ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 3

THE SET UP

When I was growing up, one of the most dissatisfying answers I ever got to my question was, “Because I’m your mother and I said so.” That never answered my question and it didn’t seem fair. As I got older, and especially once I became a parent, I started to understand. It was really my mom’s way of saying that she knew more about life than I did and she was looking out for me. She had insight that I didn’t have. In today’s passage, Mary is confronted with some wild information and understandably is confused by it. But in the end, she decides that God is trustworthy and even thought her millions of questions aren’t answered, she will trust God’s process. When she speaks, “May everything you have said about me come true,” she is willing to let God’s plan take priority over hers. What a great example for all of us.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 1:26-38 (Page 613 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. There are several appearances of angels in Luke’s gospel, especially around the birth of Jesus. What do you think of that?

2. In your opinion, what do you think was going through Mary’s mind when she received the news from Gabriel? How would you have reacted in her situation?

3. Is there an area in your life where you need to say to God, “I am Your servant. May everything You have said about me come true”?

PRAYER IDEA

When Jesus taught His followers to pray, He told them to pray, “Let Your kingdom come, let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Take some time to pray that over your life, your family, your friends, your church, and your community. Ask for God’s will to take priority in all those places, starting with you.

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 2 / June

THE SET UP

Have you ever been left speechless? It doesn’t happen to me often (I’ve always got something to say), but all of us have experienced something so powerful or unexpected our jaws are left hanging. One of those times for me was when the Cubs won the World Series in 2016. After a lifetime of disappointment, IT WAS HAPPENING! And hopefully I won’t have to wait another 108 years for it to happen again. In today’s passage, Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth had given up on the hope of having a child because of their age. But an angel shows up while he is at work and promises that not only would they have a child, but that he would be the one who would introduce the world to Jesus. Talk about a jaw dropper!

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 1:5-25 (Page 613 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. If you were in Zechariah’s sandals, how do you think you would have reacted to the angels’ news?

2. One of big themes of Luke is that God’s Kingdom is for everyone. How does this passage speak to that?

3. What is a secret dream of your heart that would be as amazing as the news Zechariah received if God made it come true?

PRAYER IDEA

Thank God that even when we think it is too late for us, He is able to give us the desire of our heart. If there is something that you have wanted to see happen in your life or the life of someone else, ask God to bring that work to completion.

ALL IN Summer Devotional: Day 1

THE SET UP

In court, or when recording historic events, having one or more eyewitnesses is crucial. Without them, events are often described as hearsay and evidence as circumstantial. There is something about seeing it with our own eyes, or hearing from someone we know was there, that helps us to know something is true. At Journey, we often describe the Gospels as accounts of Jesus life by people who saw what He did, heard what He said, and wrote it down. This book of Luke that we will study together this summer is exactly that - an account of Jesus’ life based on the first-hand witness of many people. As this Gospel begins, Luke tells us that he wanted to write to “Theophilus” (which means, ‘friend of God’) so we can be certain of what we are taught. Let’s all jump in together and learn more about Jesus this summer.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 1:1-4 (Page 613 in our house bibles)

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What is the most amazing thing you have personally witnessed?

2. What did Luke say motivated him to write this Gospel? How does that impact you 2,000 years later?

3. Is there something that you would like to, “be certain of,” when it comes to God?

PRAYER IDEA

As we begin our study of Luke for the summer, ask God to help you to have a bigger and better understanding of Jesus and how you are to follow Him. If there are things about Jesus, the Bible, or the church that you are not certain of, ask Him to help you become certain.

Coming to Town

THE SETUP

“You better watch out. You better not cry, you better not pout. I'm telling you why. Because I came to town.” – Kris Kringle in Santa Claus is Coming to Town

As a kid growing up, some of my favorite Christmas movies were the old-school animated movies. Not cartoons — the claymation movies like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Jack Frost, the movies that used sculpted characters and stop-motion filming to tell the story.

One of those classics was Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, which is based on the song and tells the “origins” of jolly ol’ Saint Nick. In the movie, kids all over the world are excitedly anticipating what they were waiting for all year long – Santa Claus coming to town. When he finally shows up, it’s even better than they thought it would be!

