Advent at Home

Advent

AT HOME

2020

Our Family Ministry team prays that “Home for Christmas� has a very special meaning for your family this year as you celebrate Advent A T H O M E. The tradition of lighting of the candles and the symbolism of the Advent wreath help to keep our focus on waiting during a season in our world when it can be difficult to find times to stop and center our families.

The weekly family devotionals for lighting the candles combined with the daily devotionals for the Jesse Tree Advent calendar are a way to help your family experience the deeper meaning of the Advent and Christmas seasons.

May you all be blessed in your time together as you pause to center yourselves in HOPE , PEACE, JOY, LOVE and CHRIST!

Table of Contents ADVENT AT HOME

ADVENT AT HOME

Candelight Devotional, Hope DECEMBER 1 Creation DECEMBER 2 The First Sin DECEMBER 3 Inside the Ark DECEMBER 4 The Call to Abram DECEMBER 5 Isaac and the Lamb Candelight Devotional, Peace DECEMBER 6 Jacob's Ladder DECEMBER 7 Joseph's Coat DECEMBER 8 Moses and the Burning Bush DECEMBER 9 The Passover DECEMBER 10 Moses and the Ten Commandments DECEMBER 11 Ruth and Boaz DECEMBER 12 King of David Candlelight Devotional, Joy DECEMBER 13 Josiah Finds the Law DECEMBER 14 Prophecy of Shoot from the Stump of Jesse DECEMBER 15 Obedience to God DECEMBER 16 Jeremiah DECEMBER 17 Nehemiah Build a Wall DECEMBER 18 John the Baptist DECEMBER 19 Mary Candlelight Devotional, Love DECEMBER 20 Joseph DECEMBER 21 The Light of the World DECEMBER 22 The Star DECEMBER 23 Angels Proclaiming the Coming of Christ Candlelight Devotional, Christ DECEMBER 24 The Birth of Jesus DECEMBER 25 Christ has Come!

SAY:

Candlelight Devotional HOPE

HOPE

Today is special because it is the beginning of a new season. We call this season “Advent.” Advent is a word that means “to come.”

It is a time when we get ready, preparing ourselves for the coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus came when he was born on Christmas day.We should get our hearts ready by thinking about Him. The traditional color for Advent is purple which refers to the coming of the royal King, Jesus Christ. What we are doing right now around our Advent wreath is a way of preparing for Christmas. This is the first Sunday in Advent. Today, we light one purple candle – the candle of HOPE.

LIGHT THE CANDLE:

We light this candle to remind us that we wait with hope for the day when we celebrate again the birth of Jesus. We hope that everyone will come to know God and worship God.

SAY:

Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, God spoke through prophets in the Old Testament to tell people that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would come. This candle of hope reminds us of the long years of waiting and hoping for when Jesus Christ would come to save the people from their sins. Listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah.

READ:

Isaiah 7:14: Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:2: The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

SAY:

The prophet Isaiah reminds us of the hope that God gives us in Jesus Christ. We have many lights around us at Christmas time.

The lights can remind us that Jesus is the light of the world.

PRAYER:

Thank you, Jesus, for coming to earth, just like the prophets said, and for your promise to come again. Thank you, Jesus, for being our light so we know how to live. AMEN

DISCUSSION:

What is hope?

Who are the people in our world who need hope?

What are the hopes we have for our world today?

How do we help others know that God gives hope?

Creation ORNAMENT: Globe MEMORY VERSE:

DECEMBER 1

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

– Genesis 1:1

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-4 ADDITIONAL READINGS: Genesis 1 and 2; John 17:5, 24;

Colossians 1:16, 17; Psalm 150

PRAYER:

God in Heaven, we thank You for all the wonders of Your creation, both large and small. We ask that You guide us to be respectful and careful with all You have made. We thank You for Your son, Jesus, whom You sent to be our Light of the World so that we may know You and love You. Amen.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

Who created the world and everything around us?

Look at Genesis 1:1 and see. Yes, God created it and called it good. One of the greatest accomplishments of this creation is the separation of the dark from the light with just the wonder of his voice. And did you know that Jesus was there with God when the world was created? See John 1:1-4. Jesus came to be the Light and the World. Following him leads us to God. What are five things God has created that remind you of God?

The First Sin D E C E M B E R 2 ORNAMENT: Apple MEMORY VERSE:

And we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way.

– Isaiah 53:6

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 3:1-10, 23; Isaiah 53:6 ADDITIONAL READINGS: Genesis 3:1; John 1:8-10;

Isaiah 53:6, 59:2

PRAYER:

Mighty Savior, help us to face our sin and welcome the Christ who comes to forgive us. We are so sorry, God, for the many wrong things we do. Please help us to do what is right and good. Thank You for loving us enough to send Your son to reclaim us. Thank You for the chance to live close to You again, Amen.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

If God made the world and saw it was good, why do bad things happen now? God told Adam and Eve they could have anything in the Garden of Eden EXCEPT the fruit from a certain tree. Eve believed the serpent when he told her, in the eating the fruit, she would not die but would become like God. So Eve and Adam ate and could recognize both good and evil. Sadly, Adam and Eve were sent away from the garden. They had never worked but now their life would be difficult because they turned from God and were disobedient.

