Preparation and Prophecies: How Christians Get Ready for Christmas
Discuss in your groups the following questions.
Advent is a time of preparation, what does that
mean?
Who are we as Christians preparing for?
What are we preparing for?
Why is preparation needed?
How do we prepare for Christmas?
How should we be preparing for the coming of Christ?
Should this preparation only be taking
place in Advent?
Advent , from the Latin Adventus meaning
coming, is the start of the Church year.
It is a season of hope, preparing for the
celebrations of Christmas and a season of
anticipation when Christians look forward to a
time when Jesus will come again in power and
authority.
The traditional themes associated with Advent
are hope, peace ,love, joy or The Prophets,
John the Baptist, Mary and God’s
People.
What have the prophets got to do with the
Christmas story?
What is a prophet?
Who were they?
What did they do?
The later prophets spoke of God’s action in the
future
and when he would send the
Messiah
.
Was Jesus the Messiah?
Messiah means a king who would
deliver his people
What is a prophecy?
A message from God
Messiah
: the king that would come to deliver
Israel
Prophecy
: message from God
Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord himself will
give you a sign. Look, the young woman is
with child and shall bear a son, and shall
name him Emmanuel."
est, and King)
Christ’s birth and life were announced long
before Mary was even born. In fact,
prophets told many details about His birth
hundreds of years before. (From 6,000 to
450 years BC) Over 300 prophecies were
made, so the Israelites would expect and
recognize Jesus when He came.
If
someone told you 300 facts about someone
you had never met, do you think you would
recognize them?
If you had lived in the time of Jesus do
you think you would have recognised him as
the
Messiah
?
Read the prophecies that the Isrealites
would have read .
Can you find any verses that could be
pointing towards the birth or the person
of Jesus?
Isaiah 2:1-5
Isaiah 9:2
Isaiah 9:6-7
Isaiah 7:10 -17
Isaiah 11:1-10
Isaiah40:3-5
Micah 5: 2
2
This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
2
In the last days
the mountain of the
Lord
’s temple will be established
as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.
3
Many peoples will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to
the mountain of the
Lord
,
to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the
Lord
from Jerusalem.
4
He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.
The people walking in darkness
have seen a
great light;
on those living in the land of deep
darkness
a light has dawned
.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the
Lord
Almighty
will accomplish this.
10
Again the
Lord
spoke to Ahaz,
11
“Ask the
Lord
your
God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the
highest heights.”
12
But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put
the
Lord
to the test.”
13
Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it
not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try
the patience of my God also?
14
Therefore the Lord
himself will give you
[
a
]
a sign: The virgin
[
b
]
will conceive
and give birth to a son, and
[
c
]
will call him
Immanuel.
[
d
]
15
He will be eating curds and honey when he
knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the
right,
16
for before the boy knows enough to reject the
wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you
dread will be laid waste.
17
The
Lord
will bring on you and
on your people and on the house of your father a time
unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will
bring the king of Assyria.”
The royal line of David is like a tree that has been cut down; but
just as new branches sprout from a stump, so a new king will arise
from among David's descendants.
2
The Spirit of the LORD will give him wisdom,
and the knowledge and skill to rule his people.
He will know the LORD's will and honour him,
3
and find pleasure in obeying him.
He will not judge by appearance or hearsay;
4
he will judge the poor fairly
and defend the rights of the helpless.
At his command the people will be punished,
and evil persons will die.
5
He will rule his people with justice and integrity.
6
Wolves and sheep will live together in peace,
and leopards will lie down with young goats.
Calves and lion cubs will feed together,
and little children will take care of them.
7
Cows and bears will eat together,
and their calves and cubs will lie down in peace.
Lions will eat straw as cattle do.
8
Even a baby will not be harmed
if it plays near a poisonous snake.
9
On Zion, God's sacred hill,
there will be nothing harmful or evil.
The land will be as full of knowledge of the LORD
as the seas are full of water.
A voice cries out,
“
Prepare in the wilderness a road for
the
Lord
!
Clear the way in the desert for our God!
4
Fill every valley;
level every mountain.
The hills will become a plain,
and the rough country will be made smooth.
5
Then the glory of the
Lord
will be revealed,
and all people will see it.
The
Lord
himself has promised this
.”
The
Lord
says, “
Bethlehem
Ephrathah, you
are one of the smallest towns in Judah,
but
out of you I will bring a ruler for
Israel,
whose family line goes back to
ancient times.”
Can you see the Christmas story and the
life of Jesus reflected in these
prophecies?
In what ways did Jesus fulfil the
prophecies?
Jesus fulfilled the prophecies because
…….
The prophecies help me understand the
Christmas story because….
The Jews were waiting/expecting a great
warrior king who would fight the Romans.
God sent a Messiah who would show them
how he wants people to live their lives, to
teach them about loving God and one
another.
Messiah means a king who would deliver
his people
How do the characteristics, life and work
of Jesus reflect on the words of the
Prophets.
Jesus came to reconcile the relationship
between people and God, not to free the
Jews from the oppression of the Romans.
What do Jews believe about the the
Messiah and what do Christians believe
bout the Messiah?
Jews
are still waiting for the Messiah,
Christians are waiting for his promised
return.
Do you think that Jesus was the
Messiah the prophets were talking
about?