In the Christmas story recorded in Luke 2, there is an even greater sense of joy at the birth of Jesus. The angel announces that he has come to, “bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.” What is the good news? That the Messiah, the one who they had spent centuries waiting for, was born. Advent is Latin for “coming” and the birth of Jesus is the culmination of Advent. We celebrate with joy the birth of Jesus. The feelings of the holiday season will fade in the new year and the dreariness of winter, but the gift of Jesus gives us a joy that lasts year-round.

PASSAGE TO READ

Luke 2:8-12

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• Can you think of a time when you had to wait a long time for something you really wanted to happen, and then it did? How did you feel when your wishes finally came true?

• What do you have to rejoice about this Christmas season? 

• The angel made an announcement that would bring joy to all people. Who is someone that you can share the joy of Christ’s birth with this Christmas?

PRAYER IDEA

“Lord – thank you for the birth of Jesus and the joy that it brings to those who know him. I ask that you would open doors of opportunity for me to share the Gospel (good news) of Jesus this Advent season. May it bring hope and joy to those who hear it, and may it cause them to put their faith in you. In your name, amen.”

Jesus. Others. You.

THE SETUP

“People in a community stick together, even if one of them has been behaving for most of the holiday season like a spoiled, selfish, little baby.” – Vic Frohmeyer in Christmas with the Kranks

As their first empty nester Christmas approaches, Luther Krank comes up with a brilliant idea. He and his wife, Nora, will skip Christmas and take a cruise instead. He convinces Nora to skip all their holiday traditions, from decorating to hosting their famous Christmas Eve party. But as their plan unfolds, they keep hitting roadblock after roadblock and those roadblocks are people.

After weathering the storm of peer pressure to buy a tree from the Boy Scouts, put Frosty — a giant plastic snowman — on their roof, and everything else Christmas-y, there is an unexpected twist. Their daughter, Blair, decides to come home for Christmas after all (with a new fiancé in tow), and all their plans go out the window. The Kranks’ friends and neighbors rally around them and help them pull off a full-blown Christmas party, decorations and all.

Toward the end of the movie, Luther stands in front of his house looking in through the window at all the people celebrating in his living room and realizes where his Christmas joy comes from. People. The same people who he thought were ruining his plans were now the source of his joy.

Advent is a reminder that joy is difficult to experience alone. It is the people in our lives that bring us the most joy and who rejoice with us. That’s why Jesus stepped into our world, to experience life with us. One of his titles is Immanuel, which means, “God WITH us.” Jesus came to be with us and taught his followers that joy and relationship were intertwined.

PASSAGE TO READ

John 15:9-17

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• When is a time in your life that you experienced true joy? Was that a solo moment for you, or were there others to rejoice with you?

• Jesus taught his followers that following his commandments and loving others would bring them joy that will fill their lives. What do you think he meant by that. Have you ever connected loving others and experiencing joy?

• Someone once said the key to joy is found when you put Jesus first, others second, and yourself last (J-O-Y). What do you think of that statement? Do you agree? Why or why not?

PRAYER IDEA:

“Jesus – thank you for creating me for relationships. Even though there are times when relationships can be difficult, I pray that you would help me to show love by putting others first. I want to experience overflowing joy in my life, and I need others in my life to share that. This Christmas I want to put you first in my life, others second, and myself last. In your name, amen.”

The Joy of New Life

THE SETUP

"I don't know what to do! I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school-boy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. A merry Christmas to every-body! A happy New Year to all the world! Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo!” — Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol

“Bah, Humbug!” That’s Scrooge’s take on Christmas, the holiday season, and just about anything else. While everyone else is getting excited about celebrating with family and friends, Scrooge sees it as a distraction that’s keeping him from doing more business and gaining more wealth. A Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens, is one of the great Christmas classic stories and has been made into a movie many, many times. 

In the story, Scrooge is visited on Christmas Eve by three ghosts – the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. The Future shows him the end of his life and how miserable it will be (people are literally dancing in the streets when he dies). Scrooge is despondent and wishes for another chance, but the Ghose of Christmas Future offers none. But that’s not the end of the story. It’s all a dream, and Ebenezer wakes up on Christmas very alive and changed. He is a new man with a second chance, and he is full of joy.

As we anticipate the birth of Christ during the Advent season, we celebrate because Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection have given us a second chance at life as well. In John 3, Jesus calls it, “being born again.” In the book of Romans, Paul says we were “dead in our sins” but Jesus has given us new life. Talk about a reason for joy! Because of Jesus’ birth, we can experience new life. May your holiday season be full of joy as you consider the great gift Christ has given to you – and to anyone who puts their faith and trust in him.