God love His creation, through, and promised a savior would come to bring us back to God. God is always with us during bad and good times. He’s always looking for us, calling us back to Him. We are not alone. When you have messed up and feel far away from God, what does God do? What should you do?

Inside the Ark DECEMBER 3

ORNAMENT: Ark and Rainbow

DECEMBER 3

MEMORY VERSE:

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

– Romans 6:23

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 6:5-8, 7:17-23, 9-8:10 ADDITIONAL READINGS: Genesis 5:9-17; Romans 6:23;

Joshua 23:14

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, we know we do bad things and deserve punishment just like the wicked people in Noah’s day, but we are so glad that You promised to forgive our sins if we believe in Jesus. Thank You, Lord for the beautiful rainbow and all its colors that remind us that You keep all Your promises. Amen TODAY'S DEVOTION:

Sin did not stop once Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden. In fact, it got worse. Many, many people did not love God and did things God did not want them to do. This made God sad. There was one man, however, who loved God and lived a life that honored the Lord. His name was Noah. God made a decision to destroy all the bad people by sending a flood. Noah and his family would be saved because of his faithfulness. Sin is a serious matter with God. Those who do not turn to God will be lost forever, just like the people OUTside of the ark, but God promised life to us if we are IN Jesus. Just like Noah, when we see a rainbow we can remember that God loves us and keeps His promises!

Think of all the colors in a rainbow.

List one way you see God’s goodness using the letters of the colors, ROYGBIV.

The Call to Abram DECEMBER 4

ORNAMENT: Field of Stars MEMORY VERSE:

DECEMBER 4

In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

– Genesis 12:3b

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 12:1-7 ADDITIONAL READINGS: Hebrews 11, 8; Matthew 1:1

PRAYER:

You come to us in this Advent time, Yahweh, as You came to Abram so many years ago. And just like Abram, You called US to be Your people through whom others will be blessed. We pray we will have faith like Abraham to obey You in all You call us to do. Amen.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

When God told Abram to get up and go, Abram got up and went.

It was that simple. Abram didn’t know and didn’t ask where he was going, how long it would take him to get there, or what he would find in this new place. He came from Ur (modern day Iraq) and, years later, arrived in Canaan, which we now call Israel.

God’s whole purpose for the creation of Israel was to bring forth the Lord Jesus Christ. Abram was very special to God and God promised to take care of him and give him many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren-, as many as there are stars in the sky! Abram was faithfully obedient, and we areso glad because through Abram, Jesus was born!

Have you ever taken a journey into the unknown? Describe how you felt.

Isaac and the Lamb DECEMBER 5 ORNAMENT: Ram's Wool MEMORY VERSE:

Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

– John 1:29b

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 22:1-13 ADDITIONAL READINGS: Genesis 22:1-19; Isaiah 53:7;

John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:19

PRAYER:

Our God Jehovah, we know You provide all things for us. Teach us to give these blessings to You when You ask for them. Thank You for Father Abraham and his willingness to be obedient. Thank You even more for the gift of your son, Jesus that we have the chance to live with You always. Amen.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

God promised Abraham that his descendants would number as the stars; that’s a lot of children, grandchildren, greatgrandchildren and so on. God even changed Abram’s name to Abraham meaning “father of a multitude.” Why, then, did God ask Abraham to take his son, Isaac, up on a mountain to kill him? This was Abraham’s chance to show how much trust he had in God. Abraham took out a knife to kill Isaac when God told him to stop and go to the bushes. There, Abraham found a ram to take Isaac’s place. Jesus is a lamb for us. He took our place and died on the cross for our sins. To believe even as Abraham did in the edge of despair that “the Lord shall provide” must have been extremely challenging. God calls us to believe not just when things are easy, but also when times get tough.

When is it difficult to trust God?

Candlelight Devotional PEACE

PEACE

READ:

This is the second Sunday in Advent. We light one purple candle – the candle of HOPE and then we light another purple candle – the candle of PEACE. LIGHT THE CANDLES:

We lit the first candle to remind us that we wait with hope for the day when we celebrate again the birth of Jesus. We hope that everyone will come to know God and worship God. Today, we light the candle of peace. (Light the second purple candle). Our world is not always a peaceful world. People sometimes hurt other people. But God promises peace. During Advent, we pray that we, as well as all people, will seek God’s peace.

SAY:

Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, God spoke through prophets in the Old Testament to tell people that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would come. This candle of hope reminds us of the long years of waiting and hoping for when Jesus Christ would come to save the people from their sins. Listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah.

READ: Luke 1:26-33: In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Luke 1:46-48: And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed SAY:

Mary’s words can guide us to look for the peace of God even when things may be uncertain for us.

