Stories and Songs of Advent - City Church · No other time of year weaves stories and songs together more beautifully than Advent and Christmas. The worshipping community of Jesus

STORIES AND SONGS OF ADVENT ADVENT PRAYER GUIDE

Prayer is not for the wise, not for the prudent, not for the sophisticated. Instead it is for those who recognize that in the face of their deepest needs, all their wisdom is quite helpless. It is for those who are willing to persist in doing something that is both childish and crucial.

Frederick Buechner

There’s no use in telling a pretty good story when you can tell a really good one.

Wendell Berry

Singing is praying twice. St. Augustine, as quoted by Chance the Rapper

No other time of year weaves stories and songs together more beautifully than Advent and Christmas. The worshipping community of Jesus Christ treasures this season, with its familiar biblical narratives that often include lyrical and poetic elements. There’s nothing more childish, yet absolutely crucial, than telling stories and singing songs.

The Christian Year - particularly seasons such as Advent-Christmas and Lent-Easter - provides wonderful opportunities to rekindle our relationship with God and his people, and especially to focus on the quality of our worship as a church, as families, as smaller communities within the church, and as individuals. We have prepared this prayer guide for daily reflection with the hope that this season will be a time of renewal for you, a time where you grow daily in the rhythm of God’s grace.

Advent Prayer Guide Copyright © 2017 City Church 1

The format of what follows is simple. During each week of Advent we will focus on a single story from the gospels. On each day within that particular week, we will explore a section of the story in greater detail and depth, first by considering a short devotional and then by meditating on the lyrics of a song.

This prayer guide can be used individually, in small groups or as a family. Each day, read/re-read the story for that particular week of Advent, then reflect on the selected verse(s) from that same story. Finally, use the short devotional and accompanying song lyrics to lead you into a time of personal or group prayer.

Story

Each week of Advent focuses on a single story. Read the story daily.

Reflection

A short section from this story is chosen on which to reflect in order to dig a little deeper. Read this section slowly and more than once.

Devotional

The goal of each devotional is to apply each week’s story to your life in various ways.

Song

Many of these will be familiar to you. Meditate on the lyrics or sing the song out loud if you know it! Ultimately, the song is intended to lead you into a time of focused prayer.

DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2017

THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT Sunday, December 3 The Genesis of Advent John 1:1-5, 9-14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. John 1:1-2

Beginning Commenting on the sacrament of communion, John Calvin said, “I rather experience than understand it.” The same is true when we consider eternity past. It’s rather impossible, at least cognitively speaking, to comprehend how the “Word” God spoke “in the beginning” was not only “with” God, but also “was” God, the same Jesus described in the gospels, a human being who ate, drank, worked with his hands, hung out with friends, and slept at night just like me. We can only experience, but never fully understand, this mystery. We’re always merely scratching the surface.

St. Augustine once said, “I believe in order to understand,” not the other way around. Jesus is always prior… to anything and everything else. He is especially prior to whatever you think you need to do, whomever you think you need to be, or however you think you need to behave, before you come to him in faith. If Jesus was with God in the beginning, then he is with you right now and he will be with you always. You can’t escape the one who has been God from the very start. Trust him. Experience him. Then you’ll understand him, but only in part.

All Praise to Thee, Eternal Lord All praise to thee, eternal Lord, Clothed in a garb of flesh and blood; Choosing a manger for thy throne, While worlds on worlds are thine alone. Once did the skies before thee bow; A virgin’s arms contain thee now: Angels who did in thee rejoice Now listen for thine infant voice.

Advent Prayer Guide Copyright © 2017 City Church


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Monday, December 4 The Genesis of Advent John 1:1-5, 9-14

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. John 1:3

Creation Does the following sound strange? “In the beginning Jesus created the heavens and the earth… 'Jesus said, let there be light, and there was light'… 'Jesus created mankind in his own image… male and female he created them'… 'Jesus saw all that he had made, and it was very good.'” It’s hard to imagine a relationship like the one Jesus has with his Father. Are you close enough to anyone in your life that to speak of what he/she is doing is to simultaneously speak of what you are doing… all the time?