PASSAGE TO READ

Romans 4:4-8

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• If you had Scrooge’s experience, seeing not just your past and present, but also your future, how do you think it would affect you? Would you want to know those things?

• In Romans 4, who does Paul say should experience joy? Why?

• Does our text describe righteousness as something we earn or as a gift? What impact does that have on you?

PRAYER IDEA

“Jesus – thank you for the gift of new life. In Psalms, David wrote, ‘restore to me the JOY of your salvation.’ Help me to rejoice and find joy in the gift of salvation you have given to me. May that gift be the focus of my Christmas this year. In your name, amen.”

Choices and Feelings

THE SETUP

“Cheer up, dude. It’s Christmas.” — The Grinch

On Sunday, Kevin Starkey taught that joy is not an emotion. We often confuse or conflate joy with happiness. We wait to feel joy. But joy is more of a decision than an emotion, and it is something that we get to choose.

In How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the Grinch wants to steal joy from the citizens of Whoville, by stealing Christmas. Overnight he takes it all: the presents, the stockings, the trees, the lights, the decorations, even their Christmas dinner. On Christmas morning he stands, looking down on Whoville, waiting for the sounds of anger, disappointment, and sadness. Instead, he hears singing. While the Whovillians aren’t happy about someone stealing their gifts and holiday trimmings, they realize they have each other and choose joy. 

During the holiday season, many people struggle with depression, loneliness, and sadness. They don’t “feel” Christmas. But the message of Christmas – the birth of Jesus – is that we can experience joy in any circumstance. That’s why James, Jesus’ half-brother, writes in James 1:2, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” 

When trouble comes my way, I don’t typically see it as an opportunity. But it is often out of seasons of difficulty that the greatest lessons are learned, and growth happens. There may be reasons that the cheer of the holidays feels far away this year. You might be struggling to find happiness this Christmas. But Jesus’ birth brought joy into this world and he wants to help you to experience it even in the middle of today’s challenges. As he told his disciples, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, for I have overcome the world.” May that bring you joy during this Advent season. 

PASSAGE TO READ

James 1:1-8

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• What do you think James means when he writes that facing trouble in this life is an opportunity for joy? Have you ever seen it that way?

• What are some of things that James says can be produced in our lives when we face trouble?

• How do feel your faith in Jesus has helped you to find joy in difficult circumstances? 

PRAYER IDEA

“Lord – you know about the troubles that I deal with in my life. Help me to find opportunities for joy in those circumstances. Remind me that I am not alone in facing those challenges. You have promised to never leave or forsake me. I don’t want to let my feelings determine my attitude. I want to choose joy in every situation. In your name, amen.”

"I Know Him!"

THE SETUP

"Santa’s Coming! I know him! I know him!" – Buddy the Elf in Elf

There have been very few times in my life where I have seen anyone get as excited for anything as Buddy does in the movie Elf when he finds out that Santa is coming to Gimbel’s department store. The cheering of the kids in the store is drowned out by Buddy’s enthusiasm for Santa. Why is Buddy so much more excited about Santa than everyone else? Because he knew him. The kids were excited about the possibility of Santa, Buddy was excited about seeing someone he knew.

As we celebrate Advent, the anticipation of Jesus’ birth, we have the benefit of experience, much like Buddy. The shepherds, wise men, and even Jesus’ own parents were aware of the promise of the Messiah. Two thousand years later, we know Him. Our joy at Christmas isn’t the joy of anticipation. It is the joy of experience. It’s the joy that comes from what Jesus has done in our lives, from the gift of salvation to the ongoing work of transformation he brings to us. We know Him.

This Advent season, may you be filled with joy as you reflect on and celebrate the birth of Jesus. And if you want to shout about it, go ahead, you know Him. 

PASSAGE TO READ

John 1:1-14

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• How do you define joy? What has been the most joyful moment of your life?

• How, in your opinion, is the joy of experience different than the joy of anticipation?

• What has Jesus done in your life that you can rejoice about this Christmas?

PRAYER IDEA:

“Jesus – thank you for coming into this world so we can know you. You became flesh and lived in our world, sharing our experience so we could experience you. This Christmas help me to share your joy with the people around me. Not the joy of the holidays or the emotions of the season, but the joy of knowing you. In your name, amen.”

