A Witness in Every Culture

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. 

Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

Psalm 19:1-4

"There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard." What exactly does this mean? I believe it means that God has left a witness for Himself in every culture. God has "made every nation of men...so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us" (Acts 17:26-27) Think about that for a moment...every nation of men...not just the Jews or the Americans or the Europeans or the Chinese, but every nation. 

Paul tells us that God has made them in such a way that men from every nation would seek Him. He has left a witness for Himself in every culture, every nation. There is some bit of truth in their worldview, their belief system, that has prepared them to hear and receive the Gospel. This is what Jesus meant when He told His disciples, "Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." (John 4:35). 

How are the fields (referring to people who do not know Christ as Savior) "ripe for harvest?" The disciples did not prepare those fields...those people's hearts, to receive Christ. No...God did! God left a witness for Himself so that when the disciples made it to that group of people and shared the love and truth of Jesus with them, they would be ready to receive it. 

I believe that this idea challenges some of our core beliefs. We tend to look at a culture like the Muslims, Hindus or Buddhists, or any number of other "pagan" cultures and believe they are unreachable without some miraculous intervention from God. Yes...God does intervene miraculously as I pointed out in my earlier blog Dreams of the Muslims , but more often, He asks us to harvest the fields that He has already ripened. 

So how does a Christian harvest the fields? How can the Gospel be explained to a group of people so that it seems culturally right to them? 

The answer is through something called "redemptive analogy," a phrase coined by missionary and author Don Richardson (author of Peace Child and Eternity in Their Hearts...two books I have previously blogged about at The Incredible Power of God and Eternity in their Hearts). 

The Jewish people practiced lamb sacrifice. John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus as the perfect, personal fulfillment of that sacrifice by saying, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" This is redemptive analogy. 

When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, a Jewish teacher, both knew that Moses had lifted up a serpent of brass upon a pole so that Jews, dying of snakebite, could look at it and be healed. Jesus told Nicodemus that "as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." This too is redemptive analogy. 

The Karen of Burma (seen in above picture) had been searching for centuries for a "white brother who was supposed to bring them a book...(whose) author is Y'wa-the Supreme God...that the white brother, having given them the lost book, will thereby set them free from all who oppress them." Their folk religion's hymns bear striking resemblances to God's character and "the Karen story of man's falling away from God contains stunning parallels to Genesis chapter 1: Y'wa formed the world originally. He appointed food and drink. He appointed the 'fruit of trial.' He gave detailed orders. Mu-kaw-lee deceived two persons. He caused them to eat the fruit of the tree of the trial. They obeyed not...they believed not Y'wa...when they ate the fruit of trial they became subject to sickness, aging and death." Wow! This was a remote group of people who had never come in contact with Jews or Christians before, yet their own religion, thousands of years old, had an incredible witness of the Lord! The Karen nation was thus poised like an 800,000 member welcoming party, ready for the first unsuspecting missionary who approached them with a Bible and a message of deliverance from God." When missionaries finally brought the Gospel to the Karen in the early 1800s, thousands accepted Christ almost immediately and "almost as quickly as Karen were converted and baptized, they became missionaries to spread the good news still further among their own people" and neighboring tribes! This is redemptive analogy. 

There are many more stories like this, of missionaries bringing the Gospel to groups of people who have never heard of Jesus Christ. When the missionary looks for and finds that redemptive analogy, that culture key, the people become very open to hearing about and believing in the Gospel. They "are made aware of spiritual meaning dormant within their own culture. In this way, conversion does not deny their cultural background. Instead, they experience heightened insight into both the Scriptures and their own cultural heritage, and thus they are better prepared to share Christ meaningfully with other members of their society." 

The Eyes of a Woman

Their eyes...their eyes can speak volumes...of the hope that is in each female for someone to love her, protect her, tell her she is important. They plead for justice, equality and liberation. They show strength of character, determination and love for her family. They can also convey loss, fear, hopelessness and despair.

Jesus saw this in the eyes of the widow whose son had just died (Luke 11:1), the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4), the woman caught in adultery (John 8) and so many others throughout His time on earth. Their eyes spoke volumes about their suffering. And His heart was moved with tenderness and compassion for them. He reached out to not only heal and free them but to touch them and call them "daughter" (Matthew 9:22).

He broke all societal norms in His inclusion and outreach toward women. He elevated the status of women more than any other human ever has. It is a testament to the power of the Gospel that where true, heartfelt Christianity spreads, women and girls benefit.
One such example can be seen in the life of William Carey, missionary to India. 

"William Carey," argues an (Indian) female social science scholar, "was the first man to stand against both the ruthless murders and widespread oppression of women, virtually synonymous with Hinduism in the 18th and 19th centuries. The male in India was crushing the female through polygamy, female infanticide, child marriage, widow-burning, euthanasia and forced female illiteracy, all sanctioned by religion. The British Government timidly accepted these social evils as being an irreversible and an intrinsic part of India's religious mores. 

Carey began to conduct systematic sociological and scriptural research. He published his reports in order to raise public opinion and protest both in Bengal and England. He influenced a whole generation of civil servants, his students at Fort William College, to resist these evils. 

Carey opened schools for girls. When widows converted to Christianity, he arranged marriages for them rather than allowing them to be burned alive. It was Carey's persistent 25 year battle against sati that finally led to Lord Bentinck's famous Edict in 1829, banning one of the most abominable of all religious practices in the world: "widow-burning." (Vishal and Ruth Mangalwadi).

Today, the eyes that haunt me most are those of Muslim women and girls. Their fate is similar, in many ways, to the Indian women of Carey's time. Polygamy, female infanticide, child marriage, honor killings and forced female illiteracy, all sanctioned by religion. Yet the American government, in many ways, seems to mirror the British government by timidly accepting these social evils as being an irreversible and an intrinsic part of Muslim religious mores. 

Why? Political correctness, fear of being named racist or intolerant of Islam? 

Whatever the reason, as in the time of William Carey, it is not going to be the government of America, or any other nation, that speaks up for the Muslim women. It MUST be the Church. 

We must allow God to break our hearts for these women and girls. We must pray for them...especially that they would find Isa (Jesus), the One who loves them and can provide them with hope they have never known. We must reach out to Muslim women in our area...ask God to show you one or two and then pray for them and become their friends.

Their eyes...they can speak of pain that an American woman can not even fathom, but they can also speak of peace and joy that only Jesus, the lover of their souls, can give them. 