Jesus once said, referring to himself, “...the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does” (John 5:19). God the Father and God the Son are always and forever on the exact same page; they’re committed to the very same ends, always doing the same things, even when it hurts; in fact, especially when it hurts. The only thing that supersedes creation is new creation, which ironically came through the most gruesome and unjust of deaths. He who made everything out of nothing became nothing to give you everything. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Let all mortal flesh keep silence, And with fear and trembling stand; Ponder nothing earthly minded, For with blessing in his hand, Christ our God to earth descendeth, Our full homage to demand.

Tuesday, December 5 The Genesis of Advent John 1:1-5, 9-14

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:4-5

Life and Light I grew up near one of the largest cave systems in the world, appropriately called Mammoth Cave. The most memorable part of the tour is when the lights go out. A guide encourages you to brace yourself for what happens next. And at first, it’s just interesting, but eventually you start to feel pretty heavy; your eyes attempt to adjust, but they can’t. You can literally hold your hand directly in front of your face and not see it. Searching for light, without a glimmer to be found, you try to convince yourself you’re not alone, but it’s painfully easy to imagine what it would be like if you were.

Albus Dumbledore of Harry Potter said, “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” Jesus is that light, the light of life. No matter how dark the darkness gets (even if it’s your own personal variety pack), it can never overcome his light. His light extinguishes your darkness. There’s no more powerful prepositional phrase than the shortest one in all the Bible, “in him.” Find him, find life. Paul wrote, “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:4). Who or what is your life? Answer that question and you’ll know the “who” or “what” you’re “in.” All Praise to Thee, Eternal Lord Thou comest in the darksome night To make us children of the light; To make us, in the realms divine, Like thine own angels round thee shine. All this for us thy love hath done; By this to thee our love is won; For this we tune our cheerful lays, And sing our thanks in ceaseless praise.



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Wednesday, December 6 The Genesis of Advent John 1:1-5, 9-14

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. John 1:9-10

Recognition No one can see without light. How ironic is it when “the true light that gives light to everyone” stops by for a visit, and none of us recognize him? This is perhaps the most telltale sign that the world around us, the world under us, the world in us, is fractured, irreparably bent and broken. We can’t see the one we can’t see without.

It also stands to reason that the citizens of a brighter world, citizens who truly enjoy the benefits of the light in their world, would not only recognize the light whenever the light shined, but also, at the very least say, “wow, thank you!” But not here. Here we are too busy criticizing and complaining, blame-shifting and boasting, arguing and assuming. The truth is… we’re all out of whack for one simple reason; we do not see Jesus, the one who created the world for which we long.

Our first parents, Adam and Eve, rejected that world and more importantly, him. Of course, their posterity (that’s where we come in) has responded no better, only worse. And yet, in response to our collective lack of recognition, he returned to shine an even greater light than the one he shined at creation, the light of redemption. It’s only through this light, the light of his life, death and resurrection, that we can ever see the one we cannot see without.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, thou Lord of might, who to thy tribes, on Sinai’s height, In ancient times didst give the law in cloud and majesty and awe.

Thursday, December 7 The Genesis of Advent John 1:1-5, 9-14

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. John 1:11

Rejection “The world did not recognize him” (v. 10), but “his own did not receive him” (v. 11). The lack of recognition was cosmic, but the rejection was personal. This refers to Israel, the crowds who lined the streets of Jerusalem, praising Jesus at first, shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” but then the very next day turning on him, answering Pilate, in just as loud a voice, “Crucify him.”

This distinction doesn’t mean though that we are off the hook. Why did their “hosanna” so quickly morph into “crucify”? Jesus was not who they wanted him to be. And Jesus is often not who we want him to be either. For example, if you’ve ever cried out to Jesus to save you from the effects of your sin, but not allowed him to be Lord over the area of your life in which you are suffering the effects of your sin, then you want him to be someone he is not. A true “hosanna” comes from a heart that is humbly aware of the “crucify” my heart deserves.

A common question Tim Keller has received during his ministry is, “If I come to Jesus, will I have to change [insert an area of life]?” Tim’s response is always, “When you come to Jesus, everything changes.” To receive Jesus is to give him access to every area of your life. To reject Jesus is to give him access to every area of your life except that one, usually the one in which you anticipate he’s not going to be who you want him to be.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel O come, thou Dayspring from on high, and cheer us by thy drawing nigh; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadow put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, thou Key of David, come and open wide our heav’nly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery.



