God never made a promise that was too good to be true.
Dwight L. Moody
This week we enter the season of Advent, a time that is focused on waiting with anticipation. We wait with anticipation for the return of Christ, and we relive in our own lives the expectation of the birth of Christ and his birth in our own heart every day. We wait with anticipation for the kingdom of God to be fulfilled on Earth. Over the next four weeks, the material will be shaped around four themes that are relevant to this time: promise, waiting, journey and gift.
In addition to the weekly resources, have a look at the special Advent page for some ideas and resources on how to celebrate the season well in your home.
Family Closeness
Game:
Pay-Off
This simplified version of Pay-Off can be played with any number of family members. Everyone needs a red token or piece of paper and a black token or piece of paper. Family members will get points depending on what token they and others show. At the start you decide on how many rounds you will play. It should probably be at least five. Each person decides which token they will show but does not let other family members know. On the count of three, everyone will place their token on the table at the same time. Points are awarded in the following way:
- If everyone puts down red – everyone loses two points.
- If some family members put down red and some put down black – those who put down black get 2 points, those who put down red lose 2 points.
- If everyone puts down black – everyone gets 2 points.
Have a discussion after every three rounds about what you put down or to make promises about what you will put down next go. This could be a good source of family discussion about promises and keeping them.
Sharing:
- What are the biggest promises people make in their life?
- Why are some promises hard to keep?
- How do you feel if someone doesn’t keep their promise?
- What do you think God has promised us?
With your family read: Mark 13.24-37
Questions for Discussion:
- What do you think this reading is about?
- What does it mean to be ready?
- How can we always be ready to meet Jesus?
Prayer and Celebration
This week take a look at the special Advent page to get some great ideas for celebrating this season. Most of the ideas will require some preparation.
Service
The Advent Conspiracy website provides a great way to think about Advent with the charge to: Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More and Love All. It encourages us to think about how we might reshape the time that leads to Christmas in a life giving and counter-cultural way.
Bonus Family Activity
Begin thinking about how you might do something really special together as a family for Christmas. How might you really spend quality time together, how might you truly give of yourselves to one another. Throughout this blog, there are hundreds of ideas for spending time with your family. Find something special and enjoy the time.
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