Emmanuel Uniting Church | 13 December - Joy in All Circumstances

13 December - Joy in All Circumstances

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13 December, 2020Rev Brian HooleAdvent

READ

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Here’s what happens.

Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to rejoice, pray and give thanks at all times and in all places. This is not about how we feel but rather how we decide to act.

DISCUSS

1. How has your week been? How have you seen God at work?

2. How did you go with the idols and distractions that you named last week.?

3. Give thanks for how you have seen God at work and the progress you made last week?

4. What does this passage tell us about God?

5. What does it tells us or challenge us about the Christian life?

6. What are the things that currently give you joy?

7. What are the hard things or people that you find it difficult to experience joy or give thanks for?

8. What are the things that hold you back from being thankful?

9. What are the things that hold you back from being prayerful?

10. What are you going to do about that in the coming week.

PRAY

God of all blessings,

source of all life, giver of all grace:

We thank you for the gift of life:

for the breath that sustains life,

for the food of this earth that nurtures life,

for the love of family and friends

without which there would be no life.

We thank you for the mystery of creation:

for the beauty that the eye can see,

for the joy that the ear may hear,

for the unknown that we cannot behold filling the universe with wonder,

for the expanse of space that draws us beyond the definitions of our selves.

We thank you for setting us in communities:

for families who nurture our becoming,

for friends who love us by choice,

for companions at work, who share our burdens and daily tasks,

for strangers who welcome us into their midst,

for people from other lands who call us to grow in understanding,

for children who lighten our moments with delight,

for the unborn, who offer us hope for the future.

We thank you for this day: for life and one more day to love,

for opportunity and one more day to work for justice and peace,

for neighbours and one more person to love and by whom be loved,

for your grace and one more experience of your presence,

for your promise: to be with us, to be our God, and to give salvation.

For these, and all blessings,

we give you thanks, eternal, loving God,

through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Vienna Cobb Anderson

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2 Kings 6:8-23 Elisha and the Arameans

Hebrews 12:1-3

Here’s what happens. The national scene in Israel has drastically changed since last week, the stormy days of Elijah’s confrontation with King Ahab and Queen Jezebel and the prophets of Baal. Elisha is now respected by King Jehoram and te Israelites are back following God. They are now defending themselves against the neighbouring tribes, in this case the Arameans. God gives Elisha the battle plans for Israel’s enemies, the Arameans. Finally, the king of Aram is fed up with losing and sends an army to surround Elisha and his servant. But Elisha sees a more powerful army of God’s angels, not visible to most. God opens Elisha’s servant’s eyes to see the angel army.

Memory Verse “No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).

DISCUSS

1. Is Jehoram a good king?

2. What do you know about Elisha?

3. Who are your cloud of witnesses? Those who support and encourage you and help you reach your best. Thank God for them and pray for them.

4. What were your battles this week?

5. What do you need prayer and support for in the coming week?

6. Who do you need to pray and support this week?

7. be prepared to share some of these questions next week about what God has done.

PRAY

Let us pray

Loving God we are so blessed to be a part of your kingdom. We are ever aware of our need for your constant love and care. As we journey through this week Lord hep us to be aware of the challenges before us and the spiritual battles that we engage in. Do not let us be overwhelmed but rather as we see and respond in faith to hear the support of that great cloud of witnesses that sit in our corner cheering on our behalf. Give us the strength and perseverance for our daily battles and help us to support others in similar need. In Jesus name we pray

AMEN.

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READ

Luke 1:26-38 (47-55)

Here’s what happens.

The angel appears to Mary and tells her the good news that she is to give birth to the

Saviour of the world .In verses 47-55 Mary responds with her prayer that is used below.

DISCUSS

1. How has your week been? How have you seen God at work?

2. How did you experience joy over the past week.?

3. Give thanks for how you have seen God at work and the progress you made last week?

4. What does this passage tell us about God?

5. What does it tells us or challenge us about the Christian life?

6. Mary demonstrated courage to say yes to God. What do you need to have courage for this week?

7. Who do you need to tell about Jesus, and the good news this week?

8. What are you going to do about this in the coming week?

PRAY

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,

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Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for the Mighty One has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

His mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,

and lifted up the lowly;

he has filled the hungry with good things,

and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

according to the promise he made to our ancestors,

to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

Luke 1:47-55

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READ

Mark 1:1-8, 2 Peter 3:8-15a

Here’s what happens.

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DISCUSS

1. How has your week been? How have you seen God at work?

2. What places do you find peaceful? What things do you practice or do to find peace?

3. Do you have a sanctuary?

4. How do you know when you are at peace?

5. What do you think Jesus means when he says for those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.

6. Is there anything today that you want to confess and be set free from?

7. What are the long-term idols, practices, sins that you want to be set free from, present them to Jesus now.

7. Who are the members of your family and friends that you would like to actively name and continue to pray that they may find peace in God?

8 What are you called to do about that this week?

PRAY

Let us pray.

Loving God it is only in you that we can find perfect peace. Help me to stop struggling and to surrender myself to your care and lordship. Help me to move more into your kingdom and accept the gifts that you offer. Give me the courage to surrender, to walk away from the past and grasp this new future in you.

In Jesus name I pray

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