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Friday, December 8 The Genesis of Advent John 1:1-5, 9-14

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. John 1:12-13

Reception Those who "did receive him” (v. 12) stands in contrast to those who “did not receive him” (v. 11). Israel rejected the same Jesus the Gentiles received. And this changed everything. God transferred the honor of adoption into his family to complete strangers. The gospel declares that the outsiders get an invitation to the party of redemption, too. Paul writes in Romans 11:11, “...because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.”

Steve Brown likes to say, “The first time you receive Jesus it kind of feels like you took a step toward him and then he took a step toward you, but after a while you realize there was a step before your step.” No child chooses to be born; that decision always rests with the parents. So it is with the children of God, “...children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” Once born, always born. If someone ever asks you, “When were you born again?” first share the story of when you received Jesus into your life, the first time you remember believing in him, but make sure you also say, “I must have been born again sometime before that.” No one believes in order to be born again. You must be born again in order to believe.

Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendor Thou who wast rich beyond all splendor, All for love's sake becamest poor; Thrones for a manger didst surrender, Sapphire-paved courts for stable floor. Thou who wast rich beyond all splendor, All for love's sake becamest poor.

Saturday, December 9 The Genesis of Advent John 1:1-5, 9-14

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Incarnation Someone once told me a story that went something like this: Dad: What did you learn in church today? Son: We learned that Jesus was fully God and fully human. Dad: That’s right. Son: Well, I can’t believe that. Dad: Why not? Son: ‘Cause no one can understand that.

The son is onto something. Most essential truths of the Christian faith are deeply mysterious. The most notable are known as the ancient catholic truths.

• Trinity: there is one God, who eternally exists in a communion of three persons - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

• Incarnation: the second person of the Trinity - God, the Son, became human in the person of Jesus Christ, who is both fully God and fully human.

• Atonement: Jesus Christ suffered and died on the cross and was raised from the dead for the salvation of the world.

Eugene Peterson translates this verse as, “The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.” If Jesus was God in the flesh, if he walked and lived among us, then that changes absolutely everything … and if he wasn’t and didn’t then that changes absolutely nothing. Jesus came in flesh from the Father, possessed a one-of-a-kind glory, full of grace and truth, or he didn’t come from the Father in heaven, possessed an uncanny ability to sway crowds, but was full of nothing but smoke and mirrors. As Tim Keller says, “Jesus will do everything for you, or nothing.”

Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendor Thou who art God beyond all praising, All for love's sake becamest man; Stooping so low, but sinners raising Heav’nwards by thine eternal plan. Thou who art God beyond all praising, All for love's sake becamest man.



DECEMBER 10 - 16, 2017

THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT Sunday, December 10 The Fury of Advent Matthew 2:1-18

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. Matthew 2:1-3

Disturbed So many questions surround these “Magi from the east.” Contrary to some popular Christmas carols, there could have been more than three of them, though collectively they did bring three gifts - gold, frankincense and myrrh. They visited Jesus at least forty days after his birth, following the time of Mary’s purification rites required by the law (Luke 2:22-24), and they visited him in a house where he lived, not the manger where he was born (Matthew 2:11). The only other occurrence of “Magi” is Acts 13:6 where it is translated “magician.”

Ancient literature reveals they were most likely a wealthy priestly caste that practiced astrology, which means from the moment of his birth, Jesus drew the attention of outsiders. Magi were also gifted at interpreting dreams. There is no evidence that they were “kings,” but they may have been “kingmakers,” which lends credibility to the disturbance that Jesus’ birth caused Herod and "all Jerusalem with him.”

So much of how we celebrate Christmas today is not disturbing at all, which ironically, is quite disturbing if you pay attention to the actual Christmas story. If you’re a king and a group of “kingmakers” shows up searching for “the one who has been born king of the Jews,” so that they can “worship him,” instead of you, well that’s going to be disturbing. The moment Jesus bursts onto the scene people are confronted with the truth that there is a king and it’s not me.