Dreams of the Muslims

For decades, a phenomenon has been recurring in the Muslim world. Men and women – without any knowledge of the Gospel and without any contact with Christians – have been forever transformed after experiencing dreams and visions of Jesus Christ. Reports of these supernatural occurrences often come from “closed countries” where preaching the Gospel is forbidden and where converting to Christianity can invoke the death sentence. A common denominator appears to be that the dreams come to those who are seeking to know and please God.

Ramadan is the time of year when Muslims are earnestly seeking to know Allah. Unfortunately, Allah is not a god to be known. Unlike the Lord God who makes His way known through His Word and most lovingly through the personhood of Jesus Christ ("He is the image of the invisible God" Colossians 1:15), Allah is a distant god.

"The first of the Ten Commandments is that we are to love the God of the Bible with our whole heart; but never does the Koran say a Muslim is to love Allah.  You cannot love Allah, because he is unknowable.  The God of the Bible can be known and repeatedly calls upon men to know Him; but the Koran says no one can know Allah because he is too great.  

In spite of being infinite, without beginning and end, and the Creator of the universe, the biblical God reveals himself so that men can know Him.  Jesus himself said, "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3).  No one knows Allah," (taken from www.menorah.org).

This same idea, that God is love while Allah is not known for his love, was expressed in an email from a friend who is a Christian pastor in Iraq: "however the attributes of our God is totally different than Allah in Islam. Allah in Islam has 99 names and it is missing the one we have which is "God is Love".

The Bible says, in Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:17

"In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will 

prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams."

Amazingly, this is what is happening in the Arab world! All you need to do is type in "God appearing to Muslims in visions and dreams" to find a number of internet resources concerning this. One site, Isa al Masih, talks about this at great length. I'd like to close this entry by sharing some of the various dreams with you. 

Please pray that when Muslims are earnestly seeking a God they can know, that they will not continue their faith in Allah but will find faith in the One, True God who can be known through Jesus Christ (Isa)! 

God is Great! Just as He did in the past, God is showing His mercy and guidance to Muslims throughout the world today! Read the following story portions from Muslims worldwide who have reported such dreams and now follow Isa al Masih as their Savior:

"...two angels dressed in white robes stood on top of the mountain. Jesus was standing between the angels. He left the angels and came to where I stood watching. As he approached me, I knelt down and he laid his hands on my head..." 

"...['D.'] dreamt he was sitting with his arms tied to a chair. Then he saw a man he recognized as Jesus coming. Jesus touched the ropes and they fell from his arms..."

"...In the dream, Jesus told me to come to Him and read the Bible and He would show me the way, truth and the life..." 

"...I was standing in a cross shape with a low wall around it. In my right hand, I had a big stack of white unwritten papers. I was standing at the cross beam, and I was looking to a small group of people who were standing at the top. They all wore long white clothing, but one of them was different. He was standing at the right side, and with his left hand he was leading the people through a door in the wall. Beyond the door was light, and I could not see what was in there. One moment I was standing in the dream, and the next moment I was seeing the cross from above..."

"...I saw some Christians standing in line to get into Heaven. I tried to get into this line also, but a very tall being blocked my path and I started to cry because the side I was on was really horrible but the side they were on was a beautiful place, so beautiful, so blue..." 

"...I went back to bed after a short prayer and saw a second dream. This time it was Jesus as I saw him in the Jesus film years ago and I had trashed his video. He was hanging on the cross, the nails were in his hands and feet, yet he was smiling at me and talking to me. Though he was dying he seemed so beautiful. The cross was huge and I seemed like a little boy. My neck was falling back trying to see the whole face of Jesus and suddenly a huge big circle of light came from above the cross and down upon me..." 

"...I was swimming. It was very dark, without any stars in the sky. After swimming for a while, I stopped and looked up at the sky. Suddenly, I saw a star shining. I closed my eyes and made a wish. I said, 'Morning Star, teach me the secret of life'...I kept having this dream for years almost every other month and this pattern continued until a few months after my conversion, when I read Rev. 22:16, which says, 'I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star'..." 

Mission Motivation - Where Does it Come From?

What is the purpose of this blog? Why do I spend my limited time writing words that only a handful of people will ever read? 

Does it stem from all that I read about the horrible things happening in this world? Does it stem from the thought, the belief, that I can make a difference...that I, through my writing, can somehow cause a reader to take action, to do something about the lost in this world? No. 

The reason I write...Obedience and a desire to see His Glory. 

I want to see God's glory; to see His Kingdom come to this earth; to be a part of what He is doing and to let everyone I can know about it!

I'm not going to change one heart, one mind about the Great Commission and what our involvement should be. Only God can do that. And what is it, ultimately, that will cause our mission focus to grow... 

- An increase in compassion and commitment for the lost in the Christian’s heart?

- An increase in information about the lost and encouragement to share Christ with them?

- Sharing statistics and stories about the plight of the lost without Jesus?

None of these. I believe it only comes through the Holy Spirit intensifying our passion and love for Christ so that His heart’s passion becomes ours as well. Jesus must be first in our hearts, not missions. When He is first, He will “break our hearts for what breaks His” and missions will become an intense passion. 

We must set out hearts towards hope in God. Like Peter, if we look at all the “storms,” the horrible things going on in our world, we will begin to sink in sadness, weariness and despair. But when we fix our eyes on Jesus, when we understand the promises of Scripture and look for His hand in history and our modern times, we will see that the Kingdom of God is advancing and God is calling us to be a part of it.

Compassion for people, for the lost, for the orphan, for the persecuted church, is not what will ultimately compel and motivate us for mission. Only our hope for God’s glory and His kingdom will cause us to endure. 

I have seen this transition of motivation for mission in my own life’s walk with the Lord. When one focuses on all the needs, hurts, and atrocities done to others in the world, the sadness, despair and depressiveness of the situation can be overwhelming. That’s what I did for quite awhile and there were times I was very discouraged by all that I was learning. Our human compassion can only take us so far before burnout sets in. 

But as I grew closer to the Lord, spending time daily with Him in prayer and Bible study, constantly asking Him to make my heart more like His, He began to refocus my thoughts toward Himself rather than on the world. 

I began to realize that the way to call people to mission concern is not to focus entirely on all the bad. They usually know the bad. But they often times have no idea about all the good that God is doing in the world. I began to see that the Bible doesn’t focus on the bad so much as it focuses on God!

For example, when Jesus was born, people in Judea already knew about the bad. The angels gave them “good news of great joy which will be for all the people” (Lk 2:10). Good news from God was the message and it should still be the message today.