Someday, Someday...

THE SETUP

"I know what I'm gonna do tomorrow, and the next day, and next year, and the year after that." – George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life

Probably the most well-known Christmas movie is It’s a Wonderful Life. It’s the story of a guy named George Bailey who has big dreams that never seem to come true. His plans for tomorrow, the next day, and the next year are constantly interrupted by that thing we call reality. But George keeps dreaming and convincing himself that one day he is going to get to go all the places and do all the things he has planned. Someday.

But (spoiler alert) that time never comes. And there is an angst, a restlessness that comes over him. Eventually, his despair pushed him to consider taking his life. But an angel intervenes, and George sees the good in his life and the people that are a part of it. It’s a Christmas movie after all, so of course, it ends on a good note.

For a lot of people, the holidays can highlight or amplify the disappointments they have gone through or the anxiety they feel. Here’s the bad news, an angel named Clarence is probably not going to show up and help you find perspective. Now here’s the good news – one of the things the birth of Jesus brought into our world is peace of heart and mind. The Apostle Paul describes it as, “peace which exceeds anything we can understand.” May you experience Jesus’ peace during this Advent season.

PASSAGE TO READ

Philippians 4:6-8

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• What does Paul encourage us to do and not do with our worry and anxiety in Philippians 4:6

• What do you think it means that God wants to give us a peace that is beyond our understanding? How can we experience peace of heart and mind without our situation changing.

• When you read the list of things to “think about” in verse 8, how could that be of help to you this holiday season?

PRAYER IDEA

“Lord – I want to bring you my worries, the things that rob me of peace. I believe you want to give me peace of mind and heart this Christmas. When I am stressed or restless, help me to give those things to you and to fill my mind with things that are true, honorable, and praiseworthy. Fill me with your peace. Amen.”

Restoring the Peace

THE SETUP

Nick 'Santa' Claus: “I never realized. You hate me.”
Fred Claus: “I don't hate you, Nick. I just wish you'd never been born.”

Fred Claus tells us the story of the Claus brothers, Nick and Fred, who had a falling out as kids. When Fred realizes that he will never be able to live up to the reputation of his younger brother, Nick, he distances himself from Nick and the rest of the family. Fred grows up to be a lonely and cynical repo man, while his brother becomes you-know-who.

As adults, Fred and Nick are reunited and all their old issues resurface. No matter what Nick does to try and win Fred over, Fred isn’t interested. Nick can’t figure out why Fred hates him, and Fred doesn’t know why Nick won’t just leave him alone. There is clearly no peace between the two brothers.

During this week of Advent, as we celebrate the peace that Jesus brought into the world, we can focus on the peaceful stillness of the moment we sing about in Silent Night. But the peace that the Scriptures describe is bigger than that.

The Old Testament prophets wrote that one day a Messiah would come into the world who would restore peace between God and humanity. The gulf of sin, our rejection of God and his ways, would be bridged and we could be reconciled to God. In the New Testament, we learn that peace has come through Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection. The peace that we experience at Christmas is more than good feelings or a sense of calm. It is the peace of being reconciled to God through Jesus.

PASSAGE TO READ

Romans 5:1-11

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• Has there ever been a time in your life when you needed to “make peace” with someone? How did you handle it?

• When you read Romans 5, what captivates you about what Jesus has done for you?

• How do you think peace with God can impact your sense of peace this Christmas?

PRAYER IDEA

“God – thank you for loving this world so much that you would send Jesus to bring peace to us. Thank you for doing for me what I could never do for myself. I don’t have the ability to be self-righteous, to be good enough, but you have made it possible for me to experience your righteousness through Jesus. Thank you for that indescribable gift! Amen.”

The Gift of Peace

THE SETUP

"Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?" — Clark Griswold to Cousin Eddie, Christmas Vacation

If you’ve watched the Christmas classic, Christmas Vacation, you know all about Cousin Eddie. He and his family show up unexpectedly (and uninvited) to the Griswold’s house which is already overflowing with family members. Cousin Eddie can get under Clark’s skin like no other. Eddie always says the wrong thing, always does the wrong thing, and has no sense of social boundaries. Clark has to do everything he can not to snap.

