21
Nov
2011
Season of Advent | A Weekly Reading (Week 1)
Def: (n) advent -coming or arrival. Advent is a season of spiritual reflection that is recognized by Christians all around the world. Advent is traditionally celebrated in the four weeks leading up to Christmas, starting on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Eve. In the early Church, the Advent season was a time for fasting and penitence until the 3rd Sunday when the focus shifted to rejoicing in the coming King. The modern evangelical church focuses on a sense of hope and anticipation that Christ is coming to break the darkness with His light. Along with hope and anticipation of the Incarnation, there is always the understanding of what He came to earth to do. Not only to show us our own depravity with His sinless life, and thus our need for redemption, but to ultimately serve as our sacrificial Lamb; to take on the sin of the world and pay the penalty for our fallen nature. Please join Family Matters in four weeks of Advent readings. We hope that these readings can assist your family in celebrating the coming of the Messiah!- God Incarnate! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Week 1: The Coming King
Scriptural Readings:
Isaiah 9:2-6
“The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
On those living in the land of the shadow of death,
a new Light has dawned.
For unto us a Child is born,
to us a Son is given,
and the government shall be upon His shoulders.
And His name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 11:1-5
“A Shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
From his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him-
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and power,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord-
and He will delight in the fear of the Lord.
He will not Judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth.
With the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.”
O Come, O Come Immanuel
By: John Neal-1854
“O come, O come Immanuel,
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear;
REJOICE! Rejoice, Immanuel!
Shall come to thee oh, Israel!”
O come thou Dayspring come and cheer
Our spirits by thine Advent here.
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night;
And death’s dark shadow put to flight!
REJOICE! Rejoice, Immanuel!
Shall come to thee oh, Israel!
Oh, come desire of Nations bind,
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease,
And be Yourself our King of Peace.
REJOICE! Rejoice, Immanuel!
Shall come to thee oh, Israel!”