Fourth Sunday of Advent
SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:8-11; Acts 18:7-10
8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.
Acts 18:7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God; his house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the official of the synagogue, became a believer in the Lord, together with all his household; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul became believers and were baptized. 9 One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to harm you, for there are many in this city who are my people.
QUESTIONS by Pastor Jerry Tankersley
- Have you ever been afraid of God? What caused the fear?
- Why might the advent of the Son of God frighten some?
- Consider the reassuring messages of the angels to Zachariah, Mary, and the Shepherds. What was the message?
- How was Paul reassured in Corinth? What was the content of the message?
- Does it trouble you that Christians are leaving the Middle East? Why would they leave?
- What is there about western culture that threatens the way of Christ? What do the attitudes of George Carlin and Christopher Hitchens contribute to a hardening to the faith?
- Jim Wallis of Sojourner’s Magazine writes about the Real War on Christmas. What is the real war? How does this inform the mission of Christ?
PRAYER
Generous God,
set us free us
from today’s captivities:
from the need to have more;
from having our identity and self-worth
defined by what we possess;
from the need to be
satisfied without waiting;
from anxiety when
material longings are deferred;
from paralysis and confusion,
in the face of so many needs.
Savior Christ, set us free:
from captivity to anger,
bitterness, and disappointment;
from captivities we cannot speak about, or name.
Savior Christ, Emmanuel,
we meet you now,
in human flesh and bone,
the Word and Wisdom of God
as power in weakness shown.
Savior Christ, come set us free.