PRAYER:

Thank you, Father, for sending your son, Jesus. Thank you for those in our world today who seek to act for peace. Help us look for ways to be peacemakers at home, at church and at school. AMEN. DISCUSSION:

What is peace?

How does Jesus bring peace to the world?

Who in our world needs to hear about God’s peace?

What are our hopes for peace in our world today?

Jacob's Ladder DECEMBER 6

ORNAMENT: Ladder

DECEMBER 6

MEMORY VERSE:

I am with you.

I will watch over you everywhere you go.

– Genesis 28:15a

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 27:10-17 ADDITIONAL READINGS: Genesis 27:41-28

PRAYER:

God of our days and nights, help us to keep our thoughts on You always, when we are awake and when we are asleep. It is comforting to know that You come to the most unlikely of people to offer your blessing. Lord, we pray that our goals and dreams may be centered on glorifying You. We thank You for Your Son whose sacrifice gave us eternal life, a life better than our wildest dreams. Amen.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

Often times in the Bible, important information comes from God through dreams. This was the case for Abraham’s grandson, Jacob. While traveling, he had a dream. In this dream he saw a ladder, at the top stood God. Below stood a poor, helpless, forsaken man. Angels were moving up and down the ladder. The ladder was not only a symbol that Jacob was not far from God’s arms, but it was also a picture of Jesus. This continuous communion between God and man illustrates Jesus descending from heaven as God’s servant and our atoning sacrifice, then ascending to His rightful throne and bridging the gap between heaven and earth.

This reminds us that Jesus came to earth to make a way for us to get to Heaven. Jesus came down from Heaven to be with you. What are some ways that you can tell others about Jesus?

Joseph's Coat of Many Colors ORNAMENT: Colorful Stripes of Joseph’s Coat

DECEMBER 7

MEMORY VERSE:

We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.

– Romans 8:28a

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 37:3-6, 50:18-21;Romans 8:28 ADDITIONAL READINGS: Genesis 37-50

PRAYER:

Dear God, we know that You have a great plan for each of our lives. We see the chaos and hurt in our world today and it is hard to understand Your purposes. May we never do anything that would be mean or hurtful to anyone else. We bow to You alone, Lord. Amen.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

Jacob had twelve sons and his favorite was Joseph. Jacob gave him a beautiful coat as a sign that Joseph was his chosen successor. This made the other brothers jealous. When Joseph told his brothers he had a dream that they would bow to him it was more than the brothers could stand. The brothers threw Joseph in a pit. They smeared animal blood on the coat and took it to their father who believed Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. The brothers had planned to kill him, but sold him into slavery instead. As a slave, Joseph was able to make sense of the King of Egypt’s troubling dreams. As a reward, he was given the position of overseeing Egypt’s preparation to make it through a famine.

Joseph’s family was starving and his brothers came to Egypt to buy food.

When he saw his brothers there, he fed them and forgave them even though they had treated him so poorly.

Do you find it hard to forgive others? Describe what that is like.

Moses and the Burning Bush ORNAMENT: Burning Bush MEMORY VERSE:

DECEMBER 8

When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

– Exodus 3:4a

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 3:2-10; 2:1-4:20

PRAYER:

Father, we are gathered in Your name. Just as You spoke to Moses long ago, speak to our hearts today. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

As our story begins, Moses is out in the field taking care of the sheep and goats of his father-in-law, Jethro. He led the sheep out into the wilderness near the mountain called Sinai. Suddenly, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him as a flame from the middle of a bush. The most amazing thing was that the bush was on fire, but it wasn’t burned up! God continued speaking to Moses. “I have heard the cries of my people in Egypt. I know all about their pain and suffering at the hands of Egyptians and enter into a good land that flows with milk and honey. It’s time for you to go back. I’m sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the people of Israel, out of Egypt.” What a story!

Now, do you remember why God told Moses to take off his sandals? Because, God said, “You are standing on holy ground. It was holy ground because God was there and wherever God is, surely is “holy ground.”

Is God here today?

List some ways that you know God is with you.

The Passover ORNAMENT: Lamb

DECEMBER 9

MEMORY VERSE:

The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

– Exodus 12:13

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 12:1-14, 29-32

PRAYER:

Father, we know that some of the things we do are not pleasing to You. We are thankful for Jesus who sets us free from our sin. In Him, we have forgiveness. In His name we pray. Amen.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

God gave Moses instructions on how his own people were to prepare for the last plague. He said that every family was to take a one-year-old lamb, one that was perfect in every way and prepare a meal. They were to take some of the blood from the lamb and smear it on the sides and tops of the doorway of their houses. God said, “I will go through the land of Egypt on this night and strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, whether human or animal, and bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt.

The blood will serve as a sign on the houses where you live. When I see the blood I will pass over you-no harm will touch you when I strike the land of Egypt. After God sent that tenth plague, Pharaoh repented and freed God’s children.

