Christ Was Born for This is our Advent season worship theme for 2013. From December 1st (Communion Sunday) to Christmas Eve our worship messages will focus on various aspects of biblical truth as to why Jesus came to earth. These Bible Readings and Prayer Points are loosely based on the book Why Christ Came: 31 Meditations on the Incarnation by Joel Beeke and William Boekestein (RHB, 2013). This book is readily available in both paper and Kindle editions.
Click here to download these readings in PDF format:
Readings Advent 2013 Christ Was Born for This IV
We recommend you have a notebook and pen for answering questions and recording your thoughts and insights. Bring this notebook with you to Faith Group for discussions and prayer times. Select a quiet place and consistent time to read and pray. We also recommend you pray for a moment before you read God’s word and ask for his illumination by the power of the Holy Spirit as you read.
Abbreviations: TAI – Think About It | PP – Prayer Points
Monday, December 9
John 3:16-18
TAI: Christ came to reveal God’s love for sinners. Is God under any obligation to love his creation? What proof do we have that God loves the people he created? Who are the people who will not perish, that is, who will not suffer eternal death and separation from God? Why are unbelievers condemned? What does it mean to be saved?
PP: Rejoice in an exuberant prayer of praise to God, delighting in his love for you. Thank him for sending his one and only, unique Son, Jesus, to earth. Praise God for the incarnation (God come in the flesh to earth). Express joy to God that in Christ Jesus, as his child, you are not condemned! Pray for loved ones and friends (your Sacred 7 list is a great starting point) who need to be saved.
Tuesday, December 10
Mark 2:15-17
TAI: Christ came to call sinners to repentance. Why were the scribes so upset with Jesus? In the eyes of these “law experts” what was wrong with the tax collectors and who were the sinners? What would you think of a physician who never spent time with sick people? Do you spend time with people who need Jesus?
PP: Today, think of one specific person in the sphere of your life who really needs Jesus. Pray for him or her. Ask God to save! Ask God to take out their heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh (a lively heart that beats with truth and grace). Strategize plans to spend time with that person, loving them and caring for them.
Wednesday, December 11
John 12:20-36
TAI: Jesus came to die. “Jesus was born to die. It is hard for us to grasp that truth, for we were created to live, not to die” (Beeke, loc. 725). What hour had come? How was Jesus glorified in death? How did his death bear much fruit? Do you believe in the Light? Are you a “son of light”? Why must we celebrate Christmas with Easter on our minds?
PP: Humble yourself in prayer, thanking God for sending Jesus to die in your place on the cross. Jesus was ready for his hour, the cross; now tell God you want to live in readiness for the final hour, the hour of Christ’s appearing. Rejoice in the light of the gospel, and pray for the spread of that light to all the peoples of the earth.
Thursday, December 12
Luke 19:1-10
TAI: Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. What details does Dr. Luke give us about Z the tax man? “The great problem isn’t that Zacchaeus was small; it is that he was lost. He was rich and powerful but utterly lost” (Beeke, loc. 771). Why did some grumble? How did Z man evidence true repentance? Has salvation come to your household? Are you truly a son (or daughter!) of Abraham?
PP: Express thanks and praise to God that he sent his son to seek and save the lost. As a formerly lost person, now saved by grace, tell God how much your salvation means to you. Ask God to help you live a life that gives evidence of your transformed heart, of true repentance. Ask God to help you live by faith.
Friday, December 13
Luke 10:35-45
John 13:3-17
TAI: Jesus came to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. What is your reaction to the request James and John brought to Jesus? What point is Jesus making about the difference between worldly leadership and leadership in the kingdom of God? Do you view greatness in terms of servanthood? What stands out to you about the “servant” scene of John 13? How did Jesus pay your ransom?
PP: Humbly ask God to help you live as a servant of others. Confess your pride. If you are inclined to want to “lord it over” others, admit that to God. Ask God to help you influence and lead others in a manner like Jesus. Thank God for the servant leaders he has given our church. Pray for our elders, team leaders, and staff.
Weekend, December 14-15
1 John 3:8
Hebrews 2:14
Romans 16:20
TAI & PP: Review the three texts above. Has this already happened, or will it happen in the future? How does this impact your life this week? What does it have to do with Christmas? Pray for Pastor Dana as he preaches on this truth during our Advent worship service this Sunday. Pray for the victory of Christ over the devil to be practical in your life and family this week. Rejoice in the victory of Jesus!