Home for the
HOLIDAYS
ADVENT IV: HOW TO PREPARE FOR JESUS AT HOME
INTRODUCTION: We’re doing something a little different at Redeemer this year for the fourth
Wednesday of Advent. We’re asking our members NOT to come to church! Instead, we’re
encouraging people to worship at home with their families, and to use the following information as a
resource to add to their worship experience.
The information is intended to help the head of the household conduct a 30-minute Advent worship
service at home. Or, since the service is divided into three parts, it can be conducted as three separate
10-minute devotions – one on preparing our homes for Jesus spiritually, one on preparing them
relationally, and one on preparing physically.
NOTE: The best way to participate is by clicking the “Home for the Holidays” link on our church
website at redeemerspringfield.org, where a video has been prepared to help guide your worship. If
you prefer not to use electronic media, the following printed information is for you. Households
with young children (up to 3rd grade), can turn to page 6 for a special service designed just for them.
However you use this material, thank you for participating, and God bless you as you worship Him.
PART ONE: PREPARING SPIRITUALLY
Read and Discuss:
READ Luke 1:38
Waiting. It is not attractive word. It seems boring.
READ: When the angel came to Mary to tell
her she would give birth to the Savior of the
world, he certainly got her attention. For
Mary, the only thing that mattered in that
moment was the angel standing before her and
the message he was delivering. And she
accepted that message and submitted herself
to God’s will.
I invite you too, for the next half hour, to set
aside everything else that is competing for
your attention, and to focus completely on the
message God has for you today – a message of
Good News that will bring you great joy. And I
pray that you too will accept that message and
receive it into your heart and into your home.
So let’s take a deep breath, quiet our hearts,
and just… listen.
What if… you were waiting for something that
would change your life? How would you get ready
for it? Would you make yourself busy, filling your
life with noise and distraction? Rushing to get
gratification. Would you spend all your time doing
everything BUT slowing down?
No?
Well this is what we do every year. Each year we
have an opportunity to dramatically change our
life. But most of the time we miss it. We spend our
time running around trying to get everything done
in time. When most of us forget to get the most
important thing ready – our Heart.
This is what Advent is all about. Slowing Down
and Waiting. To get our Heart ready. To bring
Jesus into our life – a bit more fully – than before.
Advent.
Slow down.
Take time.
Open up.
INSTRUCTIONS: Whether you’re going through this handout as a family, as a couple, or as a single
person, you are worshipping along with your whole church family at Redeemer and with all the people
of God around the world. So let’s begin. Please take a moment to create a comfortable worship space
and to light a candle. And as you light it, please say the words of invocation: “We begin in the name of
the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
READ Luke 1:26-33
READ: To prepare our home for Jesus spiritually means to create an atmosphere of expectation and
hope. When the angel came to Mary, Israel was in bad shape. They were an occupied nation, under
the tyranny of the Roman Empire, and in mourning over their suffering and pain. They needed help,
and they were waiting anxiously for God to deliver them through Messiah, God-With-Us, Emmanuel.
If God came to you today, what shape would He find you in? In what areas are you held captive and
unable to experience freedom? Over what situation are you in mourning or in pain? Please sing or
read the words to the beautiful Advent hymn, O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
Meditate on the words and take time to acknowledge the sin that holds you captive and the pain that’s
in your heart. Then take it all and surrender it to Jesus. Because God promises to come to you – to set
you free, to dry your tears, to heal your wounds. And He promises to do this through His Son Jesus,
God-With-Us, Emmanuel.
SING (or read): O Come, O Come Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
PRAY: Father in heaven, Advent is a beautiful time of expectation. But please forgive us for not
meeting your expectations of us. We are so focused on ourselves that we have very little love left
for you or for the people you’ve put into our lives. When someone doesn’t meet our expectations of
them, we are quick to anger and slow to forgive – even when that someone is You. Forgive our
arrogance God. Thank you for loving us anyway. Thank you for not leaving us alone in our sin.
Thank you for Jesus. Amen.
READ: Because God DID send Jesus, we are free! 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sin, He is faithful
and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” God’s Word declares that
Jesus came for US. Jesus died for US. We are loved. We are forgiven. We are children of God.
INSTRUCTIONS: Now please share this Good News individually with those in your home. If you live in a
family, pass the message from one person to the next. Look them in the eye and say, “Jesus came for
YOU. You are loved. You are forgiven. You are a child of God.” If you’re single, this is going to feel a
little weird, but go find a mirror. Look yourself in the eye, and say the same thing – and keep on saying
it until you believe it. “Jesus came for YOU. You are loved. You are forgiven. You are a child of God.”