God cares for us just like He cared for His children in Egypt long ago. In fact, He made a way for us to get out of our messes too.

Just like Pharaoh, we have our ups and downs, but Jesus died on the cross for all the wrong things we have done. If we believe in Him and ask Him to come into our hearts, he makes a way for us to go to Heaven. The Israelites’ door posts were marked. How is your life marked? How can you tell others about the power of God?

Moses and the Ten Commandments DECEMBER 10

ORNAMENT: Tablets MEMORY VERSE:

I have hidden your word in my heart so that I won’t sin against you.

– Psalm 119:11

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 32:15-18; Psalm 119:11 ADDITIONAL READINGS: Exodus 1-15; Galatians 3:19

PRAYER:

Gracious Provider God, we know our need for You is endless.

Your word shows us how to live and in doing so reveals our sin.

We confess our sins to You, O Lord. Be merciful and forgive us.

Thank You for sending us Jesus to free us from sin and for sending your Holy Spirit to empower us to live a life for You. Amen.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

When the Hebrew people were led out of bondage in Egypt, God gave them laws known as the Ten Commandments to tell them how to live. The Ten Commandments were written on stone and God sent Noah to share them with his people. We are to love and obey God and never pray to anyone other than God and never misuse God’s name. We should always make sure the Sabbath is a special day to worship God and we should respect our parents and do what they tell us to do. We should never lie. We should always be faithful to the one we marry. We should never be jealous of what our friends have. The laws were created to bring people to Christ. And we should acknowledge them not as a choice but as a commission for God. If you could create two new commandments in addition to these for your family, what would they be?

Ruth and Boaz DECEMBER 11

ORNAMENT: Sheaf of Wheat MEMORY VERSE:

DECEMBER 11

Your people will be my people and your God my God.

– Ruth 1:16b

SCRIPTURE: Ruth 1:16, 2:5-17, 4:14 ADDITIONAL READINGS: Ruth 1-4; Matthew 1-5

PRAYER:

Merciful Lord, thank You for people like Ruth, needy yet rich in Your love, who are part of the story of Your devotion to Your people. Help us to obey as Ruth did, not form obligation, gut from love. Amen.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

For a time, there was no food in Israel, so a man name Elimelech took his wife and two sons to a place called Moab to live among the people who had food-and false gods. While there, he died and his sons married Moabite woman. Sadly, both sons died as well.

Elimelech’s wife, Naomi, decided to move to Israel and the two daughters-in-law wanted to join her. Naomi told them to stay with their families in Moab. One stayed but the other, Ruth, begged Naomi to let her come along. When they arrived in Israel, Ruth was gleaning in a field for grain so they could eat. The field belonged to a wealthy relative of Naomi named Boaz. Boaz married Ruth and they had a son named Obed. At many times, Ruth and Naomi’s story seemed hopeless.

But, through this family line would be born King David and eventually, Jesus!

God worked through the little things to turn darkness into light!

How can you keep your eyes open to notice the little things God is doing around you every day?

King David ORNAMENT: Slingshot

DECEMBER 12

MEMORY VERSE:

The Lord is my shepherd.

He gives me everything I need.

– Psalm 23:1

SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 16:1, 12, 17:1-9, 40, 45-40

PRAYER:

Majestic Lord, we thank You for a shepherd boy named David who loved You so much that he was willing to die for You. Please help us to love You with all our hearts. We thank You for Jesus, the King of our lives. Help us to be bold like David and tell others about You. Amen.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

God sent His prophet, Samuel, to anoint a young shepherd boy for Bethlehem as future king of Israel. The boy, David, had defeated the Philistine giant, Goliath, using only a slingshot and a few stones. Every soldier in Israel’s army was afraid, but David wasn’t. He knew God’s spirit was with him and God would take care of him. Later, David because a mighty king because he obeyed God and did the things that please God. List five ways you can be bold to tell others about God.

Candlelight Devotional

JOY

READ:

This is the third Sunday in Advent. We light one purple candle – the candle of HOPE. We light another purple candle – the candle of PEACE. We will also light the pink candle – the candle of JOY. LIGHT THE CANDLES:

We lit the first candle to remind us that we wait with hope for the day when we celebrate again the birth of Jesus. We hope that everyone will come to know God and worship God. We lit the candle of peace. During Advent, we pray that we, as well as all people, will seek God’s peace. Today, on the third Sunday of Advent, we will light the candle of joy. (Light the pink candle) Pink symbolizes a break in the darkness, and a time of joy as Christ’s birthday gets closer. We have joy as we remember God’s gift of Jesus to the world. Rejoice!

SAY:

When we look at the third candle, we remember God’s promise of joy. God promised to send a Savior to the people.

READ:

Matthew 1:20-25: …an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

SAY:

Rejoice! As we wait for Jesus’ birth, we know that God is with us.

God came to live among God’s people and to teach us about God’s love. During Advent, we rejoice!

