Advent – Week 4 – Love

Read: 1 Corinthians 13 (Remember, you’ve heard this at every wedding you’ve ever been to, but your kids haven’t.)

Ask: What are some things you love?

We love a lot of things! I love ____(insert your favorite food)____ and I love ____(insert your favorite vacation destination)____ and I love you!

Ask: Do you think I feel the same way about my favorite food as I do you?

Of course not! I love it way more – just kidding! I love you so much more and in a different way.

We say we “love” a lot of things, but “love” might not be the correct word for it. Pastor Andrew recently told us in a sermon in church that to love someone is to “will the good of the other”. In other words, loving someone means we want and work for their very best. For example, I love you so I don’t let you eat junk food for every meal. It’s not necessarily something you like or want for me to do, but it is for your good.

Ask: Do you know how we know how to love?

God taught us how to love by loving us first. The greatest way anyone has ever loved us – or willed our good – was when God sent Jesus to the earth. He loved us so much that he was willing to do anything to show us that love – even sending his Son to the earth to live here with us.

Sing: Silent Night.

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord at thy birth
Jesus, Lord at thy birth

Ask: What is one way we can truly love someone else this week?

Advent Readings:
12/24 – Matthew 2:1-12

• Who are the visitors this passage talks about?
• The Magi (or wise men) decided to follow God’s leading instead of Herod’s who hoped to hurt Jesus. What’s an example of a time in your life when you struggled with what God wanted you to do because it was different from what someone else wanted you do? (i.e. Being kind to someone who others are bullying. Attend church when everyone else at the sleepover is going out for donuts. Etc.)
• The Magi brought Jesus valuable gifts. Have every family member create and/or offer a gift they would like to give to Jesus. Share with one another what you’ve each decided to give.

12/25 – John 1:1-23

• Verse 14 says that “the Word became flesh and lived among us”. This means that Jesus became human and lived on earth with us. Have everyone share one reason why it matters to him or her that Jesus came to the earth.
• John the Baptist confirmed that he was not the Messiah but that he was simply supposed to prepare the way for Jesus, the Messiah. How can you use today to prepare your heart to receive the wonderful gift of Jesus?
• Pray together a prayer of praise thanking God for all that He did through all these readings to assure that Jesus, Emmanuel, would be with us.