Maybe you have a family member like that — one who robs a little of your Christmas joy. You can avoid them most of the year, but when those family events roll around during the holidays, you have to count slowly to ten. A lot. Or it could be a co-worker. Or your neighbor whose decorations encroach into your yard. Sometimes “peace on earth” seems like a pipe dream during the holidays.

But Jesus came to bring peace to each and every one of us. His peace is a gift to us. It is what allows us to experience peace in the middle of the most trying situations. Often, we think changing our circumstances will bring peace, but the peace Christ offers isn’t dependent on ideal conditions. It is a work of heart that brings peace in spite of the storms of life. This Advent season, let’s take some time to thank God for the gift of peace that we have in Jesus.

PASSAGE TO READ

John 14:27-29

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• What is the thing (or things) that can rob you of peace during the holidays? Why do you think they have that effect on you?

• What do you think Jesus means when he offers us, “a gift – peace of mind and heart”? How does Christ bring peace to your heart and mind?

• How can you cultivate peace in your heart and mind this Christmas?

PRAYER IDEA

“Jesus – thank you for the gift of peace. Help me to embrace that gift this Christmas. I pray that the circumstances around me, which I can’t always control, will not determine the peace I feel this year. Help me to experience internal peace despite what the season brings. In your name, amen.”

Hope You Find Your Dad

THE SETUP

“I planned out our whole day. First, we’ll make snow angels for two hours, then we’ll go ice skating, then we’ll eat a whole roll of Toll House cookie dough as fast as we can, and then we’ll snuggle.” – Buddy the Elf, when he found his real dad

If you’ve seen Elf once, or a thousand times, you know that Buddy, a human, was raised by elves at the North Pole. As an adult, he sets out to find his real father. As Buddy is sent off, a Narwhal tells him, “Bye Buddy, hope you find your dad.”

After a long journey, Buddy tracks down his dad and shares his plans for father-son bonding. But his hopes are dashed. His dad is not interested in a relationship. He wants the opposite. He wants Buddy as far from him as possible. Buddy is crushed (don’t worry, it works out in the end, it’s a Christmas movie after all).

Sometimes it can feel like our hope, even in God, is unrealized, just like Buddy’s. We pray. We wait. We believe. But the answer doesn’t come, and our hope begins to fade. Advent is a reminder that God fulfills his promises and that his timing often looks different than ours. Hope in God doesn’t have an expiration date. When it is realized in our lives it brings a fulfillment the world around us can’t provide.

READ THE PASSAGE

Isaiah 40:26-31

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• What are some of the attributes of God in this passage that inspire hope in you this Advent season?

• What do you think that it means to “wait on the Lord” (verse 31)?

• What can re-kindle hope in you this Advent season? Have you talked to God about it?

PRAYER IDEA

“Lord – I will wait on you this Advent season. You are the Everlasting God and the creator of the universe. As I wait for and trust you, I believe you will strengthen my faith and exceed my hopes. Amen.”

Looking For Hope

THE SETUP

A common theme in Christmas movies is hope. In most of the classics, from It’s A Wonderful Life or A Christmas Carol to Frosty or Elf, Christmas brings hope. Hope that circumstances will change, that a situation will be resolved, or hope that a relationship can get better. 

Often that hope is wrapped in sentiment. A beautiful lighted scene, a Christmas Eve party filling the house with people and joy, or Santa showing up with just the right thing under the tree. There are a lot of places where people look for hope — in the movies and in real life.

In Psalm 121, the psalmist writes, “I lift up my eyes to the hills and where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” The hills were significant in that culture. That’s where the altars and places of worship to various idols and gods took place. So people looked to the hills for hope. But the psalmist doesn’t look for hope from a totem, an altar, or an idol. He looks to the Lord for hope and help. Advent is a season of expectation, a time of waiting that culminates in the birth of Jesus, the Savior of the world. May our eyes be focused in the right place during this season.

PASSAGE TO READ

Psalm 121

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• What are some places that people in our culture commonly look for hope? What about you – where do you look?

• Psalm 121 is a psalm rich in hope. What promise in Psalm 121 jumps off the page to you?

• How can this passage help you to re-focus this Advent season?

PRAYER IDEA

“God – I lift my eyes to you for hope and help. I thank you for watching over me in every step of my life. Even before I believed in you, you were looking out for me. That is amazing! Help me to keep my focus on you this Advent season. You are my hope and my help. Amen.”