PRAYER:

Lord, today we rejoice. We rejoice because our Lord and Savior, Jesus was born. Fill our hearts and our days with joy. We rejoice that you are with us always. Help us live in such a way that our words and our actions help others know of the joy you give. AMEN DISCUSSION:

Who in our world needs God's joy?

What are our hopes for joy in our world today?

How do we help others know that God gives joy?

Josiah Finds the Law DECEMBER 13

DECEMBER 13

ORNAMENT: Scroll MEMORY VERSE:

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

– Psalm 119:105

SCRIPTURE: 11 Kings 23-1-3 ADDITIONAL READINGS: 11 Kings 22-23:25 PRAYER:

Father of Truth and Light, You have shown us Your love through Your holy Son, Jesus, who being the word became flesh and dwelt among us. Lord, we often stray from the path You have laid for us and forget the guidance You have given us in Your holy Word. Call us back as You called back your servant, Josiah, when he found Your law. We know following Your ways brings life. Watch over us and call us back to discover You when we begin to lose our way.

Amen.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

Long ago in Judah, an eight year old boy named Josiah became king. His father was a wicked king and had made the people stop serving God and start to worship idols. Josiah was not like his father. He wanted to serve the one true God. One day Josiah sent men to the church to clean it up because people had not been to church in a long time. They found the church in a mess and found an old scroll. King Josiah realized the scroll was God’s Bible that had been lost for a long time. He read that God would punish people if they worshipped idols and not God. The people told God they would serve Him. This pleased God very much.

What makes God’s word, the Bible, so special to you?

Prophecy of Shoot from the Stump of Jesse ORNAMENT: Stump with Shoot

DECEMBER 14

MEMORY VERSE:

And the Word was made a human being.

He made His home with us. We have seen His glory.

– John 1:14a

SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 11:1-5; 10 ADDITIONAL READINGS: 1 Samuel 16:1-3; Revelation 5:5 PRAYER:

Author of Life, we thank You for our family members, those with us now and others who have gone from the earth to heaven. We praise You for the saints in Your Word who teach us that You alone are our Provider and Protector. We wait with Your people of ancient times, Mighty Pruner, from the flowering of Your New Branch, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Help us to live a life worthy of You. Come Lord Jesus. Come save our world. Amen.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

God had to warn His people that they would be cut out for a time because of their sins. From their brokenness would shoot forth a New branch. It is from this symbol that we get the name of our tree-the Advent Jesse Tree. Jesse was the father of David, the king who established the royal family. Through the family tree of Jesse and David, Jesus would come. The stump represents Jesse and the green leaf is Jesus. Remember the story of Ruth? Jesse was Ruth and Boaz’s grandson. The first book of the New Testament, Matthew, begins with the family tree of Jesus.

God used ordinary people. And from imperfect families sprouted the greatest gift the world would ever receive!

How can you see God using your family to bless others?

Obedience to God DECEMBER 15

ORNAMENT: Whale MEMORY VERSE:

DECEMBER 15

Make sure you obey Me. Then things will go well with you.

– Deuteronomy 6:3a

SCRIPTURE: Jonah 1:1-4, 17, 3:1-3a ADDITIONAL READINGS: Psalm 139; Jeremiah 18:5-10

PRAYER:

Lord of all, Your Word and Your grace are for all who are willing to receive it. Help us to understand that Your heart breaks for every one of Your children who turns away from You; that we are special to You. When You call us to step out in faith, strengthen us and embolden us to be willing to obey, not because we agree with Your choices, but because You are the Sovereign Lord of All. Amen.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

God told a prophet named Jonah to go to enemy territory, the land of Nineveh and tell the king and his people that they should worship the one true God and be sorry for all the trouble they had caused. With Nineveh to the East, Jonah got on a boat and headed West. God sent a message to Jonah in the form of a big storm and the boat was about to sink from the huge waves.

Jonah told the sailors that if they threw him overboard, the storm would calm. They threw Jonah into the water and the sea became calm. Before ong, Jonah was swallowed by a great fish. He prayed from the fish’s belly for three days. And at the Lord’s command, the fish spit him out. The Lord told Jonah to go to Nineveh and he went.

Do you ever feel like something you should do is too hard and you want to run away? Tell about it.

Jeremiah ORNAMENT: Tears MEMORY VERSE:

DECEMBER 16

O that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears, so that I might weep day and night for the slain of my poor people!

– Jeremiah 9:1

SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 1:4-10, 2:4-13, 7:1-15, 8:22-9:11 PRAYER:

Sometimes our hearts are broken to see how Your children suffer. Help us, God, to reach out to those people around us who need Your love, healing, forgiveness, and peace. Amen.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

God told Jeremiah to say, “why have these people turned away?

Why is Jerusalem always turning away? They take hold of deceit; they refuse to return’ (Jer. 8:5). The people in Jeremiah’s day had turned away from God, and they refused to repent. They had no desire to return God, though they had every opportunity to do so.