O Little Town of Bethlehem O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie; Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

Monday, December 11 The Fury of Advent Matthew 2:1-18

When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Matthew 2:4-6

Bethlehem? To Herod’s credit, he is teachable. He knows what he doesn’t know, but must know, so he brings in “all the chief priests and teachers of the law” for a history lesson. His DBQ (document based question)? Where was the Messiah, the “king of the Jews,” to be born? Quoting from the prophet Micah, he gets his answer and the answer is utterly unambiguous, “in Bethlehem in Judea.”

Coaches often tell their players, especially the ones that aren’t very good and therefore, don’t play very much, something like this. “You are not insignificant, you are still a crucial part of this team; in fact, we aren’t a team without you.” A coach says that whenever he senses that the player might feel like the “least” on the team. Can’t you hear the proverbial “there are no small parts, only small actors” in the prophet’s pronouncement regarding Bethlehem? Why Bethlehem? Because this is precisely what God always does. Out of the least likely place on planet earth, poor little podunk Bethlehem, comes the Lord and Savior of the entire world. In God’s kingdom, the smaller you feel, the bigger you are.

O Little Town of Bethlehem For Christ is born of Mary; and gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond’ring love. O morning stars together proclaim the holy birth! And praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth.



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Tuesday, December 12 The Fury of Advent Matthew 2:1-18

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” Matthew 1:7-8

Deception When someone threatens to take something that you have either rightfully earned or been privileged to receive, how do you respond? What plans do you make in secret? What self-protective measures do you deploy? Part of understanding Christmas is having the courage to see Herod in your very own heart. Where is the darkest place of deception you’ve ever encountered? Pogo says, “We have met the enemy and he/she is us.”

In other words, and to take the edge off a bit, there’s a little bit of Simba in all of us. Yes, that Simba, from The Lion King. It’s an extremely catchy jingle, but it’s also a razor sharp articulation of our soul’s deepest cry - “I just can’t wait to be king!” Satan tempts Eve, “...when you eat from it… you will be like God…” We’ve been falling into the same deception ever since. Herod sends out a search party so that he “may go and worship him,” but the “him” he says he wants to worship is really the “him” he is scheming to destroy. To what lengths have you gone in your life, or maybe going to right now, in a vain attempt to usurp the rule of the only true king because you’d rather rule yourself? Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters,” especially if you and he are the only two options.

O Little Town of Bethlehem O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.

Wednesday, December 13 The Fury of Advent Matthew 2:1-18

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. Matthew 2:9-10

Overjoyed It’s a little odd that “they were overjoyed” when “they saw the star” and not the baby. Matthew writes “...it rose and went ahead of them” and then eventually “stopped over the place where the child was.” But before they got to where the star stopped, precisely “when they saw the star,” prior to their arrival, it was then that “they were overjoyed.” What this means is even though they still had a ways to go, they were filled with joy before they laid eyes on the baby born to be a king, not when they saw him.

They don’t mind the journey. There’s joy in the journey even if there’s a greater joy to be had once you arrive. This is instructive. If you know where history is going, if you know the end of the story, if you can just see where his star stops, then joy is always possible, no matter the difficulty of the path before you, as long as it leads to him. Once the Magi saw where the star stopped, “over the place where the child was,” there was suddenly an end in sight, “they were overjoyed,” just as all those who see the light of Jesus should be, even when it’s way off in the distance.

Joy to the World Joy to the world! The Lord is come: let earth receive her King! Let every heart prepare him room, and heav’n and nature sing, And heav’n and nature sing, and heav’n, and heav’n, and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns: let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy.



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Thursday, December 14 The Fury of Advent Matthew 2:1-18 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matthew 2:11-12

Worship The moment they see Jesus their anticipated joy spills over into praise - “they bowed down and worshiped him.” Having found THE treasure “they opened their treasures.” Isn’t that an interesting connection? Generosity with one’s “stuff” comes pretty easy after we find what we’re really looking for. Once you find THE treasure you can’t help but give away your treasures… to honor the greater treasure that you’ve found in him. To worship Jesus is not only to bow down at his feet; it is to lay down all your earthly treasures at the same feet.

