Advent Week 1: Is God Hiding?
November 21 - 27
We’re building up to Advent, Week 1...Can you believe it?! Advent is the season that includes the four Sundays prior to Christmas Day (which is on a Sunday itself this year). These weeks serve as a reminder of Israel’s wait for the Messiah prior to Jesus’ appearance on earth as well as a reminder that we wait again today for Christ’s second coming. Christ has come...Christ is coming again!
Our main passage this week is Isaiah 64:1-9. This passage paints a picture where the people of God are separated from God, even describing God as having “hidden” his face. It’s brutally honest: praying for God to show up: “Oh, that you would tear open the heavens and come down!”
It’s a fitting prayer for the beginning of the season of Advent. Do you ever feel like God isn’t around? Doesn’t care about you or the world you live in? Do you have feelings like our culture, society, or the nation in which we live is just completely God-forsaken?
The people of Israel were waiting for a Messiah for a long time. Jesus Christ came at a point when they were again under the rule of a pagan empire. They were split into sects: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots, and others - all people who thought they were doing things “right,” but each one off in various ways. Do you see any similarities for the people of God (the Church) today as we wait for Christ to come again?
Monday, November 21 - Isaiah 64:1-9
Tuesday, November 22 - Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
Wednesday, November 23 - John 11:1-6
Thursday, November 24 - Psalm 22
Friday, November 25 - Mark 13:24-37
Saturday, November 26 - 1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Sunday, November 27 - Come to worship with your church family!