 Jesus won the victory on the cross! Our salvation is sure and His Kingdom will not be shaken (Heb. 12:28). We are not fighting the battles on our own. God is fighting the battles and asking us to join Him. 

When we focus on God’s glory and His Kingdom rather than all the horrible problems in the world, we cease to look at missions as our arduous responsibility and instead see it as God’s responsibility and God is more than able! This type of focus, rather than depressing a person and overwhelming them with sorrow, instead strongly encourages them to seize the hope set before them...a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul (Heb. 6:18-19). 

It’s not up to us and our meager efforts. God is inviting us to join with Him in pursuing His purpose in the world. He is the One who sets the agenda, grants the wisdom to proceed and gives the strength to endure. This is God’s world, His battle, His victory. With this type of motivation, “participation in God’s mission is no longer a somber duty. It becomes a joyous privilege and an adventure of passion and hope” (Tim Dearborn). 

Names of Jesus Christmas Devotion (Day 25) - I AM

Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?"
God said to Moses: "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'" 
-- Exodus 3:13-14

"You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to Him (Jesus), "and you have seen Abraham!"
"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I AM!"
-- John 8:57-58

In Jesus we have the richest, most vivid picture of God imaginable. God is not remote, displeased with the world He has made. Instead, through Jesus He bends toward us, sharing our weakness and shouldering our burdens. Through the perfect offering of His life He becomes our Way back to the Father. He is the True Vine in which we abide, bearing fruit for God's kingdom. He is the loving God who will never abandon us, but who will be present with us always, leading us to life eternal.

By using the name, I AM, the Lord may have been revealing Himself not only as the God who has always existed but also as the God who is always present with His people. Jesus used this name not only to identify Himself in answer to the religious leaders' questions but also to introduce a number of self-descriptions in the book of John:
I AM the bread of life (6:33)
I AM the light of the world (8:12)
Before Abraham was born, I AM (8:58)
I AM the gate for the sheep (10:7)
I AM the good shepherd (10:11)
I AM the resurrection and the life (11:25)
I AM the way and the truth and the life (14:6)
I AM the true vine, and my Father is the gardener (15:1)

By living and dying to save us, Jesus Himself has become the Promise we live by. He is the Word of Truth we stand on, the Bread that nourishes us, the Shepherd who leads us, the Light that drives all the darkness and fear away. He is the Savior for which we hope and the Messiah, our gateway to eternal life. He is all of these things and more - the Almighty, everlasting God, the One who is the great I AM!

Discuss: How have you experienced the I AM...God's faithful presence in your life?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the great promise-keeping God, the One who was, and is, and who is to come. You are the Resurrection and the Life, the True Vine, the Way, the great I AM. Help us, O Lord, to live in You, bearing fruit that will last through the power of Your Spirit both now and forever. It is in Your precious name that we pray this, Amen.

Songs: O Holy Night, Mary Did You Know

Ornaments: https://biblestoryprintables.com/themed-bible-printables/christmas-bible-printables/names-of-jesus-advent-ornaments/

Devotions come from Praying the Names of Jesus by Ann Spangler

Names of Jesus Christmas Devotion (Day 24) - Savior

Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.
-- Matthew 1:20-21

They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.

-- John 4:42

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, 

to the glory of God the Father. -- Philippians 2:9-11

Just as Yahweh is God's personal name revealed in the Old Testament, Jesus is the personal name of the One we call Redeemer, Lord, and Christ. His name is intimately linked to the God of the Hebrew Scriptures because it means "Yahweh is salvation." Indeed, Jesus is Yahweh come to earth. He is God bending toward us, God becoming one of us, God reaching out in mercy, God humbling Himself, God nailed to a cross, God rising up from the grave to show us the way home. 

There's power in the name of Jesus, but it's not some kind of magical chant. Saying His name is not like rubbing a lamp to conjure a genie. No, the power of the name of Jesus is released when people earnestly cry out to Him and when they live in obedience to Him. 

There are many stories that reflect this truth. One was told by a woman at Ann Spangler's church. While walking to her car in a deserted garage one night, a thug accosted her, knife in hand. Though she was terrified, this woman managed to command the man who wanted to hurt her: "Get away from me in the name of Jesus!" To her astonishment, though they were alone in the garage, the man backed up as though someone had just threatened him with a knife. Then he turned and fled. 

Then there's the story of E.P. Scott, a missionary to India. One day Scott decided to visit a mountain tribe who had never heard of Jesus. But as he approached the mountain, a band of angry tribesman surrounded him with spears pointing straight at his chest. On impulse, the missionary took out the violin he was carrying, closed his eyes, and began playing and singing a hymn in their native language. When Scott finally found the courage to open his eyes, he was amazed to see that his attackers had dropped their spears and that several of them had tears in their eyes. Scott spent the rest of his life preaching and serving the people of that tribe, many of whom became believers. What was the hymn he sang? "All Praise the Power of Jesus Name!"

Discuss: What comes to mind when you hear the name Jesus? 

Prayer:  Dear Jesus, thank you for being my Savior.  Thank you for all the sacrifices that you made in Your earthly life.  Thank you especially for Your sacrifice on the cross that I might find salvation and spend eternity in Heaven.  Amen.

Songs: Silent Night, Christmas Offering by Casting Crowns

Ornaments: https://biblestoryprintables.com/themed-bible-printables/christmas-bible-printables/names-of-jesus-advent-ornaments/

Craft: Make a banner or other decoration showing the Cross.

Service Project Idea:  Participate in a church visitation program, mentor a new Sunday School member, help set up a new members’ program at your church, etc.  Another option would be to participate in any program that helps to spread the Gospel.


Devotions come from Praying the Names of Jesus by Ann Spangler

Names of Jesus Christmas Devotion (Day 23) - Friend

As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because servants do not know their master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit - fruit that will last - and so that whatever you ask in My name the Father will give you. 
-- John 15:9-16

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by her actions.
-- Matthew 11:19

Jesus is not only Lord and Master but the greatest of all friends, who willingly proved His friendship by His death on the cross. By this costly gesture He has won the friendship of billions of men and women from every tongue and tribe and nation. When you pray to Jesus your Friend, you are praying to the One who loved you before you were lovable and who links you together with His many friends throughout the world.

Jesus took the first step toward us, basing His friendship not on a set of shared interests or on mutual admiration - the usual basis for friendship - but solely on His love. But there's a catch: None of us will ever be attractive enough, good enough, or successful enough to warrant His friendship. In fact, we must admit our weaknesses and sins before we can become His friend. Because Jesus is only and always a friend of sinners, of people who are broken enough to know their need.

