ADVENT Week 1: HOPE
This episode is Week 1 of Advent, and the topic is HOPE. The Christian hope.
The Christian HOPE is confidently expecting something good will happen in the future.
Churches that celebrate Advent will often light a purple candle on the first Sunday of Advent as a symbol of hope. The candle is called the Prophecy candle or the Candle of Hope.
Bible Passage: Isaiah 9:6-7
“A child has been born for us.
We have been given a son
who will be our ruler.
His names will be
Wonderful Advisor
and Mighty God,
Eternal Father
and Prince of Peace.
His power will never end;
peace will last forever.”
Story Time! Bible Passage: Luke 2:25-38
“At this time a man named Simeon was living in Jerusalem. Simeon was a good man. He loved God and was waiting for him to save the people of Israel. God's Spirit came to him and told him that he would not die until he had seen Christ the Lord.
When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to do what the Law of Moses says should be done for a new baby, the Spirit told Simeon to go into the temple. Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God,
“Lord, I am your servant,
and now I can die in peace,
because you have kept
your promise to me.
With my own eyes I have seen
what you have done
to save your people,
and foreign nations
will also see this.
Your mighty power is a light
for all nations,
and it will bring honor
to your people Israel.”
Jesus' parents were surprised at what Simeon had said.Then he blessed them and told Mary, “This child of yours will cause many people in Israel to fall and others to stand. The child will be like a warning sign. Many people will reject him, and you, Mary, will suffer as though you had been stabbed by a dagger. But all this will show what people are really thinking.”
The prophet Anna was also there in the temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. In her youth she had been married for seven years, but her husband died. And now she was 84 years old. Night and day she served God in the temple by praying and often going without eating.
At this time Anna came in and praised God. She spoke about the child Jesus to everyone who hoped for Jerusalem to be set free.”
Bible Passage: Acts 9-11
“After Jesus had said this and while they were watching, he was taken up into a cloud. They could not see him, but as he went up, they kept looking up into the sky.
Suddenly two men dressed in white clothes were standing there beside them. They said, “Why are you men from Galilee standing here and looking up into the sky? Jesus has been taken to heaven. But he will come back in the same way you have seen him go.””
Bible Passage: Psalm 42:5
“Put your hope in God.”
Question Time!
Imagine you were Simeon or Anna. How would you feel after seeing Jesus when you have hoped for that moment for so long?
Do you live with the hope that Jesus will return? If yes, how does it make you feel and why?
