Advent Word Study: Week Four
Our word for the week is REJOICE.
Day 1:
Look up the dictionary meaning of the word REJOICE.
Today read and write down these verses. Highlight the words and phrases which stand out to you.
Look up the dictionary as well as biblical meaning of “autumn” and “spring”.
List how you have experienced autumn and spring rain in your life.
Day 2
Read Luke 2:8-20.
What news do the angels bring to the shepherds in verses 10-11?
After seeing the baby Jesus what is the shepherds’ attitude as they return to their flocks in verse 20?
Find 3 more verses with the word REJOICE. Write down the verses with their reference below. Paraphrase these verses (write them in your own words).
Look back on the verses from your study this week. What is your takeaway from this week’s study?
Day 4
Read the following verses and think about how JESUS reflected our 4 Advent Words, LOWLY, OBEY, SEEK, REJOICE. Write your thoughts below and share them.
LOWLY & OBEY
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”-Philippians 2:5-8
SEEK
“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me”-John 5:30
REJOICE -
“And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost’.-Luke 15:6
(1) Choose one of the verses of the week to learn by heart. Write the verse on your bauble.
(2) Pray for yourself and the people in your group to make more room in our hearts for our KING and SAVIOR this Christmas.
Day 5
Read the words of the following Carol. Make it your praise and prayer. Sing it and listen to it if you can. Highlight words or phrases which speak to you personally! REJOICE with the ANGELS and SHEPHERDS. As a group wear Christmas colors, caps, trinkets and sing it as your closing song together – if on an online platform play the song from a You-tube version and sing along!
O HOLY NIGHT
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth;
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine! O night when Christ was born.
O night, O holy night, O night divine.Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming;
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand:
So, led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from Orient land,
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend;
He knows our need, To our weaknesses no stranger!Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is Love and His gospel is Peace;
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother,
And in His name all oppression shall cease,
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise His Holy name!Christ is the Lord, O praise His name forever!
His pow’r and glory, evermore proclaim!
His pow’r and glory, evermore proclaim!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I have the privilege of living in New Zealand, one of the most beautiful countries in the world and truly a glimpse of paradise. After retiring from active service as a Personal Assistant 4 years ago, the Lord fulfilled my desire to serve in the mission field. I spent a few months in Fiji in 2018 serving destitute women in Lovu HART (Housing Assistance Relief Trust), a village complex that shelters single mothers (most of them Christian) with a meager income. It's heart-rending to see women struggling to survive and yet eager to learn more about our Lord and Saviour. During my time there besides tidying up the HART records and assisting in the office, I conducted Bible studies for the women, young adults, and kids in the village I lived in. I still keep in touch with the women there and hope to revisit again God-willing.