WEEK ONE
December 1
Theme: Ponder This
Scripture: Luke 2:19
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Prayer: Father, we thank you for the treasure found for us all within the Christmas story. Today, open our eyes to see your voice at work within our own lives and stories. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, amen.
Questions: Take a look at your own nativity set that you may have or look at many of the nativity scenes you can find online or around your community. Look at each character found in the nativity scene. Who hold one of your favorite stories and why?
December 2
Theme: Kids Get It
Scripture: Mark 10:13-16
People were bringing their little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.
Prayer: God of wonder, we thank you for the gift of childlike faith. It is all too easy to live our lives with clenched fists, holding onto control. Today, may we loosen the grip. May we open our hand to receive the wonder you want to freely pour over us all. In Jesus’ mighty name we pray. Amen.
Questions: What does childlike wonder mean to you? What do children possess that adults have lost? What does it mean to receive the kingdom of God like a little child, and where might we be missing the kingdom of God because we’ve grown a little too old?
December 3
Theme: The Wonder in the Waiting
Scripture: Luke 1:5-13
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.
Prayer: Loving God, we thank you that even in a waiting season, it’s not a wasted season. Today, open our eyes to the truth found in your Word that our prayers are heard and, even greater, allow that truth to travel from our head to heart. Amen.
Questions: How are you in the waiting? In what areas in your life are you “waiting upon the Lord”? What might the Lord be saying to you in this season?
December 4
Theme: I Doubt It
Scripture: Luke 1:18-20
Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
Prayer: God of wonder, we thank you for the reminder that where there is breath in our lungs, there is a story that’s still being written. Awaken our hearts and open our hands to receive the words of hope you would breathe over us today. Amen.
Questions: Where are our words getting in the way of the wonder God might be speaking over us today? Where have we put “baby gates” back up in our stories That God might be wanting us to remove?
December 6
Theme: Sing Out Loud, Sing Out Strong
Scripture: Luke 1:67-79
His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us—
to show mercy to our ancestors
and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David
(as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us—
to show mercy to our ancestors
and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
Prayer: God of wonder, our prayer is the words found in Lamentations 3:22-23: “Because of the LORD’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” We rejoice in your great love. May that be the song we sing today with our very lives. Amen.
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
Prayer: God of wonder, our prayer is the words found in Lamentations 3:22-23: “Because of the LORD’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” We rejoice in your great love. May that be the song we sing today with our very lives. Amen.
Questions: How do you feel about singing? Is there a song in your heart that you could sing? What would that look like for you? What would that song be?
December 7
Theme: Origin Story
Scripture: Genesis 3:15
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you for your unwavering and relentless love that has pursued us from the very beginning. May we remember that what began in the garden was birthed in a manger, nailed to a cross, and walked out of a tomb — and it is but one story of your never-ending love that pursues us all today. Amen.
Questions: What does this origin story mean to you? Where do you see yourself inside God’s origin story today?