PART TWO: PREPARING RELATIONALLY
READ Matthew 22:37-39
READ: Preparing our home for Jesus relationally means two things. First of all, we need to focus on our
relationship with JESUS – to learn to love Him with all our heart, all our soul and all our mind. Because
Jesus didn’t come to earth so we could have a cute baby to sing about at Christmastime. He came to
die and to pay for our sins. And He came to rise from the dead and give us victory over the grave.
Preparing our home for Jesus relationally also means we need to focus on our relationships with each
other – to learn to love our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus gave up everything because of His love for
you, but also because of His love for the person sitting next to you. And He wants to continue to show
His love for that person – through you. He gives you the power to do that through His work on Calvary.
So you see, Christmas is not just about the manger, the angels, the shepherds and wise men, as
wonderful as they are. Christmas is about something much deeper and even more life-changing. It’s
about the cross.
Please read and meditate on the words of this beautiful Gospel song,
IT’S ABOUT THE CROSS
It's not just about the manger
Where the baby lay
It's not all about the angels
Who sang for him that day
It's not just about the shepherds
Or the bright and shining star
It's not all about the wise men
Who travelled from afar
It's about the cross. It's about my sin.
It's about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again
It's about the stone that was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday
It's about the cross
It's not all about the good things
In this life I've done
It’s not all about the treasures
Or the trophies that I've won
It’s not about the righteousness
That I find within
It’s about His precious blood
That saved me from my sin
It's about the cross. It's about my sin.
It's about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again
It's about the stone that was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday
It's about the cross
The beginning of the story
is wonderful and great
But it's the ending that can save you
and that's why we celebrate
It's about the cross. It's about my sin.
It's about how Jesus came to be born once
So that we could be born again
It's about God's love nailed to a tree
It's about every drop of blood that flowed
from Him when it should have been me
It's about the stone that was rolled away
So that you and I could have real life someday
It’s about the cross
It’s about the cross
READ Romans 12:1
INSTRUCTIONS: Let’s focus now on our relationship with God by taking a few minutes to thank Him for
His amazing love and to recommit our lives to His service. Please lead with the following prayer, then
give everyone the chance to pray out loud (if they’re comfortable doing so) and to share with God how
they feel about all Jesus has done for them. Then conclude the prayer time by saying together the
Lord’s Prayer.
PRAY: God, thank you for Jesus. Thank you for the manger. Thank you for the cross. Thank you for
the empty grave. And thank you for doing it all for me. God, I gladly offer myself to You, to build
with me and to do with me as You will. Relieve me of the bondage of self that I may better do Your
will. Take away my sins that victory over them would bear witness to those I would help of Your
power, Your love and Your way of life. May I do Your will always. Amen.
(pause for individual prayers)
PRAY TOGETHER:
Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
READ 1 Thessalonians 5:11
INSTRUCTIONS: Now that we’ve focused on our relationship with God, let’s look at our relationships
with each other. Please take a moment for each person to write a note of encouragement to someone
in your home. If you live on your own, write a note to someone you care about and hand deliver it or
put it in the mail.
You can use a greeting card, or just a piece of paper. But put some thought into it. What would Jesus
have you say to that person? Everyone could use a little encouragement in life, and your words could
be used by God to give someone just the boost they need.
You can do this later if you want, but this is important. To avoid procrastinating too long, you might
want to take a break right now and write your note, then continue the service when you’re ready.
PART THREE: PREPARING PHYSICALLY
READ Deuteronomy 6:6-8
INSTRUCTIONS: Your home is already prepared beautifully for Christmas. But how do we physically
prepare our homes for Jesus? What else can we do other than just take good care of the things He
gives us? Well, God says in the Bible He wants us to always keep His Word in front of us. So let’s do it!
Get some sticky-notes and write down 3 Bible verses or 3 truths from Scripture that God wants you to
remember this Christmas. If you can’t think of anything else, just write, “You are loved,” “You are
forgiven,” and “You are a child of God.” And then put those notes somewhere so you will see them
every day to remind you of God’s great love for you.
(Feel free to take a moment right now to complete your notes.)
