Day 7: Mission Gifts
(Loving Our Neighbors As Ourselves)
Meditation (3-5 Minutes)
Begin by being still before God. Read John 3:16 and meditate on the words.
John 3:16 (NIV)
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
1) Be still and know he is God.
2) Experience God’s Love
3) Do you truly believe in Jesus Christ?
a) If yes, enjoy that belief.
b) If no, ask God to help you believe.
4) Think about eternal life.
a) Picture an eternity with God.
b) Picture singing with a Heavenly Host.
c) Picture your new body.
d) Think about heaven with anticipation.
Prayer (5-10 Minutes)
1) Ask God to speak to you during this devotional time.
2) Requests of the Christ Child (Appendix 1):
a) List people who need Christ in Appendix 1…
i) Do you know people who have never accepted Christ?
ii) Do you know people who once believed but have fallen away?
b) Ask God to help you have a heart for missions this Christmas.
c) Prayerfully update Appendix 1 with new requests and any answers from God.
3) Gifts from the Christ Child (Appendix 2):
a) Thank God for loving us and sending His son. Praise Him for the simplicity of the process for committing our lives to Him.
b) Think of the gifts you have received from being his child. List them in Appendix 2.
c) Praise him for loved ones that know Christ. List them in Appendix 2.
4) Gifts to the Christ Child (Appendix 3):
a) Offer him yourself this Christmas.
b) Make a commitment to donate to a mission fund in the name of Christ. List it in Appendix 3.
c) Prayerfully update Appendix 3.
5) Ask God for knowledge of his will for you this Christmas and the power to carry it out.
6) Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.
Bible Study (10-15 Minutes)
Our mission in the world is to tell others about Christ. Another word for mission is evangelism. I have heard it said that our ministry is to other Christians and our mission is to the world. We love our neighbor as ourselves when we share the greatest gift we have ever received, Jesus Christ. At Christmas, we have many opportunities to share Christ’s love with the world.
Everywhere, the world honors his coming. They may not be deliberately honoring him but they do it anyway. Malls light up with Christmas lights. Stores plan campaigns around Christmas. Christmas music plays on our radios and in stores. How clever Christ is to use worldly desires to spread his message.
Background Scripture
Read Matthew 28:19-20. What do you think it means to “Go and teach all nations?” (Write your answer in your journal.)
We tell the world about Christ but we baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Describe your relationship with each of the three faces of God. (Write your answer in your journal.)
What are we supposed to do after we baptize? (Write your answer in your journal.)
Who is giving us this commission? (Write your answer in your journal.)
Like us, the Disciples doubted their abilities and were frightened by this commission. Jesus made them a promise. What was it? (Write your answer in your journal.)
If you are willing to accept your commission this Christmas, open your journal and write Jesus a letter. Let him know you are willing to accept your commission. Tell him your concerns and insecurities. Tell him what distracts you from fulfilling his commission. Thank him for his promise to be with you. Claim his power.
Read Revelations 3:20. When we tell others about Christ, we know Christ has gone before us. He is standing at the door and knocking. What is his promise to us? (Write your answer in your journal.)
Giving
The Southern Baptist Convention has a mission fund named after the faithful servant of God, Lottie Moon. Lottie Moon was born in the late 1800’s. She spent her life as a missionary to China. The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering funds much of the Baptist Missionary work all over the world. Through funds like the “Lottie Moon Christmas Offering,” each of us has the opportunity to share in the work of missions around the world.
James and Jennifer are a precious young married couple that has committed their lives to helping their world. They are missionaries to Africa. They have made the sacrifice to leave their family and country and live far away. They are raising their two small sons across the world from their grandparents.
In Africa, James and Jennifer cover a wide territory. Their car was unreliable and became a barrier to helping those they are called to help. Through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, James and Jennifer received a “mostly new” van. Now they drive where they need to go without fear of their car breaking down. Those that gave money to the Lottie Moon Offering became a part of James and Jennifer’s ministry in Africa.
Bibles
My daughter Kelley had no trouble telling me her favorite gift. “That’s easy. It was my Precious Moments Bible. It led me to Christ.”
As background to Kelley’s story, I must tell my son Chris’s story. When he was six, we gave him a Bible. He had just learned to read. It is a family tradition that everyone gets to open one gift on Christmas Eve. He opened his Bible. Reverently, he traced his engraved name with his fingers. He stared at the picture of Jesus holding a lamb and surrounded by children. He knew that he had received something important.
We opened the Bible to Luke and haltingly, he read the Christmas story.
“Do you understand what you read?” I asked.
“Yes. God’s son came to earth. He knew that Mary and Joseph took care of the baby.”
“When you are older,” I explained, “You will want to become a Christian and give your life to the baby Jesus.”
Chris was my analytical child. Calmly, he asked, “Why do I have to wait?”
“Most people wait at least until they are eight years old. Some wait much longer. You will have a better understanding when you are a little older.”
“What don’t I understand now?” he demanded. His question caught me by surprise. I had to think. I quickly asked God for the words.
“Do you know whose son Jesus is?”
Solemnly, he nodded, “God’s son.”
“Why did Jesus die on the cross?”
He had already memorized John 3:16. “Jesus died so that we could live in heaven with God.”
“Do you know what sin is?” I asked.
Chris liked knowing the answers. “Sin is when I do bad things.”
“Have you ever sinned?” He nodded and gave a couple of examples of things that were serious to him.
“Are you really ready to commit your life to Jesus?” I asked. I was a little worried because he was so logical and “matter of fact.”
“Why would anyone decide not to commit their life to Jesus?” he asked.
Personally, I have always wondered the same thing. I gave the answer a weak shot. “Sometimes people want to do things their way instead of God’s way. Some people don’t believe in Jesus.”
“That’s silly.” He wanted to move forward with his decision.
That Christmas Eve, Chris and I prayed together as he invited Jesus into his life. As an adult, Chris clearly remembers the experience. He says he never doubted his conversion to Christianity at that moment.
Now back to Kelley. Kelley was still five when she got her fist Bible. She was in kindergarten and could not yet read. “I want a Bible,” she announced.
I had planned to get her one in first grade. “Why don’t we wait until you can read? You have your little New Testament to take to church.” She looked stubborn. Since she loved to copy her big brother, I offered, “Chris did not get his first Bible until he was six.”
When I saw her eyes light up, I knew I had said the wrong thing. My competitive daughter liked getting a Bible a year younger than Chris did. “I want a Bible. You can read it to me.”
While Chris was analytical and reverent, Kelley was bursting with excitement and emotion. She could not wait to get her Bible. “I want to open my Bible on Christmas Eve.” She was bouncing as she opened her Precious Moments Bible. “Read me the Christmas Story,” she said as she handed me the Bible. She climbed in my lap so she could see any pictures.
As we read the Christmas story, I told Kelley about Chris accepting Christ when he got his first Bible. She was fascinated. “Can I do the same thing?”
“Honey, this is serious. You don’t want to do this just to copy your brother. You should wait until you are older.”
Kelley became indignant. She emphatically said, “I already love Jesus. I want to invite him into my life right this very moment.”
I read her some scripture. “Do you know what this means?” There was no doubt in my little Kelley. She clearly understood what she doing. Five seemed young but it felt wrong not to honor her request. We kneeled and prayed together. She confessed her sins, such as they were. She told Jesus she loved him and asked Him to be her friend.
On January 7th, 1986 she talked to the pastor and told him of her decision. He was concerned that a five year old could not possibly understand her decision. She firmly announced, “I do too understand.”
After many gentle questions, he said, “If you decided to “walk the aisle” and present your decision to the church, I will joyfully baptize you. Kelley, when you get older, you might feel the need to go through this process again. Don’t ever feel badly about that.”
She looked him straight in the eye and said, “No I won’t!” He smiled at her enthusiasm. Kelley has loved Jesus all of her life. He became her close friend the night she got her Bible. She knows her decision for Christ was real at age five and remembers the change in her life. She never felt the need to go through the process again. She has never rethought her decision.
She is now at seminary learning to be a minister with children. She believes children have the capacity to turn their lives over to Christ at a young age. “Their lives will be easier if they make this important decision early.” She is committed to helping them know Jesus at an early age.
As adults, Kelley and Chris are close friends. Older, Chris has had tremendous influence on Kelley’s life. That influence was apparent even when she was five years old and wanted to be just like him. In addition to her Bible, Kelley had another mission gift that Christmas. She had a Godly brother that taught her how to surrender to Christ. Chris’s Godly influence on his sister has helped shape a Godly adult that now influences his life.
Mission Gifts: A Warning
Like other gifts, there are some warnings that go with giving mission gifts. Not everyone appreciates getting mission or evangelism gifts. Some think they are boring. Children usually prefer toys. Giving a Bible to someone who has made it clear that he or she does not believe in Christ may create a very tense situation that becomes a barrier to future decisions.
Pray about the decision to give a mission gift. I know several people who were led to Christ by Bibles that made them angry when they received them. I also know other people who say they are not a Christian because family members “shoved it into their faces.”
Closing
Find a way to support the work of missions this Christmas. Send money to a missionary. Give a Bible. Donate to a mission fund. Accept your commission and tell the world about Christ.
Application (5-10 Minutes)
1) Making It Personal
a) Have you given gifts, money, or time this Christmas for leading our world to Christ? Why or why not? (Write your answer in your journal.)
b) Have people close to you rejected Christ or the Bible? Have they been delaying a decision to accept Christ? Get on your knees right now and pray for them. Ask God what you can do for them this Christmas.
c) Is there a gift you need that will help you personally with missions? (Write your answer in your journal.)
2) Praying Continuously (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
a) At meal times and bedtime, pray for people to find Christ this Christmas.
b) As you interact with people:
i) Ask yourself, do I know if they are a Christian?
ii) Ask God what you can to do tell them about Christ.
c) Communicate your needs in 1 c above to a friend or family member.
3) Ending The Day
a) Did you tell the world about Christ? If not, confess.
b) Ask God for his power to do better tomorrow.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Advemt Day 6: Discipleship Gifts
Day 6: Discipleship Gifts
(Loving God With Our Minds)
Meditation (3-5 Minutes)
Begin by being still before God. Read Matthew 16:24-26 and meditate on the words.
Matthew 16:24-25 (AMP)
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to be my disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also]. For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].”
1) Be still and know he is God.
2) Do you desire to be Jesus’ Disciple?
3) Are you willing to deny yourself (forget yourself and your own interests)?