We are to be like our friend Jesus. We should reach out to those we know who are not as easy to be friends with, those who are different than us, those who maybe don't even like us, and just like Jesus did...show them friendship and kindness and the love of Jesus.

Discuss: There are other passages about Jesus being a friend but this one is more revealing. Why? Think of a good friend. Why are they your friend? What qualities do they have that make them a friend.

Prayer:  Dear Jesus, thank You for being my true friend.  I know that I need never be lonely with You in my life and that I can talk to You about anything and everything.  Amen.

Songs: The Little Drummer Boy by 4Him, O Come, O Come by Mercy Me

Ornaments: https://biblestoryprintables.com/themed-bible-printables/christmas-bible-printables/names-of-jesus-advent-ornaments/

Craft: Send a homemade greeting card to a friend or to someone who might need a friend.  You may also chose to send a “welcome” card to someone new in your church or in your neighborhood and make a new friend.

Service Project Idea: Plan and carry out several helpful chores … serving your family.  You may also know of other ways that you can “serve” in your community.


Devotions come from Praying the Names of Jesus by Ann Spangler

Names of Jesus Christmas Devotion (Day 22) - The Bridegroom

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
"Hallelujah! 
For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 
Let us rejoice and be glad
and give Him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and His bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean was given her to wear."
(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)
Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'" And he added, "These are the true words of God." 
-- Revelation 19:9

I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD.
-- Hosea 2:19-20

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. 
-- John 14:1-3

God is not content to be known merely as Creator, Lord or even Father. Incredibly He reveals Himself also as Bridegroom or Husband. The Hebrew Scriptures contain numerous allusions to Yahweh as Israel's divine Husband, and the New Testament presents Christ as the church's Bridegroom. He is the Holy One who did not cling to His divinity but left His Father's house to dwell among us, calling us to become one with Him in the most intimate way possible. To all of us, male and female, Christ offers Himself as our provider, protector, the One who has forever pledged Himself in faithfulness and love.

Although God's people have turned away from Him time and time again in disobedience, God made the most gracious gesture imaginable. He came Himself in the person of Jesus Christ, to call His people back. Just like a Jewish groom, Jesus left His Father's house to come and pay the bride price for His beloved. But instead of paying in so many coins, Jesus secured the marriage covenant with His own blood.

God loves us as a bridegroom who is passionately in love with his bride. Let us pray today for the grace to understand the lengths to which God has already gone to unite us to Himself. And let us heed the voice of Jesus who tells us not to let our hearts be troubled as we wait for Him, but to take heart because He is preparing a place for us in Heaven.

Discuss: What do you think it means that Jesus is the bridegroom?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You left Your Father's house to come to earth and claim me as Your own. Thank you for showing me what love is by the way You lived Your life. Preserve me from both worldliness and weariness as I await Your coming. I pray that on that great and terrible day, I, along with all Your people, will be ready, eagerly awaiting Your return as our Savior and our Bridegroom.

Songs: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Wedding Day by Casting Crowns

Names of Jesus Christmas Devotion (Day 19) - Son of David

The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end." 
-- Luke 1:32-33

"I declare to you that the LORD will build a house for you (David): When your days are over and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish His kingdom. He is the One who will build a house for Me, and I will establish His throne forever. I will be His Father, and He will be My Son. I will never take My love away from Him, as I took it away from your predecessor. I will set Him over My house and My kingdom forever; His throne will be established forever." 
-- 1 Chronicles 17:10-14

"The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a king who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In His days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness." 
-- Jeremiah 23:5-6


David was Israel's greatest king, a man whom the Bible describes as having the very heart of God. So it may not be surprising that the New Testament both begins and ends with references to Jesus as the Son or Offspring of David. He is the One who fulfilled the promise of a coming King so beloved by God that His throne will endure forever.

Like David, Jesus was born in Bethlehem (the city of David). And like David, who established his kingdom by overcoming Israel's enemies and uniting God's people, Jesus would establish His kingdom by defeating the principalities and powers, making a way for us to become part of it as we confess our faith in Him. When you pray to Jesus as the Son of David, you are praying to the long-awaited King, human by virtue of His descent from David and divine by virtue of being God's only Son.

At the time of Christ's birth, the people of Israel longed for the Messiah, a descendant of the great King David, who would drive out Israel's persistent enemies and restore the nation to its former glory. When people cried out to Jesus as the "Son of David," they were expressing their faith that He was this long-promised Messiah.

But what the people didn't understand was that they needed not just another David but someone far greater. They dreamed of a military leader who would drive out their Roman overlords, not realizing they needed a Savior who would drive out their sins. They longed for political power to restore the kingdom of Israel to its former glory, never reflecting on the fact that Israel, even at its peak, had never been more than a very small nation, which had flourished as a united nation for only about a hundred and twenty years - equivalent to something like a millisecond in the scope of world history.

Nor did the people of Jesus' day understand that David's Son would exceed David in all things. He would inaugurate a kingdom that extended throughout the world and one in which every trace of sickness and death would eventually be driven out, a kingdom in which the lion and the lamb, the poor and the rich, the great and the small would lie down together perfectly and forever at peace.

Today as you read the headlines or watch the nightly news, remember that it is important to pray for our nation and our political leaders. We should regularly ask God for wise and humble leadership, for men and women who hunger for justice and who are eager to pursue peace. But remember too that we need more than good leadership. We need our sins forgiven, our relationships healed, our sicknesses overcome, our selfishness defeated. We need Jesus, the only King who is able to drive out our worst enemies and bring us together from every tribe and tongue and nation into a kingdom that will endure forever.

Discuss: What does it mean that Jesus was the Son of David? You might read Jesus actual genealogy in Matthew 1:1-16 (traces through his adoptive father Joseph) and Luke 3:23-38 (traces through his biological mother Mary).

Prayer: Jesus, Son of David, take up Your throne! Drive out Your enemies and be our protector. Then rule with Your wisdom and grace. Scatter the proud and raise up the lowly. Establish Your kingdom now and forever. Amen

Songs: Joseph’s Song, O Little Town of Bethlehem/It Came Upon a Midnight Clear by 4Him

Ornaments: https://biblestoryprintables.com/themed-bible-printables/christmas-bible-printables/names-of-jesus-advent-ornaments/

Names of Jesus Christmas Devotion (Day 18) - King of Kings

"You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered: "You are right in saying I am a King. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me." 
-- John 18:37

On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS.
-- Revelation 19:16

Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!  Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!  See, your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
-- Zechariah 9:9

The world has never seen a king like Christ, a ruler mightier than any earthly sovereign and more powerful than the unseen powers of the universe. Though He entered the world humbly, as an infant born in Bethlehem, Magi from the East still recognized Him as the newborn king. Though His reign unfolds in hidden ways, He has promised to come again, at which time He will reveal Himself as "King of kings and Lord of lords." When you pray to Jesus, the King of kings, call to mind His mastery not only over human beings but over nature, disease, and death itself.