Instead the people deliberately charged ahead in their sinful practices like a warhorse charging into battle, having no idea the dangers involved. They should have known better. Jeremiah teaches that the people cannot pray faithfully if they continue to oppress the immigrants, the orphans, and the widow. They have to stop shedding innocent blood, and they must act justly toward one another. Jeremiah reminded them that when people fall down they get up again. If one takes the wrong road, they turn around to get back on the right road. Even birds know when it is time to migrate. We are like children caught in misbehavior saying, “I’m sorry," "I’m sorry,” only to have them repeat the same mistake again. We do the same thing with God, don’t we? How often do you find yourself saying to God, “I’m sorry,” only to repeat the same sin over and over again? To turn from the sin is to cease from doing it. List how you see people who stay focused on their sin. If you were to pick one person, how would you tell them about running back to God? How can your love for that person, like God’s love for you, help someone else return to God?

Nehemiah Builds a Wall DECEMBER 17

ORNAMENT: Wall

DECEMBER 17

MEMORY VERSE:

Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples; but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place at which I have chosen to establish my name.”

– Nehemiah 1:8-9

SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 1, 1-2:8, 6:15-16, 13:10-22 PRAYER:

Lord, help me to discover the place I have in Your great work.

Grant that I might be faithful in the assignment You have given me in cooperation with others in the body of Christ. Amen.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

Even their enemies had to admit that God was at work in His people’s lives. He was what accounted for their amazing success.

The entire project was finished in just fifty-two days! Nehemiah had left Persia in April, and it took him several months to journey to Jerusalem. Yet on October 2 in the year 445 BC, the wall was completed. They finished the work in fifty-two days because they put their minds and shoulders to the task and looked to God for wisdom and power to achieve. “When our enemies heard about this, they lost their self-confidence and they realized that they were battling against God himself,” says Nehemiah. What a beautiful picture of the power of Christian witness in a community! Even their enemies must agree that God is at work among them.

What are ways that your family can work together to accomplish a task?

What ways can you work together to “build” something great for God’s kingdom?

John the Baptist ORNAMENT: Shell MEMORY VERSE:

DECEMBER 18

John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

– Luke 3:16

SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:57-80, 3:1-20, 7:18-30 PRAYER:

Father, we thank You for this very special time of year when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. There are many who do not know about Jesus. Help us to be Your messengers and share the good news. Amen.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

Long before the birth of Jesus, God spoke through the prophet Isaiah to tell how he would spread the news of the coming of the Messiah. This is what he said, “I will send my messenger to prepare the way. He will be a voice of one, crying in the desert, “Prepare the way for the coming of the Lord! Clear the road for him.“ Who was the messenger that God chose to bring this good news to His people? It was a man named John the Baptist. John was a very unusual man who wore clothes made of camel hair with a leather belt around his waist. His favorite food was locusts and wild honey. He traveled around in the desert preaching that people should repent of their sins and turn to God. When they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. John the Baptist was very popular and had a great following, but he always told the people about Jesus. “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am,” he said. “He is so much greater that I am not even worthy to stoop down and untie the straps on His sandals.” Yes, John was faithful in bringing the news to the people. It has been 2000 years since God sent His Son, but God still needs messengers to spread the news.

This year, as we prepare to celebrate our Savior’s birth, how will you be God’s messenger to share the good news with others?

Mary ORNAMENT: White Lily MEMORY VERSE:

DECEMBER 19

The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

– Luke 1:30-33

SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:26-38 PRAYER:

Dear Father, we thank You for this story about how You sent the angel Gabriel to take Your message to Mary. We also thank You that You have given us the task of taking the message of Jesus and His love to the entire world. Amen.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

God could have chosen anyone to give birth to Jesus, but He chose Mary, a young virgin living in the little village of Nazareth.

She wasn’t very important, but she was important to God, and He chose her to do the most important thing one could imagine – He chose her to give birth to His Son. The white lily is a symbol for new life and resurrection – hope for the future. God still chooses unimportant people to perform important tasks. He has given you and me the task of sharing the good news of Jesus and His love to the whole world. “Go and make disciples of all nations.”

(Matthew 28:19).

Can you imagine a more important task?

This year, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us, like Mary, answer God’s call.

“I am the Lord’s servant; Let it be with me just as you have said.”

List three ways that you can act as a servant of God in your daily life.

Candlelight Devotional LOVE

LOVE

READ:

This is the fourth Sunday in Advent. Today, we light one purple candle – the candle of HOPE. We light another purple candle – the candle of PEACE. We light the pink candle – the candle of JOY. Today, we will light the last purple candle – the candle of LOVE.