I Believe

THE SETUP

As the animated Christmas movie, Polar Express is beginning, the narrator says, “I was listening for a sound I was afraid I’d never hear. The ringing bells of Santa’s sleigh.” The movie tells the story of a boy from a poor family who thought Christmas would pass him by as it had in years past. Instead, he is magically whisked away on the Polar Express. He gets to see and experience what he had always hoped was true, but because of years of disappointment, he had stopped hoping.

In the movie, getting the boy to believe in Santa and the spirit of Christmas wasn’t the challenge. Getting him to believe it was for him was. Finally, he speaks those two words: “I believe.” His hopes and dreams were fulfilled.

For many people, disappointments keep them from hoping for the future. Maybe you’ve heard someone say, “I don’t want to get my hopes up.” Maybe you’ve said it. We’ve all been let down. We’ve all put our hope in someone or something that has come up short.

The Advent season is all about hope. Advent means “coming” in Latin and it is the anticipation of the birth of Jesus, the birth of hope. If you have grown hopeless, or if you just hope less, may this Christmas season renew your faith as you remember that God keeps his promises.

PASSAGE TO READ

Proverbs 13:12, Psalm 146:3-6

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• Is there a hope you have that has been deferred? How have you handled the waiting?i

• When is the last time you had a “tree of life” experience – a dream fulfilled?

• The psalmist writes, “He (God) keeps every promise forever.” How does that fill you with hope this Christmas?

PRAYER IDEA

“Lord, I thank you that you keep EVERY promise FOREVER. Even when I don’t see your hand at work, I believe that you are keeping your promises in my life. During this Advent season I want to keep my heart focused on the hope and promise of Jesus. Christmas is a reminder that you do keep your promises and that you will keep your promises in my life. Amen.”

The Real Thing

THE SETUP

One of my sneaky favorite Christmas movies is Jingle All the Way. In the movie, all a young boy wants for Christmas is a Turbo Man action figure. It is the must-have toy that year. His dad, Howard, (played by Ahh-Nold Schwarzenegger) forgets to buy the Turbo Man figure and chaos ensues. Howard spends all day on Christmas Eve trying to find And buy a Turbo Man, but it’s impossible to find one. Finally, in a whacky turn of events, Howard ends up dressed as Turbo Man in the middle of a Christmas parade.

As part of the parade, he is allowed to give a Turbo Man figure to any child along the route. Who does he choose? His son of course. But in the end, his son ends up giving the action figure away. Why? “Who needs this Turbo Man when I have the REAL Turbo Man at home!” he says.

Advent is a reminder that in the middle of all the holiday stuff — the wrapping, giving, and getting of gifts, and the gathering with family or friends – our real hope (and joy, and peace) lie somewhere else. Advent is a reminder that God wants to be the source of our hope — not our circumstances or our emotions. When we have the real source of hope in our lives, why would we settle for anything else?

PASSAGE TO READ

Romans 15:13

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• How has God been a source of hope in your life to this point?

• What are some things besides God that people tend to put their hope in? Have sny of those things let you down in the past? How so?

• What does Paul say the result will be when we trust in God as our source of hope?

PRAYER IDEA

“Father – you are my source of hope. I ask that today you would completely fill me with joy and peace as I put my trust in you. May my life overflow with confident hope so I can share that hope with the people I interact with today. In your name. Amen.”

A Lovely Cheese Pizza Just For Me

THE SETUP

The old saying goes, “Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it.” That’s what Kevin McCallister thought happened to him in Home Alone. After everyone in his family dumped on him, including eating all of his favorite cheese pizza, he had one wish, one hope, for Christmas: that his family would all just disappear. And that’s exactly what seemed to happen! At first, Kevin thought he had it made. He even got, “A lovely cheese pizza, just for me.” But eventually, he missed his family and found out it was not as great as he had hoped it would be. 

Have you ever had that experience? When what you had hoped for, what you were sure would make things better, didn’t work out like you thought it would? We’ve all been there.

During this week of Advent, we are focusing on the theme of hope. In his letter to the church in Rome (Book of Romans in our New Testament), the Apostle Paul talks about a hope that does not disappoint us. This Christmas, may we put our hope in Christ and his process for our lives. If we do, we will not be disappointed.

PASSAGE TO READ

Romans 5:1-5

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• What kind of hope does Paul say “will not lead to disappointment”? What do you think he means by that?