You probably don’t pay much attention to your dreams, but they did and it likely saved their lives. God is wildly mysterious - always has been, always will be. If we take our cues from these first followers of Jesus, we are to be filled with joy in the journey to find him, worship him when we find him, be generous to him after we find him and pay attention to where our mind wanders when we fall asleep.

Joy to the World No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove The glories of his righteousness and wonders of his love, And wonders of his love, and wonders, wonders of his love.

Friday, December 15 The Fury of Advent Matthew 2:1-18

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Matthew 2:13-15

Protection Joseph also had a dream. And like the Magi, he paid attention to it. Consider the faith of Jesus’ parents. It truly is remarkable. For starters, it’s hard to imagine that either one of them had any connections to anyone in Egypt. Where did they live? What did they do to provide for themselves? Can you imagine how scary this would have been? Not to mention how their flight to Egypt speaks to what Jesus and his family looked like, in particular their skin color. No man who looks like most caricatures we have of Jesus would’ve been able to hide away in Egypt. Jesus had to have had dark skin because he and his family blended in easily in Egypt.

Now, imagine that a wealthy priestly caste of “kingmakers” visits your home to worship your baby, then you have a dream where you are warned by the angel of the Lord that the actual king - where you have lived your entire life - is going to search for your baby to kill him. How would you, if you were Joseph, communicate this to your wife? Did he casually bring it up over breakfast that morning while Mary sat nursing Jesus? “Honey, I think God may be calling us to move to Egypt.” That’s not how it happened. Matthew tells us how it happened. “So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt.” Their faith is remarkable. I long for it.

O Come, All Ye Faithful O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold him, born the King of angels;

O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.



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Saturday, December 16 The Fury of Advent Matthew 2:1-18

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” Matthew 2:16-18

Fury Christmas is not for the faint of heart. Upon realizing the Magi have outwitted him, Herod initiates a campaign - “...he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under…” This is not depicted in any nativity scene I have ever seen. Just imagine… in another room of your house, a ceramic figurine of Herod, hand raised in proclamation of this murderous decree. Infantile genocide is part of the Christmas story?!?! Why was Herod so filled with fury at the birth of Jesus? The answer is closer to your own heart than you might realize. Jesus posed a threat to his kingship and kingdom. And this offers a convicting lens with which to see our own heart, lives and motives.

Jesus threatens any notion we have of kingship and kingdom, which is to say, any part of us that wants our way, has to be in control, thinks we are right, longs to rule, and the list goes on and on. There’s a little bit of Herod in all of us. Advent is a wonderful time to wrestle with this truth; Jesus is king and I am not.

Angels We Have Heard on High Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains, And the mountains in reply echoing their joyous strains.

Gloria, in excelsis Deo! Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be which inspire your heav’nly song? Come to Bethlehem and see him whose birth the angels sing; Come, adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn king.

DECEMBER 17-23, 2017

THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT Sunday, December 17 The Magnificence of Advent Luke 1:39-55

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:39-41

Leaped Mysteries abound in life; this is especially true in the Bible. A lesser known character in the Wizard of Oz series named Rinkitink says, “Never question the truth of what you fail to understand because the world is filled with wonders.” Indeed. Consider the moment Elizabeth’s baby leaped in her womb. How could she have possibly understood the truth of the wonder going on inside of her? And yet the rest of her story reveals that she knew exactly what was happening.

Have you ever experienced a moment like this? A moment filled with truth so powerful that even though you fail to understand it, you can’t help but embrace the truth you fail to understand. Faith is like that. Truth is like that. It once compelled a teenage mom to hurry off to a nearby town to tell her cousin some jaw-dropping news, only to be greeted with a response that likely made her shake her head even more in faith-filled disbelief. Think about it - conceived by the Holy Spirit in Mary’s womb, Jesus filled others with the same Holy Spirit that had conceived him. There’s no way to understand this, but if you had been Elizabeth or Mary, especially in this moment, there’s no way you’d question it either. Faith is like that. Truth is like that.

O Come, All Ye Faithful God of God, light of light, lo, he abhors not the virgin’s womb; Very God, begotten, not created.

