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Celebrating Advent - December 24

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Sing: Silent Night

Reading: Luke 2:15-21

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Summary (for your preparation): Awe and wonder are really the themes of this section. The shepherds naturally respond to the invitation of the angels (tough to see them passing this one up). When they get there and tell of their story, those who heard it are filled with wonder. Perhaps the high point of this section unfold in Mary's response, she treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

What a story. It is amazing to think that God is starting this whole thing with the most regular and insignificant of people. God has come into the world. If anything, this is one last plea to let the wonder of his wisdom and mercy and love of God register in our hearts...if we will do as Mary did and treasure these thing, pondering in our own hearts.

Teaching Tip: Consider that none of these people involved in the story had the New Testament to read. Thus, they were each putting their stories together and each of their stories were confirming what they had heard separately from one another. For them, they were coming to a greater realization    of what God was doing and who Jesus was. Help your children to understand that what is obvious to us wasn't to them. If we are being honest, maybe we ourselves think we understand who Jesus is better than we really do, especially if our hearts lack a sense of wonder and amazement at what this child will be. 

Questions/Responses:

The shepherds were invited to go see Jesus. Did they go? Would you go? Yes, they responded with excitement and went and found Jesus

 What did the shepherds tell Mary and Joseph? They told them about being visited by the angels and what the angels told them about Jesus

 What was the response of Mary and Joseph? They were filled with wonder and Mary treasured these things in her heart. 

 Remember, all of these people didn't have a New Testament Bible to read, so they were just discovering what God was doing with Jesus. Do you think we have things we can learn from them as they were learning for the first time? Yes, we always have new things to learn about who Jesus is and how amazing God's wisdom is. Overtime we read this story we should treat it like it is our first time hearing it, this is to protect ourselves from pride and thinking that we know everything there is to know about who Jesus really is!

 Think back over all of your readings and discussion. What is one new way God helped you to understand him and worship him this Christmas?

Prayer and Ending

Prayer: Father in heaven, thank you for this amazing story and for your amazing work in bringing Jesus into this world. Please guard us against the pride of thinking we know everything there is to know about Jesus. Help us to enter into the wonder of this story as if it were the first time, just like the shepherds and Joseph and Mary. May your people treasure these things up and ponder them in their hearts so that they would be filled with worship for you this Christmas. AMEN

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