• When you read the process of growth in verses 3-5, what sticks out the most to you?

• How do you think trusting God, even during our problems and trials, can help us to experience hope?

PRAYER IDEA

“Jesus – thank you for the gift of salvation which gives us a hope that will never disappoint us. This Advent season, whatever highs and lows may come, I pray you would help me to trust your work in my life and let that be my hope. I know your hope will never disappoint me. Amen.”

Fra-Gee-Lay, It Must Be Italian

THE SETUP

In the movie, A Christmas Story, Ralphie holds out hope that he will get a Red Rider BB gun for Christmas, despite all the adults in his life telling him he’ll shoot his eye out. But that’s not the only glimpse of hope we get in the movie.

Ralphie’s dad is filled with hope when he finds out that solving a crossword has earned him, “A major award!” When he received the telegram about his prize, he dances a jig and begins to imagine all of the things he may have won, even a bowling alley (“They won’t deliver the bowling alley, just the deed!”). Eventually, a large wooden crate is dumped into their front door and the possibilities seem endless. “There could be anything in there!” old man Parker exclaims.

As the crate is opened, the family (and those of us watching) are surprised to find out the crate contains a leg lamp. The main story moves on from there, but the hope remains – anything is possible at Christmas. That’s A Christmas story, but in THE Christmas story, the hope that people had been hanging onto for centuries comes to fruition in the form of a little baby laying in an animal trough.

Hope is what the Advent season is all about. The word Advent is from Latin and means, “coming.” It is waiting in expectation for the hope of the world. With all of the holiday activities, school programs, office parties, and family get-togethers, it can be easy to overlook the hope that Jesus brought into this world. This Advent season may we take the time to reflect on the hope that Jesus brings to us and to the world around us. May you rejoice in the hope of Christmas this year!

PASSAGE TO READ

John 1

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• What is thing that you can’t wait for every Christmas season?

• What has the hope of Jesus’ birth meant to you?

• What is one practical way you can spread the hope of Christmas this year?

PRAYER IDEA

Jesus, I thank you for bringing hope into this world. I especially thank you for bringing hope into my life. In times of difficulty or pain, I am so glad I can turn to you for hope, because you are Immanuel, ‘God with us.’ I am not alone, and that gives me hope. Help me to keep that hope in mind during the challenging moments of this Advent season and help me to share that hope with those around me. In your name, amen.

United Devotional: Day 58

The Set-Up

My high school band director always told us, “We’re only as strong as our weakest link.” He loved sports, but he often pointed out that sports teams have the option of benching a player who isn’t performing well. He also pointed out that even in their best games, athletes don’t have perfect performances. Joe Montana is one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks, and throughout his career, he completed 63% of his passes. Tom Brady has completed 64% of passes. Both of these highly decorated athletes have missed just under half of their passes. When performing music, those stats are unacceptable. Could you imagine what it would sound like if the lead trumpet in a concert band missed half of their notes while playing the Star Spangled Banner? It’d be horrific.

In music, it is absolutely vital that every person know their part inside and out. They have to play every performance with 100% accuracy. Even the smallest parts need to be polished to perfection. If they aren’t, the whole band suffers.

This is what it means to be the body of Christ, to be part of the universal Church. We don’t have to be perfect, but we must confidently live out the parts God has called us to play. We don’t have the option of sitting on the bench when we’re having an off day. Like they say in show biz, “The show must go on.”

Today is the last day of our United study of 1 Corinthians, and throughout the summer, we’ve learned that Christians must be unified. Just like great orchestral pieces, we all have God-given parts to play. We are individuals, but each of our parts fit together as a whole in order to glorify God and share His love with the broken world around us. Sometimes the most effective way for us to do that is to give up some of our individual rights so others can better play their parts or so others can better hear God’s love rather than ourselves. In the words of Paul, the only way this is possible is by doing “everything with love.”

Passage to Read

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Reflection Questions

1. What has stuck out to you the most throughout Journey’s United series? What is something from this series that you can apply to your own life?

2. How can we be unified but still individuals? What does it mean to live as God has called you specifically to live while still living in unity with other Christians?

3. There are so many examples of parts working together to make something happen – a car, a TV, your commute to work. How do you fit into the body of Christ? How do your skills and talents work with other Christians to promote God’s message to others?