4) Are you willing to take Christ’s cross and:
a) Cleave steadfastly to him?
b) Conform wholly to his example in living and if need be, dying?
5) Are you willing to lose your comfort and security for the sake of being a disciple of Christ?
6) Are you willing to lose your life for the sake of finding it?
7) Be honest before God.
8) Accept his grace in your honesty.
9) Let his spirit speak to you.
Prayer (5-10 Minutes)
1) Ask God to speak to you during this devotional time.
2) Requests of the Christ Child (Appendix 1):
i) Ask God to help you be willing to be a disciple of Christ.
ii) If you are holding on to anything temporal, turn to Appendix 1 and ask God to remove the need.
b) Prayerfully update Appendix 1 with new requests and any answers from God.
3) Gifts from the Christ Child (Appendix 2):
i) Think about gifts that have helped you be a better disciple.
ii) If ones come to mind…
(1) Praise God for them.
(2) List them in Appendix 2.
iii) If nothing comes to mind, ask God to send you something this Christmas.
4) Gifts to the Christ Child (Appendix 3):
i) Turn to Appendix 3: Pray and update.
ii) Do any of your gifts help people to become better Disciples of Christ?
iii) Ask God if you need to make any adjustments.
5) Ask God for knowledge of his will for you this Christmas and the power to carry it out.
6) Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.
Bible Study (10-15 Minutes)
We love the Lord with our entire mind when we become better people. One of our purposes on earth is to become Disciples of Jesus. Gifts that help us be better disciples are discipleship gifts. We are to study the Bible and apply the principals. We are to be qualified for our life’s work. We educate our children and ourselves. Many Christmas gifts are for educational purposes.
Following Jesus starts when we are very young. We know Jesus was a good student. When he was twelve, his knowledge of the law astounded the teachers in the temple. Disciples of Jesus are educated, professionally and spiritually.
Background Scripture
Read Luke 2:46-48: Think about Jesus as a boy. Describe him. Describe his ability to study and learn. Describe his intelligence and curiosity. Was he a good student? How was his attention span? (Write your answers in your journal.)
Read 2 Chronicles 34:10-12. What types of careers do you see in this scripture? Do you know people that perform these today? (Write your answers in your journal.)
Note that the managers handled payroll and paid the workers for their labor. How did the workers perform? (Write your answer in your journal.)
Think about these workers. How do you imagine they were trained to do their work? (Write your answer in your journal.)
Read 2 Timothy 2:15. Whose approval are we seeking when we study? (Write your answer in your journal.)
How should we perform our jobs? (Write your answer in your journal.)
Read Matthew 28:19. What does Jesus tell us to do? (Write your answer in your journal.)
Making disciples is a wonderful Christmas gift. Christmas is a perfect opportunity to make disciples of children. Children have the opportunity to pray about the gifts they give, help with mission projects, and give to others in need. Guiding them through this process will help them throughout their lives.
Bible Software
Many study aids assist us with our Christian discipleship. A few years ago, my husband gave me Bible Software. I use it almost every day. By typing in one word, I can find various scriptures on a topic. I can look at multiple translations and even study the Greek and Hebrew. I used the Bible Software to find the scriptures for this devotion.
The next Christmas, Mama asked for Bible Software. Now both of us are able to search the entire Bible and conduct research on any subject. In a matter of seconds, we can find all of the places God says, “I love you.”
Devotional and other Christian Books
I enjoy reading Oswald Chamber’s devotionals. One Christmas a few years back, my sister-in-law, Louise, gave me the book, “Abandoned To God” by David McCasland. This book is the life story of Oswald Chambers. I enjoyed reading about one of my favorite writers. I learned much from his life. Just this week, I found myself applying a lesson that I learned from that book. Louise’s discipleship gift was also meaningful because it demonstrated that she was paying attention to my personal spiritual interests and growth.
Tools for Learning
Jim is fourteen. “My favorite Christmas gift was a PDA.” A PDA is a personal digital assistant. A hand held computer allows him to keep a calendar, task list, and names and addresses at his fingertips at all times.
Jim has always been a good student. “I am very busy with my school, music, church, family, and friends. I needed the PDA because I was having trouble keeping up with everything I needed. I knew I needed help when I forgot to do a couple of key assignments in Junior High School. The PDA has made all the difference.”
Knowing Jim was responsible; his family decided that he needed a process for managing his time and assignments. Family members taught him some simple lessons in time management. The PDA was a tool given to him to manage his life better. It helped him to “study and show himself approved.” He made straight A’s on his next report card.
Jim is a normal fourteen-year-old. He grinned and said, “It also has games.”
Fellowship Gifts: A Warning
Recipients may not appreciate a gift of discipleship if its intent is to “fix” some problem that the family member or friend is not yet ready to deal with. Worse, they may not have even admitted they have a problem. There is a big difference between making disciples and being critical or minding someone else’s business. There are three rules for giving discipleship gifts: prayer, kindness, and gentleness.
Closing
People tend to use discipleship gifts when they are ready. You may not get immediate feedback on gifts of discipleship. Years ago, I was given a Christian book. I only recently read it, when life circumstances deemed it useful.
One year, I bought devotional books for all four nephews. I had taken time to pick out age appropriate books for each boy. I was excited about the books but also bought “token” toys to go along with them. They are wonderful boys. They were gracious about the books but quickly moved to the toys. I thought possibly my gift of discipleship had been wasted. One of those sweet boys later said, “I love reading my book every night with my mom.”
The same gift can be a discipleship gift to one person and an evangelism or mission gift to another. An example is a Bible. I love giving Family Bibles for wedding presents. For non-Christians, the purpose is evangelism. For Christians, it is discipleship.
Finally, do not forget the gift of time. Being willing to mentor other Disciples of Christ is a gift to the recipient and to yourself.
Application (5-10 Minutes)
1) Making It Personal
a) Are you spending daily time improving yourself? Do you “study and show yourself approved” spiritually and professionally? How can you improve? Are there gifts you need this Christmas that will help you improve? (Write your answer in your journal.)
b) Do you spend time every day studying the Bible and learning how to be a better disciple? How can you improve? What gifts could you use to help with this? (Write your answer in your journal.)
c) Are you loving the Lord God with your entire mind? Are you strengthening that mind daily? How can you do better? (Write your answer in your journal.)
d) Commit to Jesus that you will strengthen your mind every day.
2) Praying Continuously (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
a) As you go through your day, pay attention to your discipleship.
i) Ask God to show you what you need to study.
ii) Did you begin your day with God? Did you have the tools you needed to study His word?
iii) In your profession, is there more you need to know? What can help?
b) Ask God to send you opportunities to model discipleship to the people around you.
c) Pay attention to those around you.
i) Ask God to show you what they need to study.
ii) Resist the temptation to point out their failures.
iii) Pray for them, asking God for a way to make disciples of all nations.
iv) Remembering the rules: prayer, kindness, and gentleness; look for ways to help
d) Communicate your needs in 1a and b above to a friend or family member.
3) Ending The Day
a) Thank God for the privilege of being his disciple.
b) How was your discipleship today? If your discipleship needs improvement, confess.
c) If you need to study more or have found yourself “ashamed of your work,” confess.
d) Ask God to show you ways to be a better disciple tomorrow.
e) Ask God if you owe anyone an apology.
(Loving God With Our Minds)
Meditation (3-5 Minutes)
Begin by being still before God. Read Matthew 16:24-26 and meditate on the words.
Matthew 16:24-25 (AMP)
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to be my disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also]. For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].”
1) Be still and know he is God.
2) Do you desire to be Jesus’ Disciple?
3) Are you willing to deny yourself (forget yourself and your own interests)?
4) Are you willing to take Christ’s cross and:
a) Cleave steadfastly to him?
b) Conform wholly to his example in living and if need be, dying?
5) Are you willing to lose your comfort and security for the sake of being a disciple of Christ?
6) Are you willing to lose your life for the sake of finding it?
7) Be honest before God.
8) Accept his grace in your honesty.
9) Let his spirit speak to you.
Prayer (5-10 Minutes)
1) Ask God to speak to you during this devotional time.
2) Requests of the Christ Child (Appendix 1):
i) Ask God to help you be willing to be a disciple of Christ.
ii) If you are holding on to anything temporal, turn to Appendix 1 and ask God to remove the need.
b) Prayerfully update Appendix 1 with new requests and any answers from God.
3) Gifts from the Christ Child (Appendix 2):
i) Think about gifts that have helped you be a better disciple.
ii) If ones come to mind…
(1) Praise God for them.
(2) List them in Appendix 2.
iii) If nothing comes to mind, ask God to send you something this Christmas.
4) Gifts to the Christ Child (Appendix 3):
i) Turn to Appendix 3: Pray and update.
ii) Do any of your gifts help people to become better Disciples of Christ?
iii) Ask God if you need to make any adjustments.
5) Ask God for knowledge of his will for you this Christmas and the power to carry it out.
6) Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.
Bible Study (10-15 Minutes)
We love the Lord with our entire mind when we become better people. One of our purposes on earth is to become Disciples of Jesus. Gifts that help us be better disciples are discipleship gifts. We are to study the Bible and apply the principals. We are to be qualified for our life’s work. We educate our children and ourselves. Many Christmas gifts are for educational purposes.
Following Jesus starts when we are very young. We know Jesus was a good student. When he was twelve, his knowledge of the law astounded the teachers in the temple. Disciples of Jesus are educated, professionally and spiritually.
Background Scripture
Read Luke 2:46-48: Think about Jesus as a boy. Describe him. Describe his ability to study and learn. Describe his intelligence and curiosity. Was he a good student? How was his attention span? (Write your answers in your journal.)
Read 2 Chronicles 34:10-12. What types of careers do you see in this scripture? Do you know people that perform these today? (Write your answers in your journal.)
Note that the managers handled payroll and paid the workers for their labor. How did the workers perform? (Write your answer in your journal.)
Think about these workers. How do you imagine they were trained to do their work? (Write your answer in your journal.)
Read 2 Timothy 2:15. Whose approval are we seeking when we study? (Write your answer in your journal.)
How should we perform our jobs? (Write your answer in your journal.)
Read Matthew 28:19. What does Jesus tell us to do? (Write your answer in your journal.)
Making disciples is a wonderful Christmas gift. Christmas is a perfect opportunity to make disciples of children. Children have the opportunity to pray about the gifts they give, help with mission projects, and give to others in need. Guiding them through this process will help them throughout their lives.