Throughout history nations have tried to control their population through punishment, lies, power, money and death. But God's kingdom, presided over by the most powerful ruler in the universe, operates on entirely different principles. Its integrity depends not on external force but on the internal, indestructible power of Christ's love. Our King begins by inviting, never forcing, us to join His kingdom. When we do, He begins to change us internally by the power of His Spirit. In this way, step by step, Jesus builds the only kingdom that will last - the only kind worth living in forever.

Thank God today for the greatest of all invitations - to entrust your life to King Jesus, who calls you to live and reign with Him forever. And while you are thanking Him, remember that we cannot force or pressure others into the kingdom. Only God's Spirit can enable a man or woman to be born again into God's kingdom. Each of us is called not to advance the kingdom by force but to spread it through the contagious power of Christ's love. Pray today that God will use your life as an invitation to bring others to Himself, so that they may join you in praising Him as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Discuss: What do you think it means to have Jesus as your King? How have you experienced His reign in your life thus far? What would life on earth look like today if Jesus' reign was perfectly established?

Prayer:  Thank you Jesus for being my King.  Help me to let you lead and guide me in the actions I should take in my life.  Fill me with the values of Your kingdom. Help me to love my enemies, do good to those who hate me, serve the poor, and spread the good news of Your kingdom everywhere I go.  Amen.

Songs: O Come All Ye Faithful, We Three Kings, What Her Heart Remembered by Michael Card

Ornaments: https://biblestoryprintables.com/themed-bible-printables/christmas-bible-printables/names-of-jesus-advent-ornaments/

Cooking: Epiphany, celebrated in European countries, marks the coming of the wise men who brought gifts to the Christ Child. Epiphany is also called Little Christmas on the Twelfth Night, and is celebrated twelve nights after Christmas. People from all of the world celebrate Epiphany by exchanging gifts and feasting. A very popular custom that is still celebrated is the making of the "King's Cake" which represents the three kings who brought gifts. A plastic baby is baked inside the King Cake, and the tradition is whoever receives the baby in their piece of cake must buy the next King Cake or throw the next party. King Cakes are made of a cinnamon filled dough in the shape of a hollow circle. The cake is topped with a delicious glazed topping and then sprinkled with colored sugar. The three colors of the sugar are Purple (representing Justice), Green (representing Faith) and Gold (representing Power).   Follow the recipe http://www.marthastewart.com/319092/king-cake  to make your own “king cake.”

Craft: Make crowns. Older children can perhaps illustrate the combination of Jesus as servant and king.

Names of Jesus Christmas Devotion (Day 17) - Servant

Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
-- Matthew 12:18

Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave -- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.
-- Matthew 20:28

Like most of us, Jesus' disciples were sometimes caught up with a sense of their own self-importance, at times even arguing with each other about which of them was greatest. Jesus startled them by reversing the natural order in which it is the weak who serve the strong. He assured them, instead, that He came not in order to control and dominate but in order to serve.

Though prophets, judges and kings were called servants of God in the Bible, Jesus is the greatest of all God's servants, the Man of Sorrows who laid down His life in obedience to His Father. He is the Servant who through His suffering has saved us. When you pray to Jesus as Servant, you are praying to the Lord who has loved you in the most passionate way possible, allowing Himself to be nailed to a cross in order that you might have life and have it to the full.

Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, he loved them to the end...During supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off His outer robe, and tied a towel around Himself. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around Him. (John 13:1-5)

The night before He died, Jesus removed His outer garments. Wasn't He showing His disciples a picture of what was about to happen, when the next day He would be stripped of His clothing before being nailed to a cross? And what about the water He had poured into the basin in order to cleanse them? Hadn't He also poured out His blood for them on the cross? Surely Jesus had acted the part of a slave by washing their feet. Wasn't He also executed as a slave? Crucifixion, they knew, was a punishment so cruel it was reserved for subjugated peoples and slaves. In the midst of His disciples' reflections, one of them would have recalled Jesus' words shortly before the Passover feast: "I lay down my life for the sheep...No one takes it from me but I lay it down of my own accord" (John 10:15, 18).

Jesus gave His life - not grudgingly, but gladly. He stripped Himself of power so that a deeper power could be at work reversing the deadly effects of our sin. Today, when you think of Jesus as the Suffering Servant, think not so much of what you have done to cause His suffering but of what He has done to cause you joy. Dwell not on your own unworthiness but on His worthiness. Think about His willing sacrifice, His determination, and His love. Just as Jesus loved His disciples to the end, He will love you to the end. Praise Him for saving you and changing you through His great, long-suffering love.

Discuss: This passage calls Jesus a servant. What is a servant? Where are there actual examples of Jesus being a servant? Describe an experience in which someone served you. How did it affect you? Describe experiences in which you have been able to serve someone else with the love of Christ. How can you be a servant today, this week?

Prayer:  Dear Jesus, I was like a bruised reed You would not break, a smoldering wick You would not put out. Instead You allowed Yourself to be pierced for my sins, crushed for my iniquities. You were despised and rejected, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. The punishment that brought me peace was placed on You.  Help me to grow a true servant’s heart for Your ministry and not complain about or question the direction You have for me.  Amen.

Songs: In the Bleak Midwinter by Jars of Clay, Noel by Chris Tomlin

Ornaments: https://biblestoryprintables.com/themed-bible-printables/christmas-bible-printables/names-of-jesus-advent-ornaments/

Craft:  Have the student(s) make “coupons” that can be redeemed by the receiver.  The coupons should be for things that are above and beyond normal and expected chores but within the student’s capabilities.

Service Project Idea:  Participate in helping a food kitchen (may also be called a  soup kitchen).  If the student is too young for this, have them help cleaning up after a church function or some type of community function.  Also, see if there is someone in your neighborhood, church, or family who is in need of assistance with housework, yard work, etc.  This help is to be given without financial compensation.  This activity should reinforce the idea of having the “heart of a servant.”

