossible with God. He always keeps his Word!

Prayer and Ending

Prayer: Father in heaven, you always keep your word and we can always trust you. Nothing is too hard for you and with you, all things are possible. Help us to believe in you with all of our hearts. Help us to see how great you are so that we will rejoice in knowing Jesus, our Savior. Like John, help us by your Spirit to receive Jesus as our king so that we will follow him and only him, this time and forevermore. AMEN!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Worship Songs, October 15, 2017

By
We post these worship songs leading up to the worship service so that parents may listen to them in the house or in the car within the days leading up to the worship service. Our hope is that children will hear the songs prior to and it will prepare them to participate in worship on Sunday mornings. My Redeemers Love Hope Has Come I Will Glory In My Redeemer Blessed Be Your Name Here In Your Presence Your Glory Be Still My Soul (In You I Rest) -- Sermon Text: John 11:1-16 That the next generation will set their hope in God and not forget the works of God (Psalm 78:7).
Post a Comment
Read more

God Displays His Beauty While Lifting Heavy Burdens by Pastor Kevin

By
I know I am a little bit overweight. My doctor tells me so. The mirror that I look into affirms it and the scale (that I mostly avoid) reminds me every time I step on it. All of that makes what I am about to say so much more impressive. I had the privilege of sitting on the beaches of Florida's Atlantic coast for 8 days on our most recent family trip. For me there is something magical about the beach, especially on the Atlantic side with the waves washing up against the shoreline. We have been lucky enough to find a sleepy beach town to vacation at. A nook, if you will, that typically features retired folks or families with kids. Out of the way of those who want to party, the beach is truly a relaxing place for me.  Let me tell you something that I gleaned this time around that never quite landed on me. This last week it landed on me, almost literally. My son Ben and I are the more adventurous specimens in the Feder five. We actually get into the salty water where there are jelly f...
2 comments
Read more

We Will Feast in the House of Zion by Patience Griswold

By Anonymous
No one ever plans to have their lives upended. We know that the world is broken and bound in futility, we know that everything can change in an instant, and yet crises still have the ability to shake us to our core. None of us entered 2020 planning to experience a global pandemic this year, but here we are, practicing social distancing, wondering how the virus will affect us and our families, and wondering when we will be able to return to our regular rhythms and routines as what can feel a little like the world falling apart around us.  In the midst of social distancing, I miss my church family. I miss my Bible study, the kids in my Sunday school class, the ability to meet people for coffee, and I know that I am not alone in this. It is not wrong to grieve the temporary loss of these things. In fact, we ought to grieve, even as we seek to live joyfully and find satisfaction in Christ in the midst of difficult circumstances. If we feel no grief whatsoever over the loss of some...
1 comment
Read more