Bible Software
Many study aids assist us with our Christian discipleship. A few years ago, my husband gave me Bible Software. I use it almost every day. By typing in one word, I can find various scriptures on a topic. I can look at multiple translations and even study the Greek and Hebrew. I used the Bible Software to find the scriptures for this devotion.
The next Christmas, Mama asked for Bible Software. Now both of us are able to search the entire Bible and conduct research on any subject. In a matter of seconds, we can find all of the places God says, “I love you.”
Devotional and other Christian Books
I enjoy reading Oswald Chamber’s devotionals. One Christmas a few years back, my sister-in-law, Louise, gave me the book, “Abandoned To God” by David McCasland. This book is the life story of Oswald Chambers. I enjoyed reading about one of my favorite writers. I learned much from his life. Just this week, I found myself applying a lesson that I learned from that book. Louise’s discipleship gift was also meaningful because it demonstrated that she was paying attention to my personal spiritual interests and growth.
Tools for Learning
Jim is fourteen. “My favorite Christmas gift was a PDA.” A PDA is a personal digital assistant. A hand held computer allows him to keep a calendar, task list, and names and addresses at his fingertips at all times.
Jim has always been a good student. “I am very busy with my school, music, church, family, and friends. I needed the PDA because I was having trouble keeping up with everything I needed. I knew I needed help when I forgot to do a couple of key assignments in Junior High School. The PDA has made all the difference.”
Knowing Jim was responsible; his family decided that he needed a process for managing his time and assignments. Family members taught him some simple lessons in time management. The PDA was a tool given to him to manage his life better. It helped him to “study and show himself approved.” He made straight A’s on his next report card.
Jim is a normal fourteen-year-old. He grinned and said, “It also has games.”
Fellowship Gifts: A Warning
Recipients may not appreciate a gift of discipleship if its intent is to “fix” some problem that the family member or friend is not yet ready to deal with. Worse, they may not have even admitted they have a problem. There is a big difference between making disciples and being critical or minding someone else’s business. There are three rules for giving discipleship gifts: prayer, kindness, and gentleness.
Closing
People tend to use discipleship gifts when they are ready. You may not get immediate feedback on gifts of discipleship. Years ago, I was given a Christian book. I only recently read it, when life circumstances deemed it useful.
One year, I bought devotional books for all four nephews. I had taken time to pick out age appropriate books for each boy. I was excited about the books but also bought “token” toys to go along with them. They are wonderful boys. They were gracious about the books but quickly moved to the toys. I thought possibly my gift of discipleship had been wasted. One of those sweet boys later said, “I love reading my book every night with my mom.”
The same gift can be a discipleship gift to one person and an evangelism or mission gift to another. An example is a Bible. I love giving Family Bibles for wedding presents. For non-Christians, the purpose is evangelism. For Christians, it is discipleship.
Finally, do not forget the gift of time. Being willing to mentor other Disciples of Christ is a gift to the recipient and to yourself.
Application (5-10 Minutes)
1) Making It Personal
a) Are you spending daily time improving yourself? Do you “study and show yourself approved” spiritually and professionally? How can you improve? Are there gifts you need this Christmas that will help you improve? (Write your answer in your journal.)
b) Do you spend time every day studying the Bible and learning how to be a better disciple? How can you improve? What gifts could you use to help with this? (Write your answer in your journal.)
c) Are you loving the Lord God with your entire mind? Are you strengthening that mind daily? How can you do better? (Write your answer in your journal.)
d) Commit to Jesus that you will strengthen your mind every day.
2) Praying Continuously (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
a) As you go through your day, pay attention to your discipleship.
i) Ask God to show you what you need to study.
ii) Did you begin your day with God? Did you have the tools you needed to study His word?
iii) In your profession, is there more you need to know? What can help?
b) Ask God to send you opportunities to model discipleship to the people around you.
c) Pay attention to those around you.
i) Ask God to show you what they need to study.
ii) Resist the temptation to point out their failures.
iii) Pray for them, asking God for a way to make disciples of all nations.
iv) Remembering the rules: prayer, kindness, and gentleness; look for ways to help
d) Communicate your needs in 1a and b above to a friend or family member.
3) Ending The Day
a) Thank God for the privilege of being his disciple.
b) How was your discipleship today? If your discipleship needs improvement, confess.
c) If you need to study more or have found yourself “ashamed of your work,” confess.
d) Ask God to show you ways to be a better disciple tomorrow.
e) Ask God if you owe anyone an apology.
Friday, December 6, 2013
Advent Day 5: Fellowship Gifts
Day 5: Fellowship Gifts
(Loving God With Our Heart)
Meditation (3-5 Minutes)
Begin by being still before God. Read Revelations 4:11 and meditate on the words.
Rev 4:11 (KJV)
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
1) Be still and know he is God.
2) Mediate on God’s worthiness.
3) Think about his glory, honor, and power…
a) Imagine his glory.
b) Give him honor.
c) Feel his power.
4) Meditate on his creations…
a) Picture the most beautiful places you have seen.
b) Think about the people you know.
c) Think about his wonders on earth.
5) Enjoy being created for God’s pleasure.
Prayer (5-10 Minutes)
1) Ask God to speak to you during this devotional time.
2) Requests of the Christ Child (Appendix 1):
a) Think about the people with whom you fellowship…
i) Pray for their needs.
ii) List their needs in Appendix 1.
iii) Ask God to help you learn to have better fellowship with the people in your life.
b) Think about your church…
i) Pray for her needs.
ii) List them in Appendix 1.
iii) Ask God to help you learn to have better fellowship through your church.
c) Think about your relationship with the Christ Child…
i) Ask God to help you learn to have better fellowship.
ii) Write the request in Appendix 1.
d) Pray for the other needs in Appendix 1.
3) Gifts from the Christ Child (Appendix 2):
a) Praise God for the fellowship with:
i) Him
ii) Your church
iii) The people in your life.
b) List specific fellowship blessings that come to mind in Appendix 2.
4) Gifts to the Christ Child (Appendix 3):
a) God longs for fellowship with you this Christmas. He created you for his pleasure. Offer him yourself for Christmas.
b) Turn to Appendix 3. Will your list delight your recipients?
c) Pray and update the list.
5) Ask God for knowledge of his will for you this Christmas and the power to carry it out.
6) Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.
Bible Study (10-15 Minutes)
We love God with our hearts when we learn to fellowship with God, friends, family, and our church. God created us for his pleasure. The word pleasure means a source of enjoyment or delight. God takes delight in us and wants to give us the delights of our hearts. He is delighted when we delight each other. Gifts of fellowship delight.
Background Scripture
Read Psalms 149:4. Say the words, “The Lord takes delight in me.” Write them in your journal. Memorize this scripture.
Read Zephaniah 3:17. Change the words “your” and “you” to “my” and “me.” Write out the first phrase in your journal.
God is mighty enough to save us from anything, including the Christmas rush. This Christmas, he is taking delight in us. Harried as Christmas is, if you let him, he will quiet us. What will he use to quiet us? (Write your answer in your journal.)
We sing Carols at Christmas. We rejoice over the birth of the Christ Child. God is also rejoicing over us. While we are singing, how is he rejoicing over us? (Write your answer in your journal.)
Read Ephesians 1:4-5. God sent His son Jesus to earth for us. What were we predestined to be? (Write your answer in your journal.)
Why did he do this for us? (Write your answer in your journal.)
God took great pleasure in giving us our very first Christmas gift. Is it any wonder that so many of the Christmas gifts we give each other are for the purpose of our pleasure?
Read 1 John 3:1. How great is our Father’s love? What are we? (Write your answers in your journal.)
Fellowship Gift: A Charm Bracelet
Nancy grew up in a practical home that gave practical Christmas Gifts. There never seemed to be enough money. At Christmas, she asked for many things. She did not get most of them. “Once, I wanted a Fish Basket purse that cost $10. I begged my parents for one. I offered to work and help pay for it. My father refused and said I had no idea how much $10 really was.” For them, $10 was a fortune.
“One Christmas, I asked for a silver charm bracelet. I felt guilty for asking but I longed for this bracelet. It was expensive and had no practical purpose. After the Fish Basket incident, I did not expect to receive this charm bracelet.”
When Nancy opened her Christmas gift, she was shocked and delighted to find a silver charm bracelet. “I will remember this gift forever.” Forty years later, she still remembers the delight of this gift. “My parents had sacrificed to get this gift. I felt loved every time I wore the bracelet.”
Fellowship Gift: The Puppy
Duncan was four. “I remember lying in bed and hearing a puppy crying. I got up in the middle of the night and found my new Christmas puppy. I loved it and played with it until way into the night. Suddenly, I became aware of how many other presents were under the tree. I decided I wanted to know what was in the packages.”
While his parents were peacefully sleeping, he proceeded to open every single package that was under the tree. His parents woke the next morning to having to re-wrap everyone’s Christmas presents. The Christmas he remembers most fondly includes the pleasure of the fellowship with his dog and the spanking he got from his father.
Fellowship Gift: The Ski Trip
Josh and Jeremy are brothers. Their favorite Christmas gift was a snow skiing trip to Colorado with their extended family. Nine members of the same family decided to give each other the gift of fellowship and to spend a week together in a Condo. “We had a wonderful time,” Josh reported. “We spent our days on the slopes and our evenings playing games, sitting around a fire, and drinking hot chocolate.”
Fellowship Gift: A Gold Chain
My husband Bob says one of his favorite presents is the gold chain that he wears every day. “I have no idea how many years ago you gave it to me.” He seldom takes it off. “Wearing it reminds me of our love. It also reminds me to pray for you.” My husband is a smart man. It is Christmas and I am in the process of selecting his gifts. His affirmation has put me in a mood to be more generous.
Fellowship Gifts: A Warning
There are certainly temptations when giving and receiving gifts of the heart. Some people enjoy gifts of fellowship so much that they miss the pleasure of all the other purposes in giving. Some may be so practical that they fail to enjoy a gift that is purely for fellowship or pleasure.
If you are one that loves gifts of the heart, you may be tempted to give no other kind of gift. Gift giving is not for us. We are to look at the needs and the desires of the people receiving our gifts on behalf of the Christ Child. The Christ Child wants them delighted. People may have specific practical needs during the Christmas season. If someone is extremely practical, your fellowship gift to may seem frivolous.