LIGHT THE CANDLES:

We lit the first candle to remind us that we wait with hope for the day when we celebrate again the birth of Jesus. We hope that everyone will come to know God and worship God. We lit the candle of peace. During Advent, we pray that we, as well as all people, will seek God’s peace. Today, on the third Sunday of Advent, we will light the candle of joy. We have joy as we remember God’s gift of Jesus to the world. We will light another candle today, to remind us that Jesus came to earth to show and tell us of God’s love. (Light the last purple candle.) During Advent, we remember again God's gift of Jesus to the world and know that God's love for all people is the reason for this gift.

SAY:

Love comes at Christmas in Jesus Christ.

READ:

Luke 2:8-11: “There were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. ‘Don't be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”

SAY:

During Advent we remember God loves us.

READ:

John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

PRAYER:

Thank you, God, for your son, Jesus. Thank you that you love us so much that you sent your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to love one another, our friends at school, and people everywhere we go. AMEN.

DISCUSSION:

Who are the people in our world who need the message of God’s love?

How do we help others know God's love?

Joseph ORNAMENT: Carpenter’s Hammer MEMORY VERSE:

DECEMBER 20

But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet.

– Matthew 1:20-22

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 1:18-25 PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, we make ourselves open to You. We are prepared to be just a quiet and just man who strives to live a Godly life. To do Your will and not our own. It’s not easy, but when You come to live with us, and in us, then it becomes easier as You teach us how. Amen.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

We’re told elsewhere that Joseph was a carpenter, perhaps more correctly a building contractor, and that he passed this trade on to his son. But id doesn’t seem that he was a super-saint, just a quiet and just man who strove to live a godly life. Yet, this is the man into whose care our God entrusted His very own Son. This is the man to whom God entrusted this man with one of the greatest responsibilities in history of the world. I think we can learn a lot about what God values and desires by looking at the character of Joseph, the man He trusted to adopt his son. In this passage, Matthew 1:18-25, we see God giving Joseph three surprise gifts around the first Christmas time, not all of them, perhaps on Joseph’s list.

We see God giving Joseph a pregnant fiancée, a plan to follow, and a prophecy fulfilled.

Describe the characteristics of a man that you think God would have trusted to raise Jesus.

How do you think Joseph helped “build” Jesus into the man he became?

The Light of the World DECEMBER 21

DECEMBER 21

ORNAMENT: Candle MEMORY VERSE:

I am the light of the world. Those who follow me will never walk in darkness. They will have the light that leads to life.

– John 8:12

SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:26-38, 2:32 ADDITIONAL READINGS: Luke 1:26-56, 2:21-33; John 1:4-9;

2:Corinthians 4:6; Isaiah 42:6, 60:1,3

PRAYER:

God in Heaven, we thank You for sending us Jesus, the Light of the World to show us what we do wrong and to illuminate the path that leads to You. Help us to let our light shine before others. Bring forth the dark corners of our hearts, the parts we would prefer not to think about, into the light so that we may live in a more holy way. Amen.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

When the angel came to Mary to tell her she would give birth to Jesus, she broke forth in to one of the most beautiful songs ever written. After Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple to present Him to the Lord. While Jesus was in the world, he was the “light of the world’! Now He has gone back to heaven, and we who trust in Him must become the ‘lights of the world.’

We must always let our lights shine so that others can see Christ in us.

How are we like Mary, breaking forth in joyful song as God chooses us to shine for him?

The Star ORNAMENT: Star

DECEMBER 22

MEMORY VERSE:

When the saw the star they were filled with joy.

– Matthew 2:10

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 2:1-12; Revelation 22:16 ADDITIONAL READINGS: Numbers 24:17; Peter 1:19

PRAYER:

Bright and Morning Star, we thank You for the example of these magi who patiently and faithfully believed in the sign of the star.

May we be willing to follow You wherever You lead us. May we be able to see with our eyes Your Shining Star and find our home in You. Amen.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

At the time of Jesus’ birth several wise men saw a brilliant new star appear and knew it meant the birth of a very special King.

They set out on a journey to follow the star which led them to Bethlehem. When they found Jesus, they fell down and worshipped Him. The five pointed star is called the Epiphany Star symbolizing the body of Christ. The five points represent His hand and feet nailed to the cross and His head with the crown of thorns.

As He gave the greatest gift of all to us, the gift of eternal life, we must be willing to give our lives to live for Him. What is one way you can live your life for Christ? How can you do that one thing every day? Practice for the rest of the year.

Angels Proclaiming the Coming of Christ ORNAMENT: Angel MEMORY VERSE:

DECEMBER 23

May glory be given to God in highest heaven! And may peace be given to those He is pleased with earth!

– Luke 2:14

SCRIPTURE: Hebrew 1:14; Luke 2:8-14; Romans 6:23 ADDITIONAL READINGS: Hebrews 1:1-14; Psalm 91:11

PRAYER:

God of heaven and earth, You care enough to send the very best angels to bring the good news straight from You in the highest heaven. We thank You for Your servants, the angels. Help us to be happy serving You too and to sing praise as the angels did. Amen.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

Angles are God’s special messengers or servants. Angels carry messages, usually good ones, to people from God. Shepherds were in their fields watching their flocks when suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared before them. At first, the shepherds were terrified, but the angel said to them “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy. It is for all people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.” All at once a large group of angels from heaven appeared.. They said, “may glory be given to God in the highest heaven! And may peace be given to those he is pleased with on earth!”