Names of Jesus Christmas Devotion (Day 16) - The Word

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 
-- John 1:14

He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
-- Revelation 19:13

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
-- John 1:1

Though God has always revealed Himself in some way, the incarnation (when Jesus came down as a baby) is the clearest, most compelling revelation of who God is - of His holiness, love and power. Because Jesus is one with the Father, He is uniquely able to communicate God's heart and mind. As Logos, or "the Word," everything about Jesus - His teaching, miracles, suffering, death, and resurrection - speaks to us of God. Our destiny depends on how well we listen. Will we believe, or will we turn a deaf ear to the message of God's love? When you pray to Jesus as the Word, you are praying to the One whose voice calls us from death to life and from darkness to light.

Words can be beautiful but they can also cause great hurt. However, God's Word is always good and is "living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). God's Word has the power not just to communicate His purpose but to accomplish whatever it intends. It never returns to Him empty.

When God speaks, things happen. "And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light. And God said, 'Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.' And it was so. God said, 'Let the land produce vegetation.' And it was so." The world was created by God speaking it into existence. Jesus, the Word of God, the second person of the Trinity, was thus present at the world's beginning.

But the perfect world that God created was soon corrupted through sin. Jesus came to earth to recreate the world, restoring it to God's original purpose. Miracles happened when He spoke. Storms ceased, the lame walked, people were delivered from demons, and the dead were raised. These were signs that a world deformed by sin was being reshaped by God's all-powerful Word.

Jesus is still speaking, still reshaping the world, one person as a time. As His followers, we need to study and pray over His words. We need to listen carefully and expectantly for His voice. Opening ourselves to God's Word by reading the Bible daily, is a way of investing ourselves in the conversation God wants to have with us. It is a way of clearing the channel for communication, of giving Him room to speak while we listen. And as you read the Bible, pray. Ask Jesus, the Word made flesh, to communicate His heart and mind to you. He is eager to speak. May we be eager to listen.

Discuss: Read John 1:1-14 How does it summarize much of what you've learned about Jesus? John says that though "the world was made though Him, the world did not recognize Him" (John 1:10). Do you think this is still true today? Why or why not?

Prayer:  Jesus, You are the One and Only Word made flesh, speaking Your love and Your light into the world's thick darkness. Reshape my life through Your message of mercy. Give me ears to hear and a heart to do Your will. Make me eager and able to proclaim Your Word in season and out, confident in Your life-giving power and in Your enduring love. In Your name I pray, Amen.

Songs: Born That We May Have Life by Chris Tomlin, What Child is This

Ornaments: https://biblestoryprintables.com/themed-bible-printables/christmas-bible-printables/names-of-jesus-advent-ornaments/

Craft:  Make a scroll using a long piece of paper and sticks, cardboard tubes, etc. to roll the paper on.  On the paper itself write John 1:1

Service Project Idea:  Get involved with a group who distribute Bibles to those that cannot afford their own.  Alternately, assist a missionary in getting the Word out to people around the world.

Names of Jesus Christmas Devotion (Day 15) - Priest / Prophet

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
-- Hebrews 4:14-16

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
-- Hebrews 1:1

Jesus is both Priest - the One who faithfully bears us into God's presence by virtue of His self-sacrifice - and Prophet - the One who perfectly communicates God's Word to us. We are called to listen to Him, to trust in His work, and to take our places as part of a kingdom of priests who in Christ Jesus offer ourselves on behalf of others. As you pray to Jesus as both Priest and Prophet, ask Him to help you understand the deep meaning of these titles so that you can live out their truths in your life.
Prophet, priest and king - these were the three major offices in Israel, titles also ascribed to Jesus. While the king governed as God's representative on earth, the priest's role was to represent the people to God by offering sacrifices, prayers and praise on their behalf. While the primary role of the priest was to speak to God on behalf of the people, the prophet's primary responsibility was to speak to the people on behalf of God. While prophets sometimes predicted future events, like Isaiah and Daniel, more often they called people to faithfulness like Moses, Jeremiah and Elijah. But unlike the prophets who went before Him, Jesus would be the one Prophet who not only perfectly revealed God's Word but who perfectly revealed God Himself.

Discuss: Why do you think it is important that Jesus, as High Priest, is able to sympathize with our weaknesses? What about Jesus made Him able to do this? Why do you think Jesus was more effective than the priests of the Old Testament?

Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus. for understanding what it means to be weak and tempted, and thank you also for never giving in to temptation. You are the only one able to bring me to the Father so that my sins can be forgiven. Through Your life and through Your death you  have told me who God is and what His plans are for me. Now I pray that You will help me to imitate You, so that others might know You as both Priest and Prophet. Amen.

Songs: Joseph’s Lullaby by Mercy Me, Go Tell it on the Mountain

Ornaments: https://biblestoryprintables.com/themed-bible-printables/christmas-bible-printables/names-of-jesus-advent-ornaments/

Names of Jesus Christmas Devotion (Day 14) - Light of the World

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." 
-- John 8:12

 Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through Him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 
-- John 1:3-9

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the shadow of death a light has dawned
-- Isaiah 9:2

According to Jewish tradition, one of the names for the Messiah is "Light." How fitting, then, that Jesus is called the "Light of the World." John's Gospel portrays Jesus as the light that rids us of the darkness brought on by sin - a darkness that ends in death. In the darkness our fears have a tendency to multiply, failings become exaggerated, challenges seem insurmountable. We need daylight to restore our perspective.

Christ has opened the eyes of a sin-darkened world to the truth of the Gospel. We who believe in Him have moved from darkness to light, from death to life. Darkness has been extinguished by light. In His light we see light. When we pray to Jesus as the Light of the World, let us remember that we are calling on the One who was so determined to draw us into His light that He spent nine months in the darkness of His mother's womb in order to become one of us. He is also the same one who was transfigured before His disciples so that "His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light" (Matthew 17:1-2) Let us ask Jesus, our Light, to make us shine with His reflected glory.

The Old Testament is full of images that link God with light - pillars of fire, burning lamps, consuming fire. Such images are often associated with God's nearness or His presence. John's Gospel portrays Jesus as the embodiment of the divine light, a light so powerful that it cannot be overcome by the darkness of sin and death.

Just as natural light is essential to life on earth, Christ's light is essential to unending life with God. Whoever believes in His light becomes like Him, reflecting His brightness by walking in His light and obeying His commands. “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

Discuss: Why do you think John's Gospel uses images of light and darkness to describe Jesus and the world's response to Him? Have you ever been afraid of the dark? How does it make you feel when a light is shone into that darkness?