Closing
God wants us to be part of his family, as adopted sons and daughters. He wants his family to love care for each other. We are God’s precious children and his fingerprints are everywhere. Every gift we receive has God’s fingerprints on it. He constantly sends us reminders of his love. Like Nancy’s parents, he delights us with special gifts. Like Duncan’s family, he can love us and discipline us all at the same time. Like Josh and Jeremy’s family, he spends time with us. Like the relationship that Bob’s gold chain represents, he longs for a relationship with us.
If you ask any child what they want for Christmas, they will tell you toys. Most adults remember their childhood as their most pleasant Christmases. They received their toys with pleasure. They played together and their parents even played with them.
Most people love gifts of fellowship. These gifts include anything that brings us together or has the specific purpose of pleasure. One may find pleasure in more practical gifts but pleasure is worthy in itself. When assessing whether a Christmas gift has a Godly purpose, bringing pleasure can be enough.
Application (5-10 Minutes)
1) Making It Personal
a) God takes pleasure in us.
i) Do you take pleasure in Him? How can you improve? (Write your answers in your journal.)
ii) Do you take pleasure in your family? How can you improve? (Write your answers in your journal.)
iii) Do you take pleasure in your church? How can you improve? (Write your answers in your journal.)
b) Delight
i) Do the lights and the trees make you grin?
ii) Do you get excited about the gifts you are given?
iii) Do your gifts delight the people around you?
iv) Are you delighted with this Christmas season? If not, what would it take to delight you? (Write your answer in your journal.)
v) What fellowship gift would delight you? (Write your answer in your journal.)
vi) Be still and take a moment. Let yourself feel the delight of His presence.
2) Praying Continuously (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
a) Think like a child. Children understand that living life for sheer delight is acceptable. As you go through your day, look for ways to be delighted.
b) As you perform each task, ask yourself:
i) Do I take pleasure in this task? If the answer is yes, praise God for the task.
ii) If the answer is no, ask God to help you take delight in the task.
c) At least once during the day, take a moment and give the gift of your time for the sake of fellowship.
d) At least once during the day, do something for yourself that has no other purpose than your pleasure. Blow bubbles. Buy yourself a small gift. Read the comic strips. Take a bubble bath. Step outside and enjoy the wind blowing on your face.
e) At each mealtime and at bedtime, take a moment to find delight in God’s presence (or is it presents?).
3) Ending The Day
a) Thank God for fellowship at Christmas.
b) Thank God for taking delight in us.
c) Tell Him how much you love Him.
d) If you do not take delight in Christmas, confess and ask God to give you the heart of a child.
e) If your gifts do not delight God and people, ask God to teach you how to demonstrate his delight in us through the gifts you give to others.
f) If you do not know how to relax and enjoy the fellowship of giving and receiving gifts, ask God to help you.
(Loving God With Our Heart)
Meditation (3-5 Minutes)
Begin by being still before God. Read Revelations 4:11 and meditate on the words.
Rev 4:11 (KJV)
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
1) Be still and know he is God.
2) Mediate on God’s worthiness.
3) Think about his glory, honor, and power…
a) Imagine his glory.
b) Give him honor.
c) Feel his power.
4) Meditate on his creations…
a) Picture the most beautiful places you have seen.
b) Think about the people you know.
c) Think about his wonders on earth.
5) Enjoy being created for God’s pleasure.
Prayer (5-10 Minutes)
1) Ask God to speak to you during this devotional time.
2) Requests of the Christ Child (Appendix 1):
a) Think about the people with whom you fellowship…
i) Pray for their needs.
ii) List their needs in Appendix 1.
iii) Ask God to help you learn to have better fellowship with the people in your life.
b) Think about your church…
i) Pray for her needs.
ii) List them in Appendix 1.
iii) Ask God to help you learn to have better fellowship through your church.
c) Think about your relationship with the Christ Child…
i) Ask God to help you learn to have better fellowship.
ii) Write the request in Appendix 1.
d) Pray for the other needs in Appendix 1.
3) Gifts from the Christ Child (Appendix 2):
a) Praise God for the fellowship with:
i) Him
ii) Your church
iii) The people in your life.
b) List specific fellowship blessings that come to mind in Appendix 2.
4) Gifts to the Christ Child (Appendix 3):
a) God longs for fellowship with you this Christmas. He created you for his pleasure. Offer him yourself for Christmas.
b) Turn to Appendix 3. Will your list delight your recipients?
c) Pray and update the list.
5) Ask God for knowledge of his will for you this Christmas and the power to carry it out.
6) Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.
Bible Study (10-15 Minutes)
We love God with our hearts when we learn to fellowship with God, friends, family, and our church. God created us for his pleasure. The word pleasure means a source of enjoyment or delight. God takes delight in us and wants to give us the delights of our hearts. He is delighted when we delight each other. Gifts of fellowship delight.
Background Scripture
Read Psalms 149:4. Say the words, “The Lord takes delight in me.” Write them in your journal. Memorize this scripture.
Read Zephaniah 3:17. Change the words “your” and “you” to “my” and “me.” Write out the first phrase in your journal.
God is mighty enough to save us from anything, including the Christmas rush. This Christmas, he is taking delight in us. Harried as Christmas is, if you let him, he will quiet us. What will he use to quiet us? (Write your answer in your journal.)
We sing Carols at Christmas. We rejoice over the birth of the Christ Child. God is also rejoicing over us. While we are singing, how is he rejoicing over us? (Write your answer in your journal.)
Read Ephesians 1:4-5. God sent His son Jesus to earth for us. What were we predestined to be? (Write your answer in your journal.)
Why did he do this for us? (Write your answer in your journal.)
God took great pleasure in giving us our very first Christmas gift. Is it any wonder that so many of the Christmas gifts we give each other are for the purpose of our pleasure?
Read 1 John 3:1. How great is our Father’s love? What are we? (Write your answers in your journal.)
Fellowship Gift: A Charm Bracelet
Nancy grew up in a practical home that gave practical Christmas Gifts. There never seemed to be enough money. At Christmas, she asked for many things. She did not get most of them. “Once, I wanted a Fish Basket purse that cost $10. I begged my parents for one. I offered to work and help pay for it. My father refused and said I had no idea how much $10 really was.” For them, $10 was a fortune.
“One Christmas, I asked for a silver charm bracelet. I felt guilty for asking but I longed for this bracelet. It was expensive and had no practical purpose. After the Fish Basket incident, I did not expect to receive this charm bracelet.”
When Nancy opened her Christmas gift, she was shocked and delighted to find a silver charm bracelet. “I will remember this gift forever.” Forty years later, she still remembers the delight of this gift. “My parents had sacrificed to get this gift. I felt loved every time I wore the bracelet.”
Fellowship Gift: The Puppy
Duncan was four. “I remember lying in bed and hearing a puppy crying. I got up in the middle of the night and found my new Christmas puppy. I loved it and played with it until way into the night. Suddenly, I became aware of how many other presents were under the tree. I decided I wanted to know what was in the packages.”
While his parents were peacefully sleeping, he proceeded to open every single package that was under the tree. His parents woke the next morning to having to re-wrap everyone’s Christmas presents. The Christmas he remembers most fondly includes the pleasure of the fellowship with his dog and the spanking he got from his father.
Fellowship Gift: The Ski Trip
Josh and Jeremy are brothers. Their favorite Christmas gift was a snow skiing trip to Colorado with their extended family. Nine members of the same family decided to give each other the gift of fellowship and to spend a week together in a Condo. “We had a wonderful time,” Josh reported. “We spent our days on the slopes and our evenings playing games, sitting around a fire, and drinking hot chocolate.”
Fellowship Gift: A Gold Chain
My husband Bob says one of his favorite presents is the gold chain that he wears every day. “I have no idea how many years ago you gave it to me.” He seldom takes it off. “Wearing it reminds me of our love. It also reminds me to pray for you.” My husband is a smart man. It is Christmas and I am in the process of selecting his gifts. His affirmation has put me in a mood to be more generous.
Fellowship Gifts: A Warning
There are certainly temptations when giving and receiving gifts of the heart. Some people enjoy gifts of fellowship so much that they miss the pleasure of all the other purposes in giving. Some may be so practical that they fail to enjoy a gift that is purely for fellowship or pleasure.
If you are one that loves gifts of the heart, you may be tempted to give no other kind of gift. Gift giving is not for us. We are to look at the needs and the desires of the people receiving our gifts on behalf of the Christ Child. The Christ Child wants them delighted. People may have specific practical needs during the Christmas season. If someone is extremely practical, your fellowship gift to may seem frivolous.
Closing
God wants us to be part of his family, as adopted sons and daughters. He wants his family to love care for each other. We are God’s precious children and his fingerprints are everywhere. Every gift we receive has God’s fingerprints on it. He constantly sends us reminders of his love. Like Nancy’s parents, he delights us with special gifts. Like Duncan’s family, he can love us and discipline us all at the same time. Like Josh and Jeremy’s family, he spends time with us. Like the relationship that Bob’s gold chain represents, he longs for a relationship with us.
If you ask any child what they want for Christmas, they will tell you toys. Most adults remember their childhood as their most pleasant Christmases. They received their toys with pleasure. They played together and their parents even played with them.
Most people love gifts of fellowship. These gifts include anything that brings us together or has the specific purpose of pleasure. One may find pleasure in more practical gifts but pleasure is worthy in itself. When assessing whether a Christmas gift has a Godly purpose, bringing pleasure can be enough.
Application (5-10 Minutes)
1) Making It Personal
a) God takes pleasure in us.
i) Do you take pleasure in Him? How can you improve? (Write your answers in your journal.)
ii) Do you take pleasure in your family? How can you improve? (Write your answers in your journal.)
iii) Do you take pleasure in your church? How can you improve? (Write your answers in your journal.)
b) Delight
i) Do the lights and the trees make you grin?
ii) Do you get excited about the gifts you are given?
iii) Do your gifts delight the people around you?
iv) Are you delighted with this Christmas season? If not, what would it take to delight you? (Write your answer in your journal.)
v) What fellowship gift would delight you? (Write your answer in your journal.)
vi) Be still and take a moment. Let yourself feel the delight of His presence.
2) Praying Continuously (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
a) Think like a child. Children understand that living life for sheer delight is acceptable. As you go through your day, look for ways to be delighted.
b) As you perform each task, ask yourself:
i) Do I take pleasure in this task? If the answer is yes, praise God for the task.
ii) If the answer is no, ask God to help you take delight in the task.
c) At least once during the day, take a moment and give the gift of your time for the sake of fellowship.
d) At least once during the day, do something for yourself that has no other purpose than your pleasure. Blow bubbles. Buy yourself a small gift. Read the comic strips. Take a bubble bath. Step outside and enjoy the wind blowing on your face.
e) At each mealtime and at bedtime, take a moment to find delight in God’s presence (or is it presents?).
