Sunday School @ Home - First Sunday in Advent (November 28, 2021)

Bible Passage
First Sunday in Advent (1 Thessalonians 3:9-13)

Today is the first Sunday in Advent. Advent is the start of a new church year. It is a time when we prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus. We prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus born as a baby in Bethlehem. We prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus among us here and now. We prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus in glory at the end of time. There are four Sundays in Advent and that means there are four Sundays before Christmas, when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, born as a baby in Bethlehem. Advent is a time of waiting, but it isn’t a boring, sitting around kind of waiting. We are waiting in an active way. We are looking and preparing for Jesus to come.

Today we hear from a letter St. Paul wrote to the people who lived in Thessalonica. They were having a rough time. There were people who were making their lives difficult because they believed in Jesus. St. Paul wrote them a letter to encourage them.

Watch the video to find out what he said:

https://youtu.be/s-mmJzgNHl4

St. Paul told the people in Thessalonica that God’s goodness was stronger than evil and that God’s goodness would always win out no matter how it might seem. St. Paul encouraged the people by reminding them that God loved them, that he loved them, and that they loved one another.

St. Paul’s encouragement can be a help to us today. It reminds us that when we face difficult times, God loves us and there are others that love us as well. We have family and friends that love us and our church family loves us as well. When others face difficult times, we can encourage them by reminding them of God’s love and by sharing God’s love and our love with them.

On this first Sunday in Advent, we remember that God loves us so much that God sent Jesus into the world born as a baby in Bethlehem, which we will celebrate at Christmas, Jesus comes among us here and now, and Jesus will come again in glory at the end of time. During these days of Advent we prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus and as we prepare we are encouraged by God’s love and we can encourage others.

Discuss

How does your family celebrate Advent?
When was a time you needed encouragement?
How can you encourage others?

Song

Emmanuel. GraceChildMusic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ePJJ5Yuw8c

The words to the song are:

Hey-oh, hey-oh – have you heard the news? The Savior, the Savior is coming just for you! Don’t know when He’ll arrive, or what He will look like But He’s coming very, very, very soon Emmanuel! Emmanuel! He will come in peace to wash us clean I just can’t wait to meet Emmanuel

Hey-oh, hey-oh – bet you’ll never guess The Savior, the Savior will come in righteousness He will take our sin upon Himself and then He will offer us eternal life with Him Emmanuel! Emmanuel! He will come in peace to wash us clean I just can’t wait to meet Emmanuel

The Lord will live among us; Our Shepherd and our King So let’s make our hearts ready; To love and follow Him! Emmanuel! Emmanuel! He will come in peace to wash us clean I just can’t wait to meet Emmanuel! Emmanuel! He will come in peace to wash us clean I just can’t wait to meet Emmanuel

Activity

If your family uses an Advent wreath, light the first candle today and use this litany as you do so:

One: When the world seems scary or uncertain,