O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation; Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above; glory to God, in the highest.



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Monday, December 18 The Magnificence of Advent Luke 1:39-55

In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:42-45

Blessed The word “blessed” is misunderstood today. It seems to mean something along the lines of “my life is going pretty well.” How are you? “I am blessed.” Or perhaps, “I am favored.” But if you take a longer long look at what blessing and favor looked like in the lives of Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, this notion of “life going pretty well” doesn’t fit. First, there’s Elizabeth. One can only imagine this mother, whose son lived in the wilderness, ate locusts and wild honey, dressed in clothing made of camel hair, called religious authorities “a brood of vipers,” and preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins to thousands of people, was at least a tad bit concerned with her boy’s lifestyle.

Then, there’s Mary, who believed she was the one in whom “the Lord would fulfill his promises.” One can only wonder if Elizabeth’s blessing was on her mind as she knelt at the foot of a Roman cross, where her son was crucified, not only for the whole world to see, but also for the sins of the whole world, hers included. For Mary, to be “blessed,” included Simeon’s prophecy. “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel… the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” It turns out that blessing can be a sword that splits your soul in two.

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; Dear desire of ev’ry nation, joy of ev'ry longing heart. Joy to those who long to see thee, dayspring from on high, appear; Come, thou promised rod of Jesse, of thy birth we long to hear! O’er the hills, the angels singing news, glad tidings of a birth: “Go to him, your praises bringing; Christ the Lord has come to earth.”

Tuesday, December 19 The Magnificence of Advent Luke 1:39-55

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me - holy is his name.” Luke 1:46-49

Blessed… Part 2 To be blessed is also to experience the Lord doing great things for you, not necessarily your doing great things for the Lord. Humility, which Mary possessed in spades, is the key. There’s an entirely unexpected, and therefore beautiful, reality to her response - “...for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.” You can almost hear her saying, “He’s mindful of me… little insignificant me?” Yes, Mary, you!

This is always the way the Lord works. He always chooses who we would never choose. One whose soul glorifies the Lord, not self. One whose spirit rejoices in God, the giver, not the gifts he also generously gives. One whose tongue declares, “holy is his name,” presumably “not mine.” One who, in a word, wholeheartedly embraces the title of “servant.” If Mary was invited to a banquet, is there any doubt where she would take her seat at the table?

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus Come to earth to taste our sadness, he whose glories knew no end; By his life he brings us gladness, our redeemer, shepherd, friend. Leaving riches without number; born within a cattle stall. This the everlasting wonder, Christ was born the Lord of all! Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a king, Born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal Spirit; rule in all our hearts alone; By thine all-sufficient merit; raise us to thy glorious throne.



Wednesday, December 20 The Magnificence of Advent Luke 1:39-55

“His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.” Luke 1:50-51

Scattered Mary must have known her Hebrew scriptures pretty well, especially the book of Proverbs. “He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed” (3:34). Pride says, “Look at what I did all on my own.” Humility says, “He has performed mighty deeds with his arm.” He can do more with his arm than I can do with all of me.

Pride is also its own punishment. Nebuchadnezzar’s story provides a powerful picture of this, of how God “scatters those who are proud.” As he walked on the roof of his palace one day, Nebuchadnezzar proclaimed, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built… by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30) God’s response? “You will be driven away (scattered) from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox… until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.” (Daniel 4:32) It took a while but Nebuchadnezzar finally raised his eyes towards heaven and that’s precisely when his sanity returns. Pride will literally drive you crazy. Sanity is a fruit of humility, the kind that recognizes one’s need for mercy, the mercy he “extends to those who fear him.”

What Child Is This What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing: Haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary.

Thursday, December 21 The Magnificence of Advent Luke 1:39-55

“He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.” Luke 1:52

Lifted God’s kingdom is upside down. “He opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble” (James 4:6). C.S. Lewis’ definition of humility is solid and often cited, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.” The corollary is more practical, “Humility is thinking more often of others than you think about yourself.” How often do you think about others, especially when compared to the frequency with which you think about yourself?