3) Ending The Day
a) Thank God for fellowship at Christmas.
b) Thank God for taking delight in us.
c) Tell Him how much you love Him.
d) If you do not take delight in Christmas, confess and ask God to give you the heart of a child.
e) If your gifts do not delight God and people, ask God to teach you how to demonstrate his delight in us through the gifts you give to others.
f) If you do not know how to relax and enjoy the fellowship of giving and receiving gifts, ask God to help you.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Advent Day 4 - Ministry Gifts
Day 4: Ministry Gifts
(Loving God With Our Strength)
Meditation (3-5 Minutes)
Begin by being still before God. Read Colossians 1:17 and meditate on the words.
Colossians 1:17 (NIV)
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
1) Be still and know he is God.
2) Think about your life.
a) What is it like?
b) What is causing you stress?
c) What are you grateful for?
3) Think about the words, “He is before all things.”
a) Your father knows everything you are going through.
b) He was there before you, preparing the way.
c) Think about a difficult time in your past. Do you now understand that God was before you throughout the ordeal?
d) Take a moment to bask in the relief of God’s promise to be “before all things.”
4) Think about the words, “In him all things hold together.”
a) Are you “in him?”
b) If so, everything in your life will “hold together” and improve your personal ministry.
c) Think about a difficult time in your past. Has that “held together” and made you stronger?
d) Take a moment to bask in the relief of God’s promise that “all things will hold together.”
Prayer (5-10 Minutes)
1) Ask God to speak to you during this devotional time.
2) Requests of the Christ Child (Appendix 1):
a) Ask for knowledge of his will for you this Christmas.
b) Ask for understanding…
i) Understanding for how your life is “holding Together.”
ii) Understanding of what is happening around you.
c) Ask for wisdom…
i) Wisdom to know how to respond to your circumstances.
ii) Wisdom to be able to fulfill your personal ministry this Christmas.
d) Turn to Appendix 1: pray and update.
3) Gifts from the Christ Child (Appendix 2):
a) Think about the practical Christmas gifts you have received.
b) How did they help you fulfill you personal ministries or calling?
c) Praise God for them.
d) Turn to Appendix 2: pray and update.
4) Gifts to the Christ Child (Appendix 3):
i) Do you plan to give any practical gifts this year?
ii) How will they help the people you will give them to?
iii) Pray that these gifts will serve God’s purpose.
iv) Turn to Appendix 3: pray and update.
5) Ask God for knowledge of his will for you this Christmas and the power to carry it out.
6) Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.
Bible Study (10-15 Minutes)
As humans, we were formed to serve God. Each of us has a role of service on earth. Much of this service may seem insignificant until we understand how all things hold together. As Christians, we are to turn our entire lives over to God. Occasionally, God calls us to dramatic or great things. More often, our calling is to perform every day tasks for the Glory of God.
God expects us to wake up every morning asking for knowledge of His will for that day and the power to carry it out. God will grant us this knowledge and the power to fulfill our purpose. If we are pursuing our purpose, God ordains each of the tasks we do throughout the day. These tasks will hold together and form a tapestry that mysteriously and wondrously ministers to the world around us. We minister as we live our lives.
Background Scripture
Read Colossians 1:9-12. We are to ask God to fill us with the knowledge of his will through all_____________. (Write your answer in your journal.)
We pray for knowledge of his will so we can live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way. Through the ordinary tasks of our lives, we bear fruit and grow in ______________. (Write your answer in your journal.)
Our strength comes from God as he blesses us with “all power according to his glorious might.” What comes from this strength? ___________ and ___________. (Write your answer in your journal.) Take a moment to praise the Father, who has qualified you to “Share in the inheritance of the saints in the Kingdom of Light.”
Read Jesus’ prayer in John 17:1-5. Jesus’ work on earth was complete. Write his prayer in verse 4 (in your journal).
Are you working towards completing the work given to you? (Write your answer in your journal.)
Write Jesus’ prayer in verse 5 (in your journal). Ask that you be glorified in God’s presence.
Many of the gifts we receive at Christmas facilitate our ability to complete the work God gives us. God goes before us in all things and plans what we need. Our gifts “hold together” and enable us to fulfill our ministries. Like Jesus, we glorify God by completing the work he gave us to do. Ministry gifts help people complete their work on earth.
Ministry Gift: Fountain Pen
Cecil grew up in a home with seven children. The family did not have much money for Christmas. On Christmas morning, each child got a stocking. This stocking contained all of their Christmas gifts. Each stocking had an apple, orange, and some pressed Christmas Candy. “Our mouth watered for that candy as we tried to fall asleep on Christmas Eve,” Cecil reported. “We were allowed to pick one twenty-five cent and one ten cent toy to go in our stockings.”
“Did you have a favorite gift?” I wondered.
“I always asked for a fountain pen. You could get a wonderful fountain pen and pencil set for twenty-five cents. I used my pen all year in school. I was able to help my brothers and sisters with my pen and pencil.” While pens are essential to our everyday life, many of us take fountain pens for granted. There are always plenty to use. If we forget one, we can ask someone to loan us one. We casually leave them on counters or walk off with ones that belong to others. We find several at the bottom of old and discarded purses.
Would we be so careless with our pens if we could only have one? I have a vision of a tiny Cecil, 65 years ago, feeling blessed to have his very own fountain pen. How he must have treasured and cared for that fountain pen. “Did you ever lose it?” I asked.
“No,” Cecil answered. “I took it with me everywhere.”
Cecil is not completely practical. He also has a playful side. “For my ten cents gift, I always asked for a toy. My favorite was a toy monkey that climbed a stick.”
Ministry Gifts: Shoeboxes Filled With Soap
Our church has a ministry for migrant workers and their children. Many fill shoeboxes with gifts for the children. The gifts they appreciate most are the ones that are the practical. They love soaps, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and deodorants.
Most of us take these practical items for granted. We travel and stay at hotels. We casually open a bar of soap or bottle of shampoo and use only part of the contents. The children open these shoebox treasures and use all of the contents. When a bottle of shampoo is empty, they probably fill it with water to take advantage of all of the contents of this bottle.
These children are not completely practical. They giggle and glow as they play with the toys in the shoeboxes.
Ministry Gift: China
Grace has always loved Christmas. She grew up in a Christian home that made a big deal out of Christmas. One gift that stood out to her was dishes. It is interesting that this gift cost her parents nothing but time and effort. Grace married right after the war. It is traditional to give china as wedding gifts but because of the war, stores could not get china. They sold redeemable certificates for when the china was available. Grace got china certificates at most of her wedding showers.
“Since the store had the phone number of my parents, they got the call when the china finally arrived. They had the certificates. Instead of calling me, they went to the store and redeemed all of the certificates. They wrapped the china and put it under the tree for me. I was thrilled on Christmas morning when I opened my china.” Grace received this gift twice, once at her wedding showers and once at Christmas. “I loved it both times.”
Grace’s parents ministered to Grace by doing an errand that would have taken Grace’s time. They ministered to her spirit by using this errand to surprise her and make her feel treasured. Grace uses the china to serve people in her home.
Grace is also not completely practical. She also loves getting gold jewelry and gold accessories at Christmas.
Ministry Gifts: A Warning
There is a word of caution about giving ministry gifts. Not everyone appreciates them. People that enjoy ministry gifts tend to be practical or in need. Ministry gifts may include things like blenders, vacuum cleaners, irons, and mops. One woman complained, “My family only gives these gifts so I can do more work.”
If you are very practical, you may tend to give practical gifts yourself. Be sure your gifts model the receiver’s preferences and not your own. Gifts are for the Christ Child and not for us. The Christ Child came to meet the needs and even the wants of his children. Make sure you are following his model as you give your gifts.
Read Hebrews 13:20-21. If we ask, God will equip us with what we need to fulfill the ministries of our lives. At Christmas, we have the opportunity to give gifts that help people fulfill their personal ministries.
Application (5-10 Minutes)
1) Making It Personal
a) Do you know what your ministry purpose is this Christmas? How are you ministering to the people around you in the ordinary tasks of your day? (Write your answer in your journal.)
b) List any gifts you could ask family members for that would assist with your ministry. (Write your answer in your journal.)
c) Pray for the ministries of people around you. Ask God to show you ways to make their lives and ministries easier and more effective.
2) Praying Continuously (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
a) As you go through your day, look for people helping others. Be sure to notice the simplest things. Notice the tools they use to help. Praise God for the people and the tools you observe.
b) Ask God to send you three ways to help other people today.
c) Take the opportunities God hands you. These opportunities may be simple or complicated.
d) Communicate your gift needs in 1b above to a family member or a friend.
3) Ending The Day
a) Did you carry out your daily tasks to the Glory of God? If not, confess.
b) Did you minister to those around you? If not, confess.
c) Thank God for the ministers in your life.
d) Ask God to provide the tools you need to fulfill your ministry this Christmas.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Advent Day 3: Giving Gifts on Purpose
Meditation (3-5 Minutes)
Begin by being still before God. Read Proverbs 18:16 and meditate on the words.
Proverbs 18:16 (NIV)
A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great.
1) Be still and know he is God.
2) Think about some of the Christmas gifts you have given in years past.
a) Were they from the heart?
b) How did you pick them out?
c) Did you pray about them?
d) Did you enjoy giving them?
e) Did they serve a purpose in God’s kingdom?
3) Picture yourself standing at a door on Christmas morning.
a) Your arms are overflowing with gifts and it is hard to knock.
b) Excited children quickly open the door.
c) What is the look in their eyes as they see your gifts?
4) Picture yourself standing at the door of the “Presence of the Great.”
a) Your arms are overflowing with gifts and it is hard to knock.
b) “The Great” quickly opens the door.
c) What is the look in His eyes as he sees your gifts?
5) Sit quietly and experience the “Presence of the Great.”
Prayer (5-10 Minutes)
1) Ask God to speak to you during this devotional time.
2) Requests of the Christ Child (Appendix 1):
i) Ask God to help you to understand the purpose of giving gifts at Christmas.
ii) Ask God to help you release:
(1) Resentments of family pressure to give more.
(2) Fear that the gifts you can afford will not be enough.
