Worship Helps for Advent 1
Artwork: Last Judgment
Artist: Jan van Eyck
Date: 1420-1425
Technique: Oil on canvas
Location: Metropolitan Museum of Art ,
New York
Worship Theme: Advent refers to “coming.” Jesus is coming
in judgment, but there will be deliverance for God’s people.
Old Testament: Genesis 19:15-17, 19-23 With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot , saying, "Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here,
or you will be swept away when the city is punished." 16 When
he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two
daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to
them. 17 As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said,
"Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the
plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!" … 23 By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land. 24 Then the LORD
rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah-- from the LORD out of the heavens. 25
Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living
in the cities-- and also the vegetation in the land. 26 But Lot 's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. 27 Early
the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood
before the LORD. 28 He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah , toward all the land of the plain, and he saw
dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace. 29 So
when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he
brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities
where Lot had lived.
1. How
did Lot and his family feel about leaving Sodom ? How can you tell?
2. In
what ways does this story warn us about the end of the world?
Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 How
can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the
presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most
earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way
for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and
overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy
in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his
holy ones.
3. What does Paul ask the Lord to do within the
Thessalonian congregation?
4. What
is Paul's underlying concern as he prays?
Gospel: Luke 21:25-36 "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth,
nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the
sea. 26 Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming
on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that
time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your
heads, because your redemption is drawing near." 29 He told
them this parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30
When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is
near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that
the kingdom of God is near. 32 "I tell you the truth, this generation will
certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 34
"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation,
drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you
unexpectedly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all those who
live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and
pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you
may be able to stand before the Son of Man."
5. What will it be like right as Jesus reappears at the
end of time?
6. How will God's people react when Jesus returns visibly?
(See especially 21:28.)
7. Because of this, what should our daily lives be like
now? (See especially 21:34-36).
Answers:
1. Lot and his family hesitated to
leave Sodom . Not only did the
angels have to urge them to leave, they even had to grab the hands of everyone
in the family to lead them safely out of the city.
2. This story warns us not to be so consumed with the
things of this world that we can hardly bear to leave them. It warns us that
God is dead serious about fiery judgment.
3. Paul has already mentioned how the gospel produced
among the Thessalonian Christians great evidences of faith, hope and love (1:3,
3:6). Now Paul prays for more: he not only asks for their inner life to become
stronger, but that it also will overflow its love on everyone who will come in
touch with them. (Do people recognize this happening in you? Your congregation?)
4. Paul’s
concern is that the Thessalonians’ faith is alive and well, and that they will
be ready to join the holy ones when Christ reappears. (Is this your priority?)
5. When Jesus reappears, it will terrify people. There
will be disturbing signs in the sky, earth and sea. These will cause many to
faint from fear, as the heavenly bodies are shaken. (Does the world expect
this? Do you?)
6. When
God’s people see Jesus coming in his power and glory they will stand secure,
knowing this is the great time when Jesus completes his purpose for us and
brings us into his eternal kingdom of freedom. (Is this exciting for you? Do
you long for this?)
7. Because
Jesus could reappear any day, there is no room for us to be distracted with the
anxieties or attractions of this world. We should always be focused and ready
to stand before Jesus when he returns.
People are justified through
faith when they believe that they have a reconciled God, not because of our
works, but freely, for Christ’s sake. This
is the Gospel because Paul clearly teaches, “By grace you have been saved
through faith. And this is not your own
doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works.” Now these men say that people merit the
forgiveness of sins by these human celebrations. Paul says to the Galatians, “You are severed
from Christ, you who would be justified by the law.” This means, if you hold that by obeying the
Law you merit righteousness before God, Christ will benefit you nothing. God has presented Christ with the promise
that, because of this Mediator, and not because of our righteousness, He wishes
to be gracious to us.
These men hold that God is
reconciled and gracious because of the traditions, not because of Christ. So they take the honor of Mediator away from
Christ. There is no difference between
our traditions and Moses’ ceremonies. Paul condemns Moses’ ceremonies, just as he
condemns traditions, because they were regarded as works that merit
righteousness. So the office of Christ
and the righteousness of faith were clouded over. He argues that the forgiveness of sins has
been promised not because of our works, but freely, because of Christ if we
receive it through faith. The promise is
not received except through faith. – Apology of the Augsburg Confession,
Articles XV, Human Traditions (paragraphs 6-10)
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