God is not opposed, per se, to rulers sitting on thrones. His one and only Son, Jesus, is right now sitting on a throne at his right hand. The more important question is, "Who occupies the thoughts of the one who sits on the throne?" Jesus’ mind was and is always full of others. His followers are commanded to have the same mindset as him, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:6-7). If you have a heart full of yourself, God will take you down a notch or two, but if you have a heart full of others, which can only come as a gift of grace, God will raise you up. This he did for Jesus, but only after Jesus allowed himself to get taken down on our behalf. Jesus went down, all the way down, to raise you up, all the way up. And this only makes sense to those humble enough to need him.

What Child Is This Why lies he in such mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christians, fear; for sinners here the silent Word is pleading. Nails, spear, shall pierce him through, the cross be borne for me, for you. Hail, hail the Word made flesh, the babe, the son of Mary.



Friday, December 22 The Magnificence of Advent Luke 1:39-55

“He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.” Luke 1:53

Filled God fills the empty and empties the full. Some of the most miserable people in the world have nearly all the world has to offer while some of the most contented people in the world have hardly anything at all.

In Mark 10, a rich man runs up to Jesus, falls on his knees and begs him to answer a question that is the question of us all. “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17). In response, Jesus reminds him of the ten commandments, which the rich man says he has kept since he was a little boy. Instead of pressing him to see if the quality of his obedience was pure all the way down to the motives of his heart, Jesus says something rather jolting, “One thing you lack… go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

The command “come, follow me,” is actually more significant than the command “go, sell everything.” Selling everything would have “emptied” him, but following Jesus is the only thing that would have “filled” him. God fills the empty and empties the full, but the reason is always, as this story reveals, because “he looked at him and loved him” (Mark 10:21). Jesus empties you to fill you because he first emptied himself to forgive you.

What Child Is This So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh, come, peasant, king to own him. The King of kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone him. Raise, raise the song on high, the virgin sings her lullaby; Joy, joy for Christ is born, the babe, the son of Mary.

Saturday, December 23 The Magnificence of Advent Luke 1:39-55

“He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.” Luke 1:54-55

Helped Southern novelist, Flannery O’Connor wrote, “Most people don’t understand mercy because they think they’re too good to deserve any.” It’s a masterful play on words that also highlights the error of something Ben Franklin said, “God helps those who help themselves.” Nothing could be further from the truth, even though many people believe this is in the Bible. God helps those who know they can’t help themselves.

The Lord helps us because it’s his nature to help us, but also because we desperately need it. To understand mercy you must admit that you are not good. The truth is even more dire - you are worse than you think you are. But it’s here, in this dark place, that you’re finally ready to receive what you don’t deserve, namely that no matter how much you try to help yourself, the gospel is that you are loved more than you could ever imagine. How? An ancient prayer reads, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” If God didn’t remember to be merciful to us in Christ, we wouldn’t stand a chance. Mary understood this. She understood it even as the giver of the mercy she needed, as much as we do, was growing inside her.

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king! Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!” Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies; With th’angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ, by highest heav'n adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold him come, offspring of the virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail th’incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.



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DECEMBER 24, 2017

THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT Sunday, December 24 The Joy of Advent Luke 2:8-20

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:16-20

Joy Nativity scenes tend to portray shepherds in a sentimental way, but in first century Israel they were often viewed as untrustworthy and unclean, especially by religious leaders. It’s curious then that a great company of angels would appear to them - shepherds, of all people! And to announce the arrival of Jesus on the night of his birth. They brought them “good news” that would result in “great joy for all people.”

It was good news because this baby came as the fulfillment of long-anticipated Messianic promises. He had come to be their Savior. And one can only suspect that shepherds possessed a rather deep sense of their need for a Savior. That God privileged them with this news is also a reminder that Jesus loves the outsider and irreligious. The angels broke into a song of praise and then disappeared, but the shepherds hurried off to Bethlehem, saw Jesus, returned praising God, and then spread the word about him to others. In the process, the shepherds provide us with a striking picture of what it means to come to faith and follow Jesus.

Go, Tell It on the Mountain While shepherds keep their watching o’er silent flocks by night, Behold throughout the heavens there shone a holy light.

Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere; Go, tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born.

Advent Prayer Guide Copyright © 2017 City Church24

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