(3) Worry about the time it takes to buy or make gifts at Christmas.
(4) Stinginess or greed
iii) Turn to Appendix 1: pray and update.
3) Gifts from the Christ Child (Appendix 2):
i) Think about Christmas gifts you have received or expect to receive.
ii) Praise God for his gifts to you.
iii) Turn to Appendix 2 and list anything that comes to mind.
4) Gifts to the Christ Child (Appendix 3):
i) Ask God to guide you as you pick out your Christmas gifts.
ii) Thank God that these gifts will usher you into the “Presence of the Great.”
iii) Turn to Appendix 3.
(1) Scan the list thinking of these gifts as gifts to the Christ Child.
(2) Ask the Christ Child what he wants for Christmas.
(3) Update the list.
5) Ask God for knowledge of his will for you this Christmas and the power to carry it out.
6) Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.
Bible Study (10-15 Minutes)
God gave the first Christmas gift. Jesus Christ coming to earth was his Christmas gift to us. He came for everyone. It is our choice to accept or reject that very first Christmas gift. We celebrate Christmas because God sent His son to us.
Most of us give gifts at Christmas. Merchants plan much of their economic year based on expectations for Christmas. Studies show that each American spends an average of $800 a year for Christmas. Since many people in America spend nothing for Christmas, that means many of us spend much more than $800.
Some wonder if Christmas has become too commercial and if we spend too much time and money on Christmas. People often wonder if the gifts we give get in the way of the meaning of Christmas.
The answer to those questions lies in the purpose of the gifts we give. Giving gifts “on purpose” is an important part of the Christmas Season. Giving gifts to God’s children is part of our relationship with God. Like everything else in our relationship with God, gift giving at Christmas should serve God’s purpose in the lives of the giver and the receiver.
Background Scripture
Read Matthew 25:40. When we give gifts, to whom are we really giving? (Write your answer in your journal.)
Read Matthew 2:1-11. The first Christmas gifts given to the Christ Child were from Wise Men from the East. Note the time and effort that the men went to in order to celebrate this first Christmas. What obstacles did they have to overcome? (Write your answer in your journal.)
Note that these Wise Men were both generous and frugal. We know the gifts were precious to them because we see the words “They Opened their Treasures.” We also know they could afford to give what they gave because of the word “their.” These men did not go into debt to give their gifts to the Christ Child. What gifts did the Wise Men give to the Christ Child? (Write your answer in your journal.)
What did the Wise Men do as they gave these gifts? (Write your answer in your journal.)
Jesus was a baby. He would not have known what to do with the gifts given to him. Like us, the Wise men had to give gifts to Jesus through other people. Who do you think really used the gifts from the Wise Men? (Write your answer in your journal.)
What purpose do you think these gifts served? (Write your answer in your journal.)
Gifts with a Love Purpose
Read Jesus’ command in Mark 12:30-31. What are the five ways we are to love God? (Write your answer in your journal.)
At Christmas, we demonstrate our love for God by giving gifts. Our gifts can help others fulfill Jesus’ greatest commandment.
Loving God With Our Hearts: Fellowship Gifts
We love God with our hearts when we fellowship with him and others. Many and possibly most Christmas gifts are for fellowship. Our fellowship includes playing and visiting together. Most people remember the toys they get at Christmas. Gifts of fellowship are anything we enjoy doing with other people: anything that communicates love. Fellowship gifts can include games, toys, or even redecorating a family room. We love the Lord God with our entire heart when we play with the abandonment of a child and strengthen the relationships in our lives.
Loving God With Our Souls: Worship Gifts
Our souls worship God. We love God with our souls as we praise him, pray, and spend daily time with him. If we love God, our souls will worship him for all eternity. Many gifts can assist with worship. An example of a worship gift could be Christian Music and even a stereo to play it on. Yes, that stereo may play other types of music, but its purpose would be to worship God.
Loving God With Our Mind: Discipleship Gifts
We love the Lord God with our mind when we strengthen our mind or learn more about God. As we study, we become Disciples of Christ. We educate our minds so we can fulfill our earthly callings. Discipleship gifts help the recipient strengthen their minds. These gifts can include anything that makes us better people. Educational toys and books, Bible Study books, or journals can be examples of gifts of discipleship gifts.
Loving God With Our Strength: Ministry Gifts
We love God with our strength when we minister to other people. Ministry gifts are practical gifts that make someone’s life more functional. Examples can be appliances, tools, socks, and even the dreaded tie. We love the Lord God with our strength when we have the tools we need to take care of the housekeeping items that God assigns us.
Loving Our Neighbors As Ourselves: Mission Gifts
We love our neighbor as ourselves when we help our neighbors find God. At Christmas, many people donate to Missions or help with mission projects. An example of a personal gift of mission could be giving a Bible to a non-Christian.
As we give gifts this year, let us give them on purpose. As we receive gifts on behalf of the Christ Child, let us use them for his purpose. For the next five days, we will read stories of people finding purpose in the gifts they give and receive. We will learn to apply God’s greatest commandment, loving God with our entire heart, soul, mind and strength and loving our neighbors as ourselves to our Christmas gift giving. Together, we will worship God as we learn how to give gifts to the Christ Child.
Application (5-10 Minutes)
1) Making It Personal
a) What is your attitude about giving gifts? Are you thinking of the gifts to others as gifts to the Christ Child or do you resent gift giving? Do you delight in giving gifts or find yourself making speeches about “commercialism” or “the selfish demands of gift giving?” What areas do you need to improve? (Write your answer in your journal.)
b) Do you think of your Christmas gift giving as an act of worship? Like the Wise Men, do you bow down and worship Jesus as you present him with his gifts? How can you better worship as you buy and give your gifts? (Write your answer in your journal.)
c) Turn to Appendix 3.
i) Pray once again over this list, asking the Christ Child what he wants for Christmas.
ii) “Opening our treasures” can include giving gifts, money, precious items, or time. How are you “Opening your treasures” this year? (Write your answer in your journal.)
iii) Each of us has a different amount in our “treasury.” Can you afford the gifts you are giving? Adjust the list if necessary.
iv) Do your gifts serve one of the five love purposes: Worship, Fellowship, Ministry, Discipleship, or Mission? Beside the gift, write its love purpose.
d) Thank God for his first Christmas gift to us.
2) Praying Continuously (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
a) Throughout your day, try to remember the meaningful Christmas gifts you have received.
i) Figure out which of the five love purposes (Worship, Fellowship, Ministry, Discipleship, or Mission) they served in your life.
ii) Praise God for the gifts.
b) Every time you see Christmas lights, thank God for the privilege of being able to give him gifts.
3) Ending The Day
a) Thank God for his Christmas gift to us.
b) Thank Him for the model set by the Wise Men.
c) Thank Him for the privilege of giving gifts to others in His name.
d) If you are resentful or feeling trapped into giving gifts at Christmas, confess. Ask Him for help with your attitude.
e) If you have not been “Opening your treasures” or you have been spending too much, confess.
f) If you have not been taking delight or worshipping as you give Him his gifts, confess.
g) Ask Him to guide you as you go through the Christmas season. Ask for wisdom as you give gifts. Ask Him to teach you how to use gift giving as an act of worship.
h) Praise Him for loving us.
Advent Day 2 - The Eyes of The Christ Child
Day 2: The Eyes of the Christ Child
Meditation (3-5 Minutes)
Begin by being still before God. Read Isaiah 9:6 and meditate on the words.
Isa 9:6 (NIV)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
1) Be still and know he is God.
2) Think about Jesus as a child.
a) What can you imagine him doing?
b) Do you think he enjoyed getting and receiving gifts?
c) How do you think the Christ Child would experience Christmas?
d) View this Christmas through the eyes of the Christ Child.
3) Let him be your Wonderful Counselor.
a) Surrender your problems.
b) Seek his wisdom.
4) Let him be your Mighty God.
a) Feel his power.
b) Surrender to his power.
c) Claim his power.
5) Let him be your Everlasting Father.
a) Bask in his love.
b) Feel his arms around you.
6) Let him be your Prince of Peace.
a) Release all contentious thoughts or worries.
b) Experience his peace.
Prayer
1) Ask God to speak to you during this worship time.
2) Requests of the Christ Child (Appendix 1)
a) Pray specifically for those that need to experience Christmas through the eyes of the Christ Child.
i) Specifically name those in emotional or physical pain.
ii) Specifically name the non-Christians in your life.
iii) Add them to the list.
b) Prayerfully update the list with new requests and any answers from God.
c) Praise God for his answers.
3) Gifts from the Christ Child (Appendix 2)
a) Praise God for his blessings.
b) Update the list.
4) Gifts to the Christ Child (Appendix 3)
a) Ask God to give you his spirit as you give gifts to others.
b) Prayerfully, update the list.
5) Ask God for knowledge of his will for you and the power to carry it out.
6) Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.
Bible Study
Jesus came to earth as a baby. Like other babies, people gave him gifts and celebrated his birth. As far as we know, he had to learn to walk, talk, and dress himself. He grew up loved by his earthly mother and father. As an adult, Jesus loved children. He instructed us to let children be our teachers.
Background Scripture
Matthew 9:13-15, Mark 10:13-16, and Luke 18:15-17: Read the background scripture carefully. Jesus took time to be with children. How did he treat these children? What did he do for them?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What lesson was Jesus trying to teach his pious and impatient disciples?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Faith of a Child
Lauren is eight years old. “I can’t wait for Christmas. It is my first Christmas as a Christian.” Earlier this year, Lauren asked Jesus to be a part of her life. “I was baptized,” she excitedly told me.
Lauren lives in a Godly home. She has been in church all of her life. Jesus has always been part of her life in some way. I questioned her further. “You already knew about Jesus. Why is this Christmas different?”
“Christmas has to be different because everything is different now. Jesus is my friend. I need him this year because two of my other friends moved away. Jesus will never move away.”
“What do you do with Jesus?” I asked.
“I talk to him. My brother is sick so I ask God to help him. My Daddy needs a job. I tell Jesus.”
“What is your favorite part of Christmas?” I asked.
“Church is fun at Christmas. I love singing the Christmas Carols. I get to go upfront and light a candle.” I asked about her favorite Christmas service. “Christmas Eve,” she said. “We turn off the lights and light candles.”
“What about the Bible? Do you have favorite verse?” I prompted.