Prayer:  Dear Lord, thank you for being such a Light in my life that there is no darkness that you cannot shine through.  Thank you for being the Light that even the blind can see.  Amen.

Songs: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day by Casting Crowns, Adore by Chris Tomlin

Ornaments: https://biblestoryprintables.com/themed-bible-printables/christmas-bible-printables/names-of-jesus-advent-ornaments/

Activity: Light a candle at your dinner table during the Christmas season to remind yourselves that Jesus is the Light of the World.

Craft:  Look at some "religious" paintings in an encyclopedia. What do you notice about "light"?

Service Project Idea:  Often homeless individuals have to make do with natural lighting when they are on the street.  When it gets dark, there isn’t a convenient switch to flip.  The use of fires and candles are often prohibited by local safety codes.  Contact your local homeless shelter about donating batteries and flashlights for the needy.  You may wish to turn this into a group activity by including other family members, support group members, church families, etc.

Names of Jesus Christmas Devotion (Day 13) - Son of God and Son of Man

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
-- Luke 1:35

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.
-- Matthew 16:15-17

In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
-- Daniel 7:13-14

Like the Father, Jesus is God. He always was, always is, and always will be. But unlike the Father, Jesus is also a human being. Though charged with blasphemy and crucified for claiming to be one with the Father, Jesus' resurrection validates His claim to be God's Son in a unique way. When we confess our belief that Jesus is the Son of God, we share in the love the Father has for the Son, becoming adopted children of God.

Though Jesus is the Son of God, He is also the Son of Man, a title that emphasizes both His lowliness and His eventual dominion. Near the end of His life, when the high priest asked Him whether He was the Son of God, Jesus no longer avoided the title but said that the high priest would one day "see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven" (Matthew 26:64).

Together the titles Son of God and Son of Man express the incredible mystery of the incarnation - that the second person of the Trinity came down from Heaven to become one of us so that we could be one with Him. When you pray to Jesus as the Son of God and Son of Man, you are praying to the Holy One who is your Brother and your Lord.

Discuss: What do you think it means to say that Jesus is the Son of God? What about the Son of Man?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, open our eyes to the mystery of who You are - God's only Son who became a man that we might be reconciled to the Father. Open our ears to hear Your voice and our hearts to do Your will. Shape us into Your likeness by the power of Your Spirt as we grow in greater maturity as children of the living God. We believe that You are both the Son of God and Son of Man. Thank you Jesus. Amen

Songs: O Holy Night, Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant

Ornaments: https://biblestoryprintables.com/themed-bible-printables/christmas-bible-printables/names-of-jesus-advent-ornaments/

Craft:  Make a relief map of the Holy Land area of the world using a salt dough/clay or any of the clay or dough recipes located at the end of this unit.  Alternately you could make a banner with “holy” as the theme.

Service Project Idea:  Assist in a church clean up and/or beautification project.  Or, build a place in your yard (or local park) that encourages worship.

Names of Jesus Christmas Devotion (Day 12) - Bread of Life

"I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from Heaven, which people may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." 
-- John 6:48-51

Without bread no one in ancient Israel would have survived for long. So it seems entirely reasonable for Jesus, in what has become known as the Lord's Prayer, to instruct His disciples to pray for their daily bread. On the cross, the body of Jesus became that bread that was "broken for us," to save us from our sins. Yet the Lord also challenged His followers not to work for food that spoils, announcing Himself as the only food that would enable them to live forever. In fact, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, which means "house of bread."

Bread was baked daily in the ancient world. Made from a variety of grains (barley for the poor and wheat for those with money), it was usually shaped into small round loaves. Because bread was a primary staple, it was also used in various aspects of worship. The Bread of the Presence at the Temple, consisting of twelve loaves of bread without yeast, served as a constant reminder that it was God who sustained the twelve tribes of Israel. Psalm 78:24-25 speaks of how God's people were fed in the wilderness: He (God) rained down manna for the people to eat, He gave them the grain of Heaven. Human beings ate the bread of angels; He sent them all the food they could eat.

When Jesus fed the five thousand, the bread filled the people up and made them glad. It caused them to recognize that God was giving them a sign, like manna in the desert. Surely this was the Messiah and many wanted to make Jesus king. Jesus quickly withdrew from them because He wanted to do far more than feed bodies that would soon perish. He wanted to nourish souls that would live forever. But the people only wanted more cheap bread. When His disciples found Him He said to them: Stop working for food that spoils. Work for the forever food that I will give you. The work you need to do is to believe in Me. I am the bread of life.

It's easy in our world to stuff ourselves with the world's cheap bread - money, success, comfort and pleasure. The danger is that we will fill up on the bread that only satisfies for a moment but can't feed us for eternity. We need to ask Jesus to make us hungry for Him, for His Presence, for the Bible and for prayer. He is the only bread that will truly satisfy us.

Discuss: Jesus knew that bread is one of life's necessities, so what did He mean by saying He was the bread of life? What do you think He meant when He said that "This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world?"

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I hunger and thirst for so many things that do not bring real life. Yet you speak of food that will enable me to live forever. Satisfy me with Your body and Your blood, the bread of Your holy Presence. Nourish and sustain me now and at the hour of my death. Amen

Song: Do You Hear What I Hear, Mary Did You Know

Ornaments: https://biblestoryprintables.com/themed-bible-printables/christmas-bible-printables/names-of-jesus-advent-ornaments/

Names of Jesus Christmas Devotion (Day 11) - The Christ, Messiah

"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ."
-- Mark 8:29

Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.
-- Acts 2:36

Most of us are so familiar with the title "Christ" that we may think it is Jesus' last name. But what exactly does it mean? Like "Messiah," "Christ" means the "anointed one." The phrase "anointed one" refers to someone who has been set apart for a special mission. That was how the first Christians thought about Jesus, as Israel's Messiah.

The Jews had been waiting for years and years for the promised Messiah. When Jesus began His public ministry, He was recognized by His followers as the Messiah, the Christ. But what He did wasn't in line with what they thought the Messiah would do. The Jewish people were under the rule of Rome and they hated it. Their hope was that the Messiah would be a powerful political and military figure who would overthrow Rome and restore Israel to its glory days under King David.

What they couldn't understand was that God wasn't as interested in their current status as He was in their eternal status. God knows that what we all need saving from the most isn't from another person but from the sin that holds us captive. We need to be saved from the sin that will sentence us to eternity separated from God.

