Advent Family Worship- Day 1

Begin by singing a favorite Christmas song (maybe Rudolph the Red-nose Reindeer)

Read the “Advent Introduction” in the worship folder.

Every year, for the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, we observe the season of Advent. The word Advent means “a coming or an arrival.” It is a time of waiting. Hoping. In the months and years and decades and centuries before Jesus was born, God’s people were waiting. They went 400 years without any word from God. Then, Jesus came and everybody was so happy- kind of like how we feel when Christmas morning finally gets here. All of their hopes for the future were finally coming true. Advent is a time for us to remember that we are waiting too. Although Jesus came the first time at Christmas, we are waiting for Him to come back again. That can be hard because until he comes, life is full of sadness, disappointment, and loss. But the future he will bring fills our hearts with hope. Each Sunday during this advent season, we will emphasize a different aspect of this future that God has promised in His second coming. This Christmas, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13).

• Q. What is Advent? What does the word mean?
• Q. Christmas is close now- only a month away! How hard is it to wait for Christmas to get here? Why is it so hard to wait? What does it feel like while you wait?

In the months and years and decades and centuries before Jesus was born, God’s people were waiting. They went 400 years without any word from God. Then, Jesus came and everybody was so happy- kind of like how we feel when Christmas morning finally gets here. Advent is a time for us to remember that we are waiting too. Although Jesus came the first time at Christmas, we are waiting for Jesus to come back again. Until he comes, we have to wait. That can be hard because until he comes again, life is full of sadness, disappointment, and loss.

Read Romans 15:13 together.

• Q. What is hope? How did we define hope in the service on Sunday?
• Q. Is Jesus coming back again? What is going to happen when he comes back again?
• Q. How should his second coming affect the way we live today?

Pray using Romans 15:13.

• Ask God to fill you with joy in Him this Christmas.
• Ask Him to fill you with peace.
• Ask Him to grow your faith.
• Ask Him for the power of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Finish by singing “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”