DAY 21
MARY & JOSEPH
You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You must name him Jesus.
-Luke 1:31
PAUSE
God’s promise to His people was about to be fulfilled, but how would He come to them? In the most unexpected way, God chose to come to Earth as a small, helpless baby. Quietly and humbly, He entered the world.
There was a young girl named Mary who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. One day, as Mary was at home, the angel Gabriel appeared to her with an incredible message: “Do not be afraid, Mary! God is very pleased with you and has chosen you for something wonderful. You are going to have a baby, and He will be great. He will be called the Son of the Most High God. Just as God promised long ago, He will be a king like David, and His kingdom will never end. He is the One you have been waiting for, the Savior who will save God’s people from their sins. You must call Him Jesus.”
Though the news was hard to believe, Mary trusted God completely and was willing to follow His plan. As the angel said, a baby began to grow in Mary’s womb.
Sometime later, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She will give birth to a son, and you are to call Him Jesus. He will save His people from their sins. He will be from the lineage of King David and fulfill the promises of God. The child will be called Immanuel, which means ‘God with us.’ He will give people new, clean hearts and make a way for them to be close to God.”
When Joseph woke from his dream, he was filled with awe and wonder. He may have known about God’s promises, but he could never have imagined that he would have the honor of being the earthly father of God’s Son.
The first Christmas Day was drawing near—the day Jesus Christ would be born. The little baby who would grow to lead us to God the Father, who loves us beyond measure, was about to change the world forever.
DISCUSSION
God chose to enter the world as a small, helpless baby. What does this tell us about God’s character and how He chose to relate to us?
Mary and Joseph both trusted God despite the unexpected and challenging nature of their situation. How can their faith inspire us to trust God when His plans for us feel overwhelming or unclear?
The angel called Jesus “Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.” What does it mean to you personally that God came to be with us through Jesus?
The angel told Joseph that Jesus would save His people from their sins and give them new, clean hearts. How does Jesus’ birth fulfill God’s promise to bring us closer to Him?
PRAY
God, thank you for sending your son, Jesus, to the earth in the form of a baby, who grew up and showed me how to have life forever by believing in Him. Thank you for loving me that much!
ACTIVITY
Advent tree & ornaments - If you don’t already have an ornament for today, craft or find one that corresponds with today’s content - Mary & Joseph. Then hang your twenty-first ornament on the tree.
Family Memories - Make an angel ornament. You can do an angel cookie shape or you can craft it with construction paper and ribbon. Hang them on your advent tree to remind you of the angel Gabriel who appeared to Mary to tell her about the new baby Jesus. Take a photo or video of your family activity or putting your 21st ornament on your Advent tree. Post your pictures or videos to the Facebook group or tag @summitparkchurch!
You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. You must name him Jesus.
-Luke 1:31
PAUSE
God’s promise to His people was about to be fulfilled, but how would He come to them? In the most unexpected way, God chose to come to Earth as a small, helpless baby. Quietly and humbly, He entered the world.
There was a young girl named Mary who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. One day, as Mary was at home, the angel Gabriel appeared to her with an incredible message: “Do not be afraid, Mary! God is very pleased with you and has chosen you for something wonderful. You are going to have a baby, and He will be great. He will be called the Son of the Most High God. Just as God promised long ago, He will be a king like David, and His kingdom will never end. He is the One you have been waiting for, the Savior who will save God’s people from their sins. You must call Him Jesus.”
Though the news was hard to believe, Mary trusted God completely and was willing to follow His plan. As the angel said, a baby began to grow in Mary’s womb.
Sometime later, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She will give birth to a son, and you are to call Him Jesus. He will save His people from their sins. He will be from the lineage of King David and fulfill the promises of God. The child will be called Immanuel, which means ‘God with us.’ He will give people new, clean hearts and make a way for them to be close to God.”
When Joseph woke from his dream, he was filled with awe and wonder. He may have known about God’s promises, but he could never have imagined that he would have the honor of being the earthly father of God’s Son.
The first Christmas Day was drawing near—the day Jesus Christ would be born. The little baby who would grow to lead us to God the Father, who loves us beyond measure, was about to change the world forever.
DISCUSSION
God chose to enter the world as a small, helpless baby. What does this tell us about God’s character and how He chose to relate to us?
Mary and Joseph both trusted God despite the unexpected and challenging nature of their situation. How can their faith inspire us to trust God when His plans for us feel overwhelming or unclear?
The angel called Jesus “Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.” What does it mean to you personally that God came to be with us through Jesus?
The angel told Joseph that Jesus would save His people from their sins and give them new, clean hearts. How does Jesus’ birth fulfill God’s promise to bring us closer to Him?
PRAY
God, thank you for sending your son, Jesus, to the earth in the form of a baby, who grew up and showed me how to have life forever by believing in Him. Thank you for loving me that much!
ACTIVITY
Advent tree & ornaments - If you don’t already have an ornament for today, craft or find one that corresponds with today’s content - Mary & Joseph. Then hang your twenty-first ornament on the tree.
Family Memories - Make an angel ornament. You can do an angel cookie shape or you can craft it with construction paper and ribbon. Hang them on your advent tree to remind you of the angel Gabriel who appeared to Mary to tell her about the new baby Jesus. Take a photo or video of your family activity or putting your 21st ornament on your Advent tree. Post your pictures or videos to the Facebook group or tag @summitparkchurch!