Advent marks the start of the Church year, signifying a time of preparing for the celebrations of Christmas and eagerly anticipating the return of Jesus in power. Christians reflect on the themes of hope, peace, love, and joy during Advent while exploring the significance of prophets in foretelling Christ's birth through numerous prophecies. The prophecies about Jesus' birth, as recorded in Isaiah and Micah, play a crucial role in guiding believers to recognize and welcome the Messiah. The process of preparing for Christmas extends beyond Advent and involves deep reflection on the meaning of Christ's coming.
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Presentation Transcript
UNIT 6.2 HOW DO CHRISTIANS PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS? Discuss in your groups the following questions. Advent is a time of preparation, what does that mean? Who are we as Christians preparing for? What are we preparing for? Why is preparation needed? How do we prepare for Christmas? How should we be preparing for the coming of Christ? Should this preparation only be taking place in Advent?
ADVENT Advent , from the Latin Adventus meaning coming, is the start of the Church year. It is a season of hope, preparing for the celebrations of Christmas and a season of anticipation when Christians look forward to a time when Jesus will come again in power and authority. The traditional themes associated with Advent are hope, peace ,love, joy or The Prophets, John the Baptist, Mary and God s People.
FIRST THEME: THE PROPHETS What have the prophets got to do with the Christmas story? What is a prophet? Who were they? What did they do? The later prophets spoke of God s action in the future and when he would send the Messiah. Was Jesus the Messiah? Messiah means a king who would deliver his people
PROPHECIES PROPHECIES What is a prophecy? A message from God
Christs birth and life were announced long before Mary was even born. In fact, prophets told many details about His birth hundreds of years before. (From 6,000 to 450 years BC) Over 300 prophecies were made, so the Israelites would expect and recognize Jesus when He came. If someone told you 300 facts about someone you had never met, do you think you would recognize them?
If you had lived in the time of Jesus do you think you would have recognised him as the Messiah? Read the prophecies that the Isrealites would have read . Can you find any verses that could be pointing towards the birth or the person of Jesus?
PROPHECIES ABOUT THE BIRTH OF JESUS Isaiah 2:1-5 Isaiah 9:2 Isaiah 9:6-7 Isaiah 7:10 -17 Isaiah 11:1-10 Isaiah40:3-5 Micah 5: 2
ISAIAH 2: 1-5 2 This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: 2In the last days the mountain of the LORD s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. 3Many peoples will come and say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths. The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
ISAIAH 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
ISAIAH 9: 6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
ISAIAH 7: 10-17 10Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz,11 Ask the LORD your 10 God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights. 12But Ahaz said, I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test. 13Then Isaiah said, Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also?14Therefore the Lord himself will give you[a]a sign: The virgin[b]will conceive and give birth to a son, and[c]will call him Immanuel.[d] 15He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right,16for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.17The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah he will bring the king of Assyria.
ISAIAH 11:1-10 The royal line of David is like a tree that has been cut down; but just as new branches sprout from a stump, so a new king will arise from among David's descendants. 2The Spirit of the LORD will give him wisdom, and the knowledge and skill to rule his people. He will know the LORD's will and honour him, 3and find pleasure in obeying him. He will not judge by appearance or hearsay; 4he will judge the poor fairly and defend the rights of the helpless. At his command the people will be punished, and evil persons will die. 5He will rule his people with justice and integrity.
ISAIAH 11 :1-10 6Wolves and sheep will live together in peace, and leopards will lie down with young goats. Calves and lion cubs will feed together, and little children will take care of them. and their calves and cubs will lie down in peace. Lions will eat straw as cattle do. if it plays near a poisonous snake. there will be nothing harmful or evil. The land will be as full of knowledge of the LORD as the seas are full of water. 7Cows and bears will eat together, 8Even a baby will not be harmed 9On Zion, God's sacred hill,
ISAIAH 40: 3-5 A voice cries out, Prepare in the wilderness a road for the LORD! Clear the way in the desert for our God! 4Fill every valley; level every mountain. The hills will become a plain, and the rough country will be made smooth. 5Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it. The LORD himself has promised this.
MICAH 5:2 The LORD says, Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are one of the smallest towns in Judah, but out of you I will bring a ruler for Israel, whose family line goes back to ancient times.
JESUS FULFILLS THESE PROPHECIES Can you see the Christmas story and the life of Jesus reflected in these prophecies? In what ways did Jesus fulfil the prophecies? Jesus fulfilled the prophecies because .
The prophecies help me understand the Christmas story because .
CAN YOU THINK OF TIMES WHEN YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMETHING? TODAY WE ARE GOING TO THINK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN WAITING FOR SOMETHING FOR A VERY LONG TIME? CAN YOU THINK WHAT IT WAS THEY WERE WAITING FOR?
The Jews were waiting/expecting a great warrior king who would fight the Romans. God sent a Messiah who would show them how he wants people to live their lives, to teach them about loving God and one another. Messiah means a king who would deliver his people
How do the characteristics, life and work of Jesus reflect on the words of the Prophets. Jesus came to reconcile the relationship between people and God, not to free the Jews from the oppression of the Romans. What do Jews believe about the the Messiah and what do Christians believe bout the Messiah?
Jews are still waiting for the Messiah, Christians are waiting for his promised return. Do you think that Jesus was the Messiah the prophets were talking about?