That's what Jesus, the Messiah, came to do...to rescue us from sin.  And that's one of the reasons why they crucified Him. Jesus didn't live up to their wrong expectations of what the Messiah ought to be. They didn't understand, until He rose from the dead, that He saved them from so much more...from an eternity in Hell, separated from God.  Jesus was anointed, given the mission, to put an end to our deepest troubles - to rebellion, sin and death. When we pray to Jesus Christ, we are praying to the Messiah, the Anointed One, whose mission involves calling the world back to God through the power of His love.

Discuss:  Talk about the name(s)/title(s). What does it mean to be "anointed"? What are some examples of "anointing" in the Bible?

Prayer:  Jesus, my Messiah, I praise You for triumphing over the powers of sin and death. Thank you for allowing Yourself to be raised up on a cross and then raised from the grave. Cover me with Your forgiveness, and fill me with Your Spirit so that my one purpose will be to glorify You now and forever. Amen. 

Songs: Jesus, Messiah by Chris Tomlin, Joy to the World

Ornaments: https://biblestoryprintables.com/themed-bible-printables/christmas-bible-printables/names-of-jesus-advent-ornaments/

Craft:  You could build a nativity scene with your child(ren).  The nativity is the beginning of Christ’s earthly walk.  

Service Project Idea:  For the student who accepted Christ as their Savior they can share their testimony

Names of Jesus Christmas Devotion (Day 10) - Bright Morning Star

I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.
-- Revelation 22:16

In ancient times, the morning star (actually the planet Venus) was thought of as a herald of the new day, signaling the dawn of hope and joy. The brightest object in the sky aside from the sun and moon, it is a fitting description for Jesus, who ushers in a new day for the entire world. When we call on Jesus, the Bright Morning Star, we are calling on the One from whom all darkness flees.

A star also announced the birth of Jesus. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? We have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him."...After they had heard the king, they went on their way. and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped Him.  Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11

Just like our bodies need light in order to help us be happy, our souls long for light as well. Maybe that's why the story of Jesus is associated with light from start to finish. A star announced His birth and like the Morning Star, His second coming will usher us into His Kingdom of Light.

Discuss: Jesus says that He is coming soon. In what ways do you think His second coming will be different from His first? What are your feelings toward His second coming...fear, doubt, joy, hope?

Prayer: Lord, Jesus, You are the brightest of all stars. With Your light, chase away the world's darkness and the shadows that linger in my life. Help me to await Your coming with hope and confidence and to long eagerly for the new day that will never end, the day in which Your kingdom will be finally and fully established.

Songs: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus, Christmas Star by CiCi Winans

Ornaments: https://biblestoryprintables.com/themed-bible-printables/christmas-bible-printables/names-of-jesus-advent-ornaments/

Craft: Make this beautiful paper star I first learned about in Hungary. Here is a tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVtc_Un2JCk

Service Project Idea:  Create one of these paper stars and give it to a shut-in to brighten their day.

Names of Jesus Christmas Devotion (Day 9) - The Good Shepherd

11 “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
-- John 10:11-18

One of the most tender images of Jesus is one He supplied when referring to Himself as the Good Shepherd. This name reminds us both of our own vulnerability and Jesus' watchful, protecting care. It evokes a sense of belonging, intimacy, and trust, revealing the Good Shepherd as the One who lays down His life for His sheep. When we pray to the Good Shepherd, we are admitting our need for His care and our confidence in His ability to watch over and protect us.

The Bible uses many metaphors to describe God's people - a temple, a body, a bride, a garden, a vineyard, or a flock of sheep. Shepherding, in fact, was an important job, practiced by Abel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and David. Also, the first people that got to hear about the Good News of Jesus' birth were shepherds.  The role of the shepherd was to provide three things for the flock in his or her care: food, protection and guidance.

Out of love for His wandering, lost people, God promises to become their Shepherd. Isaiah 40:11 gives us a wonderful image of God as our Shepherd:
He feeds His flock like a shepherd;
He gathers the lambs in His arms;
and carries them close to His heart;
He gently lead those that have young.

Discuss: How does God’s name of Shepherd emphasize his nature as protector?

Prayer:  You can pray Psalm 23 together

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

Songs: Adore by Kari Jobe, The First Noel

Ornaments: https://biblestoryprintables.com/themed-bible-printables/christmas-bible-printables/names-of-jesus-advent-ornaments/

Craft: Begin to set up a nativity scene. Put in Mary, Joseph, shepherds and lambs thus far.

Names of Jesus Christmas Devotion (Day 8) - Lamb of God

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 

John 1:29

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth: He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.

Isaiah 53:7

"God has a problem, and it's a big one. He loves people but He hates sin. God is completely good and kind and loving, and He hates it when we aren't. How can He love us when He hates our sins? So God decided to solve this big problem by getting rid of our sins rather than getting rid of us. That's why He sent His Son. Jesus took the punishment for all the wrong things we do. Jesus' death took away our sins, so that now, when God looks at us, He doesn't see the sin that He hates but only the people He loves.

It is impossible to understand the title "Lamb of God" without understanding something about the practice of animal sacrifice. The sacrificial system provided a way for God's people to approach Him even though they had sinned and disobeyed His laws. When a lamb was offered its blood was shed and its body was burned on the altar. Those who offered sacrifices understood that the animal was a symbolic representation of themselves and their desire to offer their own lives to God. 

To the Jews the lamb represented innocence and gentleness. Because the lamb represented the person's pure intentions before God, the lamb had to be physically perfect."

from Praying the Names of Jesus by Ann Spangler

Discuss: Imagine that you are walking into the temple holding a young lamb in your arms. He is like a favorite pet, but now he is going to be sacrificed for your sins. How do you feel? Now imagine doing the same thing over and over because no one sacrifice can possibly take away your sins. What thoughts go through your mind? What do you think of when you think of Jesus as the Lamb of God?  

Prayer: Oh Jesus, Lamb of God, you are worthy of our thankfulness, our praise, and our worship!  Thank you for being so kind and gentle.  Thank you for your sacrifice on the cross that we may one day be with you in Heaven.  Amen

Songs: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks, In the Bleak Midwinter

Ornaments: https://biblestoryprintables.com/themed-bible-printables/christmas-bible-printables/names-of-jesus-advent-ornaments/

Craft: Make lambs out of cotton and cardboard. Set them in a little display to remind yourselves of the Lamb of God.

Service Project Idea:  During the cold winter months, many homeless individuals could use a blanket.  You may want to participate in making and/or gathering donated blankets to take to a homeless shelter.