Over 4 weeks in December each week read and meditate on a scripture passage; reflect on its significance in your life as a follower of Jesus; make a commitment to respond in a personally meaningful way over Advent and into 2025 and then take those actions steps in faith and bless God, bless others and bless yourself.
Week 1 Sunday December 1 – Focus on HOPE
© Read Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 we read “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. […]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 Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”
© Reflect: Who is ‘walking in darkness’ in your life? Perhaps it is you! How are you/they relating to the ‘Wonderful Counsellor’? The good news is that light has come to remove darkness and hope can arise when you see a way forward.
© Respond: Commit time this whole Advent period to talking to your ‘Everlasting Father’ every day. Read and meditate on his word daily. Cultivating a habit of connection and relationship with your Heavenly Father will ensure your hope rises!
Week 2 Sunday December 8 – Focus on PEACE
© Read: In Isaiah 9:7 the prophet Isaiah calls Jesus the ‘Prince of Peace’. In Luke 2:14 the Christmas story sees the angels appear to the shepherds and they say, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests”
© Reflect: How is Jesus your ‘Prince of Peace’? God’s peace surpasses all human understanding (Philippians 4:7) and a never-ending supply is ours. How are you living as a person of peace in your family, your church, your workplace, your community…?
© Respond: Over this Advent week consider and journal 3 actions you are going to take to be a peacemaker in your personal life, your faith community life, and your family life in 2025.
Week 3 Sunday December 15 - Focus on JOY
© Read: In Luke 2:8-20 the shepherds were watching their sheep in the fields when an angel appeared to them and said “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. …”
© Reflect: The words spoken to the shepherds by the angels were good news. The words the shepherds spoke to others were good news and brought ‘great joy’. That’s the power of the gospel story – Jesus is ‘good news’ and he brings ‘great joy!’ How is Jesus’ birth good news in your life? How is your heart full of gratitude to Jesus? How are your words and actions ‘good news’ to others? Take some time to ponder these questions.
© Response: What’s 3 actions you can take in 2025 to be good news and give of yourself relationally to people in your faith community and in your personal life? How can you be good news to the mission of AFCNA in 2025?
Week 4 Sunday December 22 – Focus on LOVE
© Read: In Matthew 2:9-12 we read of the worship of the Magi “After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.”
© Reflect: God’s gift of love was to send Jesus. The Magi’s response was to worship and give their gifts of love to Mary. Jesus’ sacrificial love compels us to compassionate action and this is also an act of personal worship. How are you going to worship God and show him your gratitude for his love?
© Respond: Over this final few days of Advent consider and journal 3 actions you are going to take to worship God and show him you love him and are grateful for Jesus in your life? What actions can you take in 2025 to share God’s love to the most vulnerable in your community?
Christmas Day December 25 – Focus on FAITH
©Read: In Galatians 4:4-7 (CEV) “But when the time was right, God sent his Son, and a woman gave birth to him. His Son obeyed the Law, so he could set us free from the Law, and we could become God's children. Now that we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. And his Spirit tells us that God is our Father. You are no longer slaves. You are God's children, and you will be given what he has promised.”
Reflect: As a child of God you have the Spirit of God living in your heart. You are no longer enslaved to sinful habits, or negative ways of thinking or bad living… you are free in Christ! That is really GOOD NEWS isn’t it? Every promise God has made is now yours, and God ALWAYS keeps his promises! Ponder on that for a while… How does it make you feel? What a gift you have been given in Jesus, so celebrate Christmas!
Respond: After you have really let this good news sink in to your heart take some time to consider your response to God first - so how are you going to thank God? How are you going to live in this good news and share it with others in 2025? Start with 3 ways you can be God’s good news to someone who needs to hear it, experience it and live it.
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