Without hesitation, she answered, “Genesis 1:1. I can say it. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. This was the first verse I memorized. It reminds me that God made me. My favorite verse in the New Testament is John 3:16. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” I wondered if she understood and asked her about it. “This tells me I will live forever with Jesus.”
Read John 3:16 and Genesis 1:1.
Since Lauren is just eight, I knew there had to be more to Christmas for her. “What about gifts?” I quizzed. “What was your favorite gift?”
Her face lit up. “I love gifts. When I was three, I got a toy car that fit over my legs. I sat the ground and pretended to drive. It had a steering wheel and a gearshift. Driving this car made me feel like a grown up. When I got older, what I liked changed. I gave that toy car to a girl in my church. Now I like Barbie Christmas gifts. Wearing a Barbie nightgown makes me feel pretty. I want a new Barbie for Christmas.”
“Lauren, why do you think we celebrate Christmas?” I was expecting her to say we celebrated the birth of Jesus. Her answer was better.
“We celebrate God’s gift to us. Christmas reminds me of a song I sing in church. This song says that we do not have to go looking for the gift of Christmas. Jesus is the gift that comes to us.” In what way does Lauren have the eyes of the Christ Child?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Luke 18:17: How are we to receive the kingdom of God?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A footnote to Lauren’s story is that her brother got well and her father found a job.
Application (5-10 Minutes)
1) Making It Personal
a) Name and pray for your favorite Christmas celebration. __________________________________________________________________
b) Write your favorite Bible verse. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
c) What was your favorite Christmas gift? Thank God for it. __________________________________________________________________
d) Think of a child that you know well. Pick someone who is sweet, innocent, and bright with the joy of a child. __________________________________________________________________
e) How will this child react to life today? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
f) What areas of your life need the eyes of the Christ Child? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
g) Ask God to help you have a childlike spirit throughout the day.
2) Praying Continuously (1 Thessalonians 5:17):
a) Stop and briefly pray when you feel strong emotions (i.e. impatience, anger, excitement, frustration, or joy).
b) As you feel each of these emotions, ask yourself this question: “If I were experiencing this with the faith of a child, how would I be reacting?”
c) Ask for the faith of a child.
Ending the Day
a) Thank God for the children in your life.
b) Did you have the eyes of the Christ Child today?
c) Confess if necessary.
d) Ask God for the eyes of the Christ Child.
Meditation (3-5 Minutes)
Begin by being still before God. Read Isaiah 9:6 and meditate on the words.
Isa 9:6 (NIV)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
1) Be still and know he is God.
2) Think about Jesus as a child.
a) What can you imagine him doing?
b) Do you think he enjoyed getting and receiving gifts?
c) How do you think the Christ Child would experience Christmas?
d) View this Christmas through the eyes of the Christ Child.
3) Let him be your Wonderful Counselor.
a) Surrender your problems.
b) Seek his wisdom.
4) Let him be your Mighty God.
a) Feel his power.
b) Surrender to his power.
c) Claim his power.
5) Let him be your Everlasting Father.
a) Bask in his love.
b) Feel his arms around you.
6) Let him be your Prince of Peace.
a) Release all contentious thoughts or worries.
b) Experience his peace.
Prayer
1) Ask God to speak to you during this worship time.
2) Requests of the Christ Child (Appendix 1)
a) Pray specifically for those that need to experience Christmas through the eyes of the Christ Child.
i) Specifically name those in emotional or physical pain.
ii) Specifically name the non-Christians in your life.
iii) Add them to the list.
b) Prayerfully update the list with new requests and any answers from God.
c) Praise God for his answers.
3) Gifts from the Christ Child (Appendix 2)
a) Praise God for his blessings.
b) Update the list.
4) Gifts to the Christ Child (Appendix 3)
a) Ask God to give you his spirit as you give gifts to others.
b) Prayerfully, update the list.
5) Ask God for knowledge of his will for you and the power to carry it out.
6) Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.
Bible Study
Jesus came to earth as a baby. Like other babies, people gave him gifts and celebrated his birth. As far as we know, he had to learn to walk, talk, and dress himself. He grew up loved by his earthly mother and father. As an adult, Jesus loved children. He instructed us to let children be our teachers.
Background Scripture
Matthew 9:13-15, Mark 10:13-16, and Luke 18:15-17: Read the background scripture carefully. Jesus took time to be with children. How did he treat these children? What did he do for them?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What lesson was Jesus trying to teach his pious and impatient disciples?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Faith of a Child
Lauren is eight years old. “I can’t wait for Christmas. It is my first Christmas as a Christian.” Earlier this year, Lauren asked Jesus to be a part of her life. “I was baptized,” she excitedly told me.
Lauren lives in a Godly home. She has been in church all of her life. Jesus has always been part of her life in some way. I questioned her further. “You already knew about Jesus. Why is this Christmas different?”
“Christmas has to be different because everything is different now. Jesus is my friend. I need him this year because two of my other friends moved away. Jesus will never move away.”
“What do you do with Jesus?” I asked.
“I talk to him. My brother is sick so I ask God to help him. My Daddy needs a job. I tell Jesus.”
“What is your favorite part of Christmas?” I asked.
“Church is fun at Christmas. I love singing the Christmas Carols. I get to go upfront and light a candle.” I asked about her favorite Christmas service. “Christmas Eve,” she said. “We turn off the lights and light candles.”
“What about the Bible? Do you have favorite verse?” I prompted.
Without hesitation, she answered, “Genesis 1:1. I can say it. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. This was the first verse I memorized. It reminds me that God made me. My favorite verse in the New Testament is John 3:16. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” I wondered if she understood and asked her about it. “This tells me I will live forever with Jesus.”
Read John 3:16 and Genesis 1:1.
Since Lauren is just eight, I knew there had to be more to Christmas for her. “What about gifts?” I quizzed. “What was your favorite gift?”
Her face lit up. “I love gifts. When I was three, I got a toy car that fit over my legs. I sat the ground and pretended to drive. It had a steering wheel and a gearshift. Driving this car made me feel like a grown up. When I got older, what I liked changed. I gave that toy car to a girl in my church. Now I like Barbie Christmas gifts. Wearing a Barbie nightgown makes me feel pretty. I want a new Barbie for Christmas.”
“Lauren, why do you think we celebrate Christmas?” I was expecting her to say we celebrated the birth of Jesus. Her answer was better.
“We celebrate God’s gift to us. Christmas reminds me of a song I sing in church. This song says that we do not have to go looking for the gift of Christmas. Jesus is the gift that comes to us.” In what way does Lauren have the eyes of the Christ Child?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Luke 18:17: How are we to receive the kingdom of God?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A footnote to Lauren’s story is that her brother got well and her father found a job.
Application (5-10 Minutes)
1) Making It Personal
a) Name and pray for your favorite Christmas celebration. __________________________________________________________________
b) Write your favorite Bible verse. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
c) What was your favorite Christmas gift? Thank God for it. __________________________________________________________________
d) Think of a child that you know well. Pick someone who is sweet, innocent, and bright with the joy of a child. __________________________________________________________________
e) How will this child react to life today? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
f) What areas of your life need the eyes of the Christ Child? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
g) Ask God to help you have a childlike spirit throughout the day.
2) Praying Continuously (1 Thessalonians 5:17):
a) Stop and briefly pray when you feel strong emotions (i.e. impatience, anger, excitement, frustration, or joy).
b) As you feel each of these emotions, ask yourself this question: “If I were experiencing this with the faith of a child, how would I be reacting?”
c) Ask for the faith of a child.
Ending the Day
a) Thank God for the children in your life.
b) Did you have the eyes of the Christ Child today?
c) Confess if necessary.
d) Ask God for the eyes of the Christ Child.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Advent Day 1 - Godly Fellowship At Christmas
Day 1: Godly Fellowship At Christmas
Morning Meditation (3-5 Minutes)
Begin by being still before God. Read Psalms 46:20 and meditate on the words.
Psalms 46:10 (NIV) Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
• Be Still.
o Clear your mind.
o Breathe deeply.
o Sit quietly.
• Know He is God.
o Feel his presence.
o Let his presence envelop you.
• He is exalted among the nations and on the earth.
o Feel his power.
o Surrender to his power.
o Claim his power.
Prayer (5-10 Minutes)
Ask God to speak to you during this devotional time.
Appendix A - Requests of the Christ Child
• Pray for the Christmas season.
o Pray for the Christmas worship services and celebrations in the community.
o Pray for your church and your Christmas celebrations.
o Pray for our Nation during this holiday period.
o List any specific events/concerns that need continued prayers.
• Pray for needs.
o Pray specifically for the people in your lives.
o Pray for your church.
o Tell God your concerns and needs.
o List any specific requests that need continued prayers.
Appendix B - Gifts from the Christ Child
• Think about your blessings this Christmas.
• Praise God for his blessings.
• List your top three blessings.
Appendix C - Gifts to the Christ Child
• Ask God to help develop that gifts given to anyone is a gift to the Christ Child.
• Ask God what gifts he wants you to give this Christmas.
• Prayerfully, fill it any gifts you plan to purchase between now and Christmas.
Ask for knowledge of his will for you this Christmas and the power to carry it out.
Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.
Morning Bible Study (10-15 Minutes)
Christmas is a time for fellowship. We fellowship with God, families, friends, and our church. God tells us, “It is not good for you to be alone.” (Genesis 2:18) Healthy loving hearts need fellowship. If we fellowship with God and open our eyes and look around, God will send us people with whom to have deep and intimate fellowship. We read his word to learn about Godly fellowship.
Background Scripture
The background Scripture is Luke 1:1-56. Open your Bibles to the familiar passage. Today’s devotion studies the fellowship between the two Godly women God chose to begin the very first Christmas. We will study how Mary and Elizabeth fellowshipped with God and each other. We will study the following aspects of their fellowship: Love, the Holy Spirit, God the Father, and Jesus Christ.
God chose two very unlikely women. Elizabeth was too old to have a child. Mary was too young and innocent to have a child. They were both a “disgrace” by their world’s standards. Elizabeth’s disgrace had been her barrenness. Mary’s disgrace was that she became pregnant before she married.
Our Holy God loves to do the unexpected. The world judged them unworthy. God judged them most worthy. He chose Elizabeth to bear the son that would tell the world about the Christ Child. He chose Mary to bear His son.
