Week 3: Joy

We can only imagine that before the invention of electricity, nighttime was a pretty scary and dangerous time. As a shepherd, you would need to keep a careful watch to protect against predators. It’s in this serious and dark situation the angel appeared to the shepherds.

Shock may be too mild of a word for what they felt. But the message was so filled with good news and joy they immediately responded and went to find this Savior.

Has there ever been something so fantastic you had to stop what you were doing and just praise the Lord? The Advent season comes with that same sense of awe, wonder, joy, and excitement! Ask God to fill you with excitement, gratitude, and wonder around the good news of the Messiah’s birth.

Christ has come! Christ will come again!

Scripture

Colossians 1:3-6 NLT
We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News. This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.

Luke 2:8-14 NLT
That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messi- ah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, create in us a fountain of joy as we celebrate with all of creation just like the angels did when they heard the news of Jesus’ birth. Renew our awe of your amazing grace and fill us with excitement, gratitude, and wonder around the good news of the Messiah’s birth. Amen

Family Activity

Take time for each person to share how and when they heard the Good News (the Gospel) for the first time. Maybe reach out to the person who shared that Good News with you and thank them for doing that.

Song of Meditation

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