Today is the first Sunday of Advent! We pray that reading these verses and singing this song will be an encouragement to you as you reflect on the hope that we have in Christ!
Old Testament Reading: Lamentations 3:21-24 (ESV)
Adults would benefit from reading verses 1-21 to see the context of suffering for this declaration of hope in the Lord
“ [21] But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
[22] The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
[23] they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
[24] “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”
New Testament Reading: Romans 5:1-5 (ESV)
“[1] Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. [2] Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. [3] Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, [4] and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, [5] and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
Advent Song: Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Come, thou long expected Jesus,
Born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to thy glorious throne.
Words: Charles Wesley 1707-1788
Readings from The Jesus Storybook Bible
From the very beginning of the Bible, we learn about God’s great plan! God created a beautiful world, but sin soon after entered the world and everything and everyone was broken. But the world was not left without HOPE! God promised to send a rescuer! These two stories set the stage for the foundation of our hope as we wait for our long-expected redeemer.
The beginning: a perfect home (Genesis 1-2)
The terrible lie (Genesis 3)