“Rather than just complaining about the problem, do something about it.” –Father of Isaac Watts
11-29-15: Jaime George:
JOY…HOPE…PEACE…LOVE APPETIZER: Advent
Advent: from the Latin adventus, which means "coming" or "arrival;" a time for reflection & interior preparation. We anticipate the arrival of Christ. As we wait in anticipation, reflecting on the past 10 years, we have much to celebrate! It has been a decade of sending & serving.
DINE-IN: Joy
For many, stopping to reflect & consider our Savior Jesus brings with it an overwhelming sense of JOY. HOWEVER… if this is not the case, it’s important to ask the question, “Why?” Isaac Watts: From the early 1700's, a young non-‐conformist Jesus follower frustrated with what he believed to be the church's lack of Joy. To see the dull indifference, the negligent & thoughtless air that sits upon the faces of a whole assembly, while the psalm is upon their lips, might even tempt a charitable observer to suspect the fervency of their inward religion. – Isaac Watts
Isaac Watts’ Hymns: -‐ When I Survey the Wondrous Cross -‐ God Our Help in Ages Past -‐ We’re Marching to Zion -‐ Alas and Did My Savior Bleed (At the Cross) -‐ JOY TO THE WORLD What if the world knew we were Christians not by what we are against but by the way we love? Friar Andrew’s definition of the purpose of a Frisbee: You pass it around to share Joy May we lead out in this season with JOY.
TAKE-OUT:
1. Do you associate this time of the year with joy? Make time to be alone, to reflect on God’s promises, the fullness of God in a baby, & the freedom we experience in Christ. 2. As we enter the Advent season, continue in Gratitude & model the generosity of the Father. How will you be generous with your time, money, words, & love? You can think of them like Friar Andrew & his Frisbee: pass them around to share Joy ☺.
Village Conversation HANGOUT (Warm-up) 1. Start with a feelings check-‐in. This can be as long as a couple sentences, or as short as one word. How are you feeling right now? Take a few moments to breathe, center, & connect with your own emotions. Go around the room & share.
HEAR (Listen to God through scripture)
2. Read the following scripture aloud: Psalm 98 3. Take 1-‐2 minutes of silence to meditate on the words. 4. Now re-read the same scripture all together. a. What stands out to you? What do you notice? b. What marvelous things has God done in your life that bring you joy? c. We often view judgment as negative, but the Psalmist clearly celebrates it in verse 9. What makes God’s judgment worth singing about? (think about how innocent victims across the globe might sing with joy at righteous judgment)
HUDDLE (Making it Personal & Praying together) Take this time to practice Gratitude: 5. As a village, read through the song, Joy To the World. Then sing it! If no one feels confident enough to lead out, feel free to just read the words, reflect on them, & pray together.
QUOTES/SCRIPTURE…
To see the dull indifference, the negligent and thoughtless air that sits upon the faces of a whole assembly, while the psalm is upon their lips, might even tempt a charitable observer to suspect the fervency of their inward religion. – Isaac Watts 1 Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
2 The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. 3 He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; 5 make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, 6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn— shout for joy before the Lord, the King. 7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. 8 Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; 9 let them sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity. - Psalm 98 (NIV) Joy to the world! the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing. Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns; Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as, the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders, of His love. - Joy To The World, Isaac Watts