Describe what the angels may have looked like. Draw a picture of it and give it to someone.

Candlelight Devotional CHRIST

CHRIST

SAY:

Today is Christmas (Eve). The day we have waited for and prepared for is finally here! Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. As we waited for this day we lit four candles. The first candle we lit was the candle of hope. (Light the first purple candle.) The second time we lit the candle of peace. (Light the second purple candle.) The third time we lit the candle of joy.

(Light the pink candle.) The fourth candle we lit was the candle of love. (Light the fourth purple candle).Today, on Christmas, we also light the center white candle. This candle represents Jesus. When we light this candle, we remember Jesus’ birth. Our waiting has ended.(Light the center white candle.) On this day, we celebrate that Christ comes to bring us hope, peace, joy, and love.

READ:

Luke 2:11: “The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”

SAY:

With the coming of Christ, the light shines in the darkness. When we look at the center candle, we remember that Jesus is the light of the world.

READ:

John 8:12: “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow Me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.’”

SAY:

God sent Jesus to give hope, peace, joy, and love to all people. Far away from Bethlehem, wise men saw a star in the sky. They remind us that the gift of Jesus was not just for the people in one place, but for all people.

READ:

Matthew 2:1-2: “Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw His star as it rose, and we have come to worship Him.’” Matthew 2:10-11: “When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with His mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

SAY:

Candlelight Devotional CHRIST, CONTINUED

CHRIST, CONTINUED

God used a star to guide the wise men to Jesus. God has guided us to the true meaning of Christmas during advent. God has come into the world in Jesus Christ to be with us so that we will experience God’s hope, joy, love, and peace.

PRAYER:

Thank you, God, for your son, Jesus. Thank you for sending Jesus for all people. On this Christmas Day, help us remember and rejoice again because Jesus was born. Help us live every day remembering your love and care and showing that love and care to others. AMEN.

DISCUSSION:

What are our hopes on this Christmas Day for our world?

How can we help people remember hope, peace, joy, and love in Christ after Christmas Day is over?

The Birth of Jesus ORNAMENT: Manger MEMORY VERSE:

DECEMBER 24

God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only son.

Anyone who believes in Him will not die but will have eternal life.

– John 3:16

SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:1-10; John 3:16-17 ADDITIONAL READINGS: 2 Corinthians 8:9

PRAYER:

Welcome Jesus- King of our hearts – King of the Universe!

Overwhelm us today with Your coming and Your presence that we may never be the same. We thank You for coming as a little baby to be our Savior. Help us to make room for You in our hearts this and every day. Amen.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

It was a special birthday party! This birth was different for us, however, because Jesus was God’s only son. In fact, He was alive when the world was created. Sin came into the world and spoiled it, and God needed someone to come to Earth and take away that sin. Jesus, the Son of God, was willing to come and be our Savior.

That’s why the angels sang so gloriously on that first Christmas Day – because Jesus had come! When He was born, He laid in a cattle feeder in a barn because no one would make room for Him. Today Jesus is in heaven and someday He will come again!

Tell some ways that you can make room for Jesus in your busy schedule.

Write them on your calendar.

Christ has Come!

DECEMBER 25

ORNAMENT: Chi-Rho Symbol MEMORY VERSE:

DECEMBER 25

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and without Him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in Him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

SCRIPTURE: John 1:1-34 PRAYER:

– John 1:1-5

Awesome God, we thank you for the greatest gift of all-Jesus. Jesus is with us, and with him there is no darkness! May we carry the light of our Savior with us all year. May we light up the dark places and offer hope to everyone around us – the hope that can only come from the Son You sent to allow us to live with you forever. There is no better gift than basking in the light of Your love. Amen.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

Christmas Day is an important part of our faith. Leading up to Easter morning, it is one of the most precious days of our Church calendar. It marks the day when it all became real. A baby is born and He will grow up to be our Savior. An abbreviation Christians used was the Chi-Rho monogram, composed of the Greek letter chi (which has the shape of an X) intersecting P or the Greek letter rho.

It appears in Christian writings as an abbreviation for Christ (Christos). Christians did not make explicit pictures of the crucifixion for about 400 years after Christ’s death. There are various possible explanations for this. A theological reason may be that the early Christians emphasized the resurrection as well as the crucifixion.

The Romans crucified many people, but only one was resurrected.

In early Christianity, no other symbol was needed. It was very clear that this symbol represented Christ. It functioned very much like an empty cross does today as an identifying marker of Christianity.

Many people wear an empty cross today as jewelry.IF someone wears a cross, how is that a symbol of faith?

How will you choose to live differently each day following Christmas to show others that you believe the Messiah is born and what that means for all who follow him?