Prayer Idea

Thank God that part of His great plan includes connecting us with other people so we don’t have to do life on our own. Thank Him for the encouragement you’ve received from others that He has placed in your life. Thank God for also using you for something far greater than yourself, for allowing you to be a part of something larger than we could ever imagine. Ask God to help you take the message of 1 Corinthians to heart so that you can do everything in love.

United Devotional: Day 57

The Set-Up

As mentioned in yesterday’s devotional, the Corinthian believers didn’t accept Paul’s authority as an apostle. In this section, Paul argues his rights as an apostle. 

Paul did things a little differently than the other apostles, which may have been why the Corinthians didn’t respect his authority. Many of the other apostles were married and were financially supported by other believers. Paul wasn’t married, and he chose to work for financial support rather than accept donations from the churches he worked with.

While Paul had the right to be supported financially by other believers, he didn’t take advantage of it. This is where we see Paul’s true heart and intentions – it didn’t matter to him if he got paid or not for his work in sharing the gospel; what mattered was that the gospel was being preached.

Why didn’t Paul accept financial contributions? We don’t know the exact reason, but it may have been because he didn’t want others to think that he was using the gospel as a way to make a profit. But regardless of the reason, Paul’s example shows us that there are things we might have to give up in order to share the gospel effectively. 

Passage to Read

1 Corinthians 9:3-14

Reflection Questions

1. Why do you think accepting financial support could inhibit Paul’s ability to share the gospel?

2. Paul gave up his apolostic rights of financial support in order to better share the gospel. What are “rights” you may have to give up in order for you to better share the gospel?

3. In verse 12, Paul writes, “We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.” How might someone be an obstacle to the gospel? How can you keep from being an obstacle to the gospel of Jesus Christ?

4. In verse 14, Paul writes, “In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.” What are your thoughts on those who preach the gospel getting paid? Should we financially support those who preach the gospel? Does this affect your thoughts about giving to the church?

Prayer Idea

Thank God that He provides for all our needs and that He blesses us when we sacrifice our will to live by His. Ask Him to give you the willingness to let go of any “rights” that might be an obstacle to sharing the gospel. Ask Him to give you a desire to share the gospel with those you interact with, even if it’s uncomfortable.

United Devotional: Day 56

The Set-Up

Isn’t it frustrating when people don’t trust who you say you are? Or when people question your authority?

This was one of the issues Paul had with the Corinthian church. Even though he had started the church a few years earlier, they refused to acknowledge his authority as an apostle. We’ll look at some of their reasons for this later this week, but Paul starts out this section by throwing down the hammer – the fact that he was the one who brought them the gospel should be enough evidence of his apostleship.

The work that we do – the words we speak, the way we live and act – should be evidence to others of our faith. In the book of James, James spends some time talking about this. We are saved by faith alone, but the things we do prove that our faith is genuine (James 2:19-24). Paul is using that same argument here in regard to his apostleship. There may be people who doubt his apostleship, but the Corinthian believers should know and accept his authority as an apostle because they’ve seen the work of God done by Paul firsthand.

In today’s divisive environment, there may be times when your faith is doubted by other believers because of the stances you take. You may hear, “You can’t be a Christian if you vote this way,” or “You’re not really a Christian because you (fill in the blank here) during COVID.” But ultimately, your faith is between you and God. Paul knew he was an apostle because he had an experience with the resurrected Christ. It didn’t matter if other people accepted that or not, but he continued to live in a way that reflected his belief in Christ. In the same way, we can know we are true believers because we know we’ve accepted Christ’s forgiveness and have chosen to follow Him. Our salvation is not based on other people’s standards or opinions. Regardless of what others might say, continue living in the way God has called you to live. How you live your life will be proof of your faith – maybe not in this life, but definitely in the next one. 

Passage to Read

1 Corinthians 9:1-2

Reflection Questions

1. Have you ever had your authority questioned? What did that feel like? How did you respond?

2. Has anyone ever questioned your faith because of a choice you made? How did you handle that situation?

3. Why are our works – the things we say and do – important for proving our faith?

Prayer Idea

Thank God that it is only His opinion that truly matters. He places people in our lives who challenge us in appropriate ways and help us grow, but there are people who may cause you to doubt your salvation. If that is happening to you, or if you are doubting your faith for another reason, ask God to help you find reassurance and trust in His promises.