Skip to main content

Celebrating Advent - December 21

By



Sing: O Come, O Come Emanuel

Reading: Luke 2:1-7

 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Summary (for your preparation): Caesar Augustus was the first emperor of Rome after it ceased being a republic. Many believe he was also the best of the emperors. Augustus, which means "exalted," was a title that the Senate voted on as he took office in 27 B.C. This section begins by pointing our attention to this great and mighty king and ends by indicating that there was no room for Jesus and his family at the inn. This signals an amazing contrast between Caesar Augustus who seems to have the world at his fingertips and Jesus, by whom the world was created and yet there isn't hardly a spot for him in it. Oh the injustice this passage makes us feel. Why should Caesar have the power he does? Why doesn't anybody seem to care that the almighty God has come to town? We lament how our world is so upside down as it is depicted in this passage. Yet we rejoice that it won't always be this way. Just beneath the surface God is bringing the King of kings into the world, like a mustard seed that starts off small and grows to be the largest. This will happen. There is a day coming when Caesar Augustus will have to answer to Jesus, just as it should be. In the meantime, may the world respond to Jesus in faith out of adoration as opposed to the forced submission required by Caesar.

Teaching Tip: Have your children notice the way this paragraph begins and ends. It bookends with two kings who are contrasted in every way. Literally everyone would have known who Caesar Augustus was...nobody knew who Jesus was, except for a few. Help your children to see that the way man thinks is different than the way God thinks. What man values is not what God values and because of this, the things of God often go unappreciated and unnoticed. Yet, Jesus grew up to be the Savior of the world, the most important king and and greatest king forever and ever.  

Questions/Responses:

Who does the beginning of this paragraph tell us about? Caesar Augustus

 What are some things we know about Caesar Augustus? Everyone listens to him, everyone knows him, he has power and control over a lot of people, he was going to count all of the people in his empire...

 Who does the end of this paragraph tell us about in verse 7? It tells us about Joseph, Mary, and Jesus

 What are some things that we know about Jesus in verses 6-7? He was born, he was laid in a manger, he didn't have a nice room to sleep in or be born in because it says there wasn't any room for his family in the inn (hotel)

 Everyone thinks Caesar Augustus is important. Does anyone think Jesus is important?  Joseph and Mary do. Zechariah and Elizabeth do. God the Father does. When Jesus returns to the earth the whole world will know that he is the most important and greatest King!

What is one thing we learn about God and his ways through this paragraph? God is always working to bring glory to his name and salvation to the world through Jesus, even when we cannot see it. 

 Prayer and Ending

Prayer: Father in heaven, your ways are higher than our ways and your understanding is greater than our understanding. Please help your people to have eyes to see the greatness of Christ, even when he isn't valued in our world. Please protect your people from thinking like the world and valuing what the world values. Help your people to, by faith, trust that you always are at work in our lives to further the gospel of Christ, even when we are caught in a world that seems hopeless and mundane. You are an almighty God and no one can stop your purposes. May we rejoice in your steadfast love and wisdom. 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