Background - Elizabeth
Read Luke 1:5-7. Elizabeth had been married for many years to Zechariah. Both Zechariah and Elizabeth were descendents of priests. They lived blameless lives. Zechariah was faithful to his priestly calling. Their religion taught them that children were blessings from God. People assumed the inability to have children was a sign of God’s punishment. Elizabeth and Zechariah were most likely the subject of gossip and/or questions. How do you think Elizabeth felt about being barren?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Read Luke 1:25: Elizabeth desperately wanted children. She pleaded with God and had faith he would answer. She waited and most likely held her breath each month. She probably felt shame and disgrace over her barrenness as the years progressed. Miraculously, God finally answered her prayers. How does she feel now?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Read Luke 1:16-17: God had planned her blessing for years. He gave more than she asked. Her child was special. What was her son’s purpose?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Background - Mary
Mary was a young woman with the same dreams that other young women had. She was faithful to God. We see from her questions to the angel that she was intelligent, confident, and faithful. She was a woman of honor and purity. Mary was engaged to a kind Jewish man named Joseph. She expected to follow in the footsteps of the faithful people that had taught her how to live and love.
Read Luke 1:29-31 and Luke 1:12-13: Again, God does the unexpected. An angel named Gabriel appeared to her, changing her plans. Gabriel had been very busy. He had also visited Zachariah, announcing Elizabeth’s pregnancy. What would your reaction be to a visit from an angel? Not surprising, Gabriel frightened both Zachariah and Mary. We can only hope Gabriel does not take our reactions personally. He seems to be used to the reactions because he had his response ready.
Read Luke 1:34: Gabriel told Mary that she was going to bear the son of God. Mary’s parents had obviously told her the “facts of life.” Why was Mary confused? ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Read Luke 1:38: In the end, she humbly accepted the will of God. She even rejoiced in the news. What was her answer?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
One can only imagine the conversation with Mary’s mother. “An angel said what?” Mary must have been tempted to ask Gabriel to come back and explain this situation to her mother. We do know that Mary left her home in a hurry. (Luke 1:39)
Love
Read Luke 1:43-44: Mary went straight to Elizabeth’s house. Here we have one of the most beautiful demonstrations of love that is recorded in the Bible. These women shared their faith and joy. They quoted scripture and worshipped God as they talked. They encouraged one another. Elizabeth rejoiced at Mary’s arrival. What did she say to Mary?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Baby John was not going to be left out. What did he do?
________________________________________________________________________
Holy Spirit
Read Luke 1:41-42: True Godly fellowship includes the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth was “filled with the Holy Spirit.” Because the Holy Sprit was a part of their relationship, Elizabeth understood the situation before Mary even told her.
God, The Father
Read Luke 1:46-47: True fellowship includes worship of the Holy Father. Mary and Elizabeth praised God together as they sang and quoted scriptures. “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God, my savor.” Enjoy the words of their worship service.
Jesus
Read Luke 1:42: The final piece of true fellowship is Jesus Christ. Jesus was the point of Mary and Elizabeth’s fellowship. What were Elizabeth’s words to Mary?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Application (5-10 Minutes)
1) Making It Personal
a) List the people with whom you will fellowship the most this Christmas. (write your answer)
b) Whom do you love? (write your answer)
c) With whom do you share Godly fellowship? Which relationships include the presence of the Holy Spirit, worship of God the Father, and the love of Jesus Christ? (write your answer)
d) Which relationships need improvement? (write your answer)
e) Ask God to help you improve your relationships.
f) What can you do to improve your relationships? (write your answer)
g) If you are lonely and need more fellowship, write a letter asking God to meet your needs. Ask God to send you one new person today. (write your answer)
2) Praying Continuously (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
a) Pray for those closest to you at lunch, dinner, and at bedtime:
b) Tell at least one friend how important they are to you.
c) Look for his answers throughout the day.
Ending Each Day With God
a) Ask God to help you with your fellowship with him and those closest to you.
b) How was your fellowship on this 1st day of the Christmas season?
c) Confess your failures and claim your victories.
d) Decide to apologize the next day, if necessary.
e) Praise God for his fellowship this Christmas.
Morning Meditation (3-5 Minutes)
Begin by being still before God. Read Psalms 46:20 and meditate on the words.
Psalms 46:10 (NIV) Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
• Be Still.
o Clear your mind.
o Breathe deeply.
o Sit quietly.
• Know He is God.
o Feel his presence.
o Let his presence envelop you.
• He is exalted among the nations and on the earth.
o Feel his power.
o Surrender to his power.
o Claim his power.
Prayer (5-10 Minutes)
Ask God to speak to you during this devotional time.
Appendix A - Requests of the Christ Child
• Pray for the Christmas season.
o Pray for the Christmas worship services and celebrations in the community.
o Pray for your church and your Christmas celebrations.
o Pray for our Nation during this holiday period.
o List any specific events/concerns that need continued prayers.
• Pray for needs.
o Pray specifically for the people in your lives.
o Pray for your church.
o Tell God your concerns and needs.
o List any specific requests that need continued prayers.
Appendix B - Gifts from the Christ Child
• Think about your blessings this Christmas.
• Praise God for his blessings.
• List your top three blessings.
Appendix C - Gifts to the Christ Child
• Ask God to help develop that gifts given to anyone is a gift to the Christ Child.
• Ask God what gifts he wants you to give this Christmas.
• Prayerfully, fill it any gifts you plan to purchase between now and Christmas.
Ask for knowledge of his will for you this Christmas and the power to carry it out.
Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.
Morning Bible Study (10-15 Minutes)
Christmas is a time for fellowship. We fellowship with God, families, friends, and our church. God tells us, “It is not good for you to be alone.” (Genesis 2:18) Healthy loving hearts need fellowship. If we fellowship with God and open our eyes and look around, God will send us people with whom to have deep and intimate fellowship. We read his word to learn about Godly fellowship.
Background Scripture
The background Scripture is Luke 1:1-56. Open your Bibles to the familiar passage. Today’s devotion studies the fellowship between the two Godly women God chose to begin the very first Christmas. We will study how Mary and Elizabeth fellowshipped with God and each other. We will study the following aspects of their fellowship: Love, the Holy Spirit, God the Father, and Jesus Christ.
God chose two very unlikely women. Elizabeth was too old to have a child. Mary was too young and innocent to have a child. They were both a “disgrace” by their world’s standards. Elizabeth’s disgrace had been her barrenness. Mary’s disgrace was that she became pregnant before she married.
Our Holy God loves to do the unexpected. The world judged them unworthy. God judged them most worthy. He chose Elizabeth to bear the son that would tell the world about the Christ Child. He chose Mary to bear His son.
Background - Elizabeth
Read Luke 1:5-7. Elizabeth had been married for many years to Zechariah. Both Zechariah and Elizabeth were descendents of priests. They lived blameless lives. Zechariah was faithful to his priestly calling. Their religion taught them that children were blessings from God. People assumed the inability to have children was a sign of God’s punishment. Elizabeth and Zechariah were most likely the subject of gossip and/or questions. How do you think Elizabeth felt about being barren?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Read Luke 1:25: Elizabeth desperately wanted children. She pleaded with God and had faith he would answer. She waited and most likely held her breath each month. She probably felt shame and disgrace over her barrenness as the years progressed. Miraculously, God finally answered her prayers. How does she feel now?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Read Luke 1:16-17: God had planned her blessing for years. He gave more than she asked. Her child was special. What was her son’s purpose?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Background - Mary
Mary was a young woman with the same dreams that other young women had. She was faithful to God. We see from her questions to the angel that she was intelligent, confident, and faithful. She was a woman of honor and purity. Mary was engaged to a kind Jewish man named Joseph. She expected to follow in the footsteps of the faithful people that had taught her how to live and love.
Read Luke 1:29-31 and Luke 1:12-13: Again, God does the unexpected. An angel named Gabriel appeared to her, changing her plans. Gabriel had been very busy. He had also visited Zachariah, announcing Elizabeth’s pregnancy. What would your reaction be to a visit from an angel? Not surprising, Gabriel frightened both Zachariah and Mary. We can only hope Gabriel does not take our reactions personally. He seems to be used to the reactions because he had his response ready.
Read Luke 1:34: Gabriel told Mary that she was going to bear the son of God. Mary’s parents had obviously told her the “facts of life.” Why was Mary confused? ________________________________________________________________________
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Read Luke 1:38: In the end, she humbly accepted the will of God. She even rejoiced in the news. What was her answer?
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One can only imagine the conversation with Mary’s mother. “An angel said what?” Mary must have been tempted to ask Gabriel to come back and explain this situation to her mother. We do know that Mary left her home in a hurry. (Luke 1:39)
Love
Read Luke 1:43-44: Mary went straight to Elizabeth’s house. Here we have one of the most beautiful demonstrations of love that is recorded in the Bible. These women shared their faith and joy. They quoted scripture and worshipped God as they talked. They encouraged one another. Elizabeth rejoiced at Mary’s arrival. What did she say to Mary?
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Baby John was not going to be left out. What did he do?
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Holy Spirit
Read Luke 1:41-42: True Godly fellowship includes the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth was “filled with the Holy Spirit.” Because the Holy Sprit was a part of their relationship, Elizabeth understood the situation before Mary even told her.
God, The Father
Read Luke 1:46-47: True fellowship includes worship of the Holy Father. Mary and Elizabeth praised God together as they sang and quoted scriptures. “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God, my savor.” Enjoy the words of their worship service.
Jesus
Read Luke 1:42: The final piece of true fellowship is Jesus Christ. Jesus was the point of Mary and Elizabeth’s fellowship. What were Elizabeth’s words to Mary?
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Application (5-10 Minutes)
1) Making It Personal
a) List the people with whom you will fellowship the most this Christmas. (write your answer)
b) Whom do you love? (write your answer)
c) With whom do you share Godly fellowship? Which relationships include the presence of the Holy Spirit, worship of God the Father, and the love of Jesus Christ? (write your answer)
d) Which relationships need improvement? (write your answer)
e) Ask God to help you improve your relationships.
f) What can you do to improve your relationships? (write your answer)
g) If you are lonely and need more fellowship, write a letter asking God to meet your needs. Ask God to send you one new person today. (write your answer)
2) Praying Continuously (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
a) Pray for those closest to you at lunch, dinner, and at bedtime:
b) Tell at least one friend how important they are to you.
c) Look for his answers throughout the day.
Ending Each Day With God
a) Ask God to help you with your fellowship with him and those closest to you.
b) How was your fellowship on this 1st day of the Christmas season?
c) Confess your failures and claim your victories.
d) Decide to apologize the next day, if necessary.
e) Praise God for his fellowship this Christmas.
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