SUNDAY SCHOOL @ HOME – 4th Sunday in Advent (December 18, 2022)
Bible Passage (Matthew 1:18-25)
Today is the fourth Sunday in Advent. Advent is a special time in the 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. On this fourth Sunday in Advent, we are going to be focusing on love. 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 and an important way we do that is by remembering that God loves us. Christmas Eve is this coming Saturday!
Watch this video together:
Read:
The angel Gabriel had appeared to Mary to tell her that although she wasn’t married, she would give birth to a son, who was God’s Son, and that she should name him Jesus, because he would save his people from their sins. Mary wasn’t expecting an angel!
Today we hear that an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream to tell him that Mary would have God’s Son and they should name him Jesus. Both Mary and Joseph were willing to do as God told them through the angel.
God loves us so much that God is willing to do anything to show it, including sending God’s only Son, Jesus, to earth. In Jesus, God shows love in the form of a baby born to Mary. Mary was a simple girl, not rich, not a celebrity, not an expert, but God chose her. Mary loved God and was faithful to God. Joseph loved God and was faith to God too.
Jesus would grow up and show us what God’s love looks like in human form. God’s love is for everyone – no one is left out or excluded.
Discuss
- What is God’s love like? How big is God’s love?
- When do you feel love?
- How do we show love to others?
- How would you feel if an angel appeared to you?
Song
Jesus Loves Me. Go Fish Guys. With motions. (I know this is used a lot. I just love this version of Jesus Loves Me.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmBGNdZ70bU
Activity
If your family uses an Advent wreath, light the four candles (labeled hope, peace, joy, and love) today and use this litany as you do so:
One: When the world seems scary or uncertain,
Others: Our God loves us.
One: When things aren’t as they should be,
Others: Our God loves us.
One: When we make mistakes or mess up,
Others: Our God loves us.
One: When everything seems just right with the world,
Others: Our God loves us.
One: No matter what and all the time,
Others: Our God loves us.
One: We can love God, and we can love others because…
Others: Our God loves us.
One: Today, we light the candle of love.
Others: Our God loves us.
Pray: Thank you, God, that you are with us. Thank you that you love us always and no matter what. May the candle of love be a reminder today and throughout the Advent season that you love us and invite us to show your love to others.
If you don’t have an Advent wreath, download this page and color four candles (those labeled hope, peace, joy, and love) either blue or purple. If you used blue, color all four blue. If you used purple, color three purple and color the candle labeled joy pink:
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Activity
Today we are going to make edible angels. They are very easy to make! All you need are some carrots for the body of the angel and some sections from a clementine or a cutie for the wings. Make some angels and then eat them!
Prayer
God, as we wait during Advent, open our eyes to see your coming among us. Thank you for always loving us. Help us share your love with others. Amen.
Pastor Dan Fugate, Assistant to the Bishop for Discipleship in the Indiana-Kentucky Synod, ELCA, put this lesson together for Sunday School @ Home. Contact him at [email protected].
Best wishes for peace and joy this Christmas! Sunday School @ Home will be on hiatus for now, but will return for Sunday, January 8, 2023!
Portions of this lesson adapted from Let Earth Receive Her King by The Foundry Publishing. Used with permission.