INSTRUCTIONS: One last idea. Keep those blank sticky-notes handy, and during the 12 days of
Christmas, which starts Christmas Day and continues until Epiphany, write down one thing you are
grateful for each day and put it up in your home. Then any time you are in a bad mood, for whatever
reason, go look at your gratitude list, and just watch your attitude change. It’s hard to stay sour when
focused on the sweetness of God’s blessings.
And now our formal time of worship is done. But I pray that your life of worship – receiving God’s
blessings and giving Him praise – never ends.
Bless each other in your household with these words:
READ: “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious unto
you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
SING (or read): Silent Night
Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin,
Mother and Child.
Holy infant
so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake
at the sight.
Glories stream
from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born
Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love's pure light.
Radiant beams
from Thy holy face
With dawn of
redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Thank you for participating. Please join us for Holiday worship services, and . . .
Have a very Merry
CHRISTMAS!
Children’s Advent Celebration
(Reminder: The best way to use this resource is by viewing it online at redeemerspringfield.org)
Light a Candle & Say the Invocation Together:
“We begin in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”
Sing Together: Jesus Love Me
Read to Your Children: The Story of the Three Trees (next page)
Discuss the Story:
What part did they like best? What does the story mean? What does it mean to them?
Pray Together:
Lead your family in an informal prayer,
thanking God that He knows exactly how to take care of us best.
Then conclude with The Lord’s Prayer
Sing Together: Away in a Manger
Play a Game Together:
Treasure Hunt: Color and cut out the three tree toppers from the craft page, then hide them. See
how long it takes your child to find them, telling them when they’re hotter or colder.
or
3 Tree Toss: Use three dice (for the Three Trees), and see how many turns it takes each player to roll
three ‘ones’. You can set aside each ‘one’ as it’s rolled (just like in Yahtzee). Write down your total
rolls for that round. On your next turn, see how many turns it takes to roll three ‘twos’. Continue
until everyone has rolled three ‘sixes’ and add up each player’s score. Lowest score wins.
Make a Craft Together:
Create a Three Trees ornament or paper craft (on a separate handout)
Sing Together: Joy to the World
The Story of The Three Trees
What do you see at Christmas? Christmas trees! Do you know why? Let me tell you the
story… of three trees.
A long time ago, high up on a mountain, there were three little trees. They dreamed
about what they wanted to become when they grew up.
The first little tree looked up at the sky. It was a sky filled with stars shining like
diamonds. “I want to hold treasure!” he said. “I will be the most beautiful treasure box in
the whole world!”
The second little tree looked at the river flowing into the sea. “I want to be a great big ship,” he said. “I want to
sail the seas and carry powerful kings. I will be the greatest ship in the world!”
The third little tree looked at all the people in town. They were working very hard and they were very busy. The
third tree thought to himself, “I want to grow tall! When people look at me, they will stop to rest, and raise their
eyes to heaven and think of God. I want to be the tallest tree in the whole world!”
Many years later, the little trees grew and became big trees. One day,
three woodcutters climbed up the mountain. One by one, they cut
down each tree.
The first tree was brought to a carpenter’s shop, but he did not become
a treasure box. He became a feed box for hungry farm animals.
The second tree was brought to a shipyard, but he did not become a great ship for kings. He was made into a
small fishing boat. The third tree was left aside, forgotten. The three trees almost forgot their dreams.
One night, a great light shone on the first tree. A young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box. Then
the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the whole world.
Many years later, a man and his friends got on the small fishing boat. Suddenly there was a great storm.
Everyone was afraid. The man got up, stretched out his hand and said, “Peace, be still!” Immediately, the storm
stopped. Then the second tree knew he was carrying the King of heaven and earth.
A few years later, a group of soldiers nailed a man’s hands on the third tree. They laughed and spat at him. They
did not believe who he said he was. The man was raised up on the cross to die. When he took his last breath, the
sky turned dark and the earth shook. Three days later, the man came back to life! Then, the third tree knew that
this man was the Son of God.
The three little trees did not become what they wanted to be. But God was
in control. After all, He made them! He had better plans for them.
God made the first tree to hold the greatest treasure we could ever hope for.
God made the second tree to carry the King of heaven and earth, who can
calm all our storms. God made the third tree into a cross. Jesus died on the
cross for us, so that we may live. Jesus is how we know God loves us.
The three trees are God’s creation, just like you and me. Each of them met Jesus and became a part of God’s
plan to show how He loves us. Just like the trees, we can come close to God, to know and trust Him. This
Christmas when you look at the Christmas tree, may you know that God loves you, and that you can trust in Him.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but
have eternal life.” John 3:16