God’s Faithful Intervention in our Lives Connects us to an Eternal Life with Him
The First Sunday in Advent―CWS Series B

God’s Word for Today

Advent reminds us: Jesus is coming soon. The world will end soon. If we seriously look at our sins, we have plenty cause for fear and worry. But our lessons focus on the faithfulness of God, who calls himself our Father and takes care of all the details. Instead of feeling down about the end drawing near, by God’s grace we see the richness we have in Christ and the gifts we have to serve him in these last days.

First Lesson (Genesis 6:1-3, 5-14, 17-22)

1.	In Noah's era, what did believing men, the “sons of God,” foolishly do?

2.	Nephililm (perhaps meaning “falling ones”) became heroes in those days. Often sexually immoral and violent people are heroes today. Why is that a problem?

Second Lesson (1 Peter 3:18-22)

3.	When and why did Jesus descend into hell?

4.	What does baptism do for us, just as the flood did for Noah?

Gospel (Mark 13:32-37)

5.	Who can predict the day when “heaven and earth will pass away?”

6.	Since we know the end of the world will come out of the blue, unexpectedly, what should our lives be like?

Answers:

1.	The sons of God married unbelieving women.

2.	It is a problem when sexually immoral and violent people are heroes because a) they fall away from God and his Word, b) they are eager to fall on other, weaker people, and c) by example they teach impressionable young people to do the same, as if “might makes right.” 

3.	Jesus descended into hell after he came back alive, Peter says, so we gather he did so early Easter Sunday morning. Jesus went, body and soul, to the only place in the universe where spirits are in prison―hell. He went there to preach to them. We gather he preached to the spirits in hell his victory over death: If he had won, they had lost forever. How Jesus went to hell, we do not know, but since he proved that he had taken all the devil's might from him, we know that neither hell nor the devil can take captive or injure us.

4.	The water of the flood drowned everyone else in the world, but it floated the ark, so it saved Noah and his family. In the same way, God's Word and the water of baptism save us. They wash away all our sin, so they give us a clean conscience before God. They plug us into the power of Jesus' resurrection. They comfort us when we suffer for our faith in Jesus.

5.	God has the specific time set for judgment day. No one can discover the Last Day with his or her logical calculations. Jesus will come at a time we not only do not know, but will not expect.

6.	Instead of being caught up in the busyness of our world, we should be watchful and on our guard against falling away. We should be busy with the tasks God has assigned us so we can impact the world with the gospel in whatever time God allows.

God Provides Messengers and Means to Prepare us for the End
The Second Sunday in Advent―CWS Series B

God’s Word for Today

God does not leave us to flounder on our own in this world but prepares us for the final great event―Jesus' return at the end. He sends his messengers to point out the reality of sin and its consequences so we do not drift into complacency. He sends his good news of salvation in Christ and connects us with Christ in baptism. What a change that should create in our focus for living!

First Lesson (Isaiah 40:1-11)

1.	How will the people receive “double” for all their sins?

2.	Who is the “voice of one calling in the desert to prepare a way for the Lord”?

Second Lesson (2 Peter 3:8-14)

3.	“With the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day.” What does God's eternal outlook have to do with our outlook on when Jesus will reappear?

4.	Knowing that the Lord will come suddenly and destroy the earth, what change should be evident in our lives?

Gospel (Mark 1:1-8)

5.	What was the focus of John’s baptisms?

6.	“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” What was to be different?

Answers:

1.	Instead of God punishing people as much as they deserved, they would receive “double” grace‒–much more blessing than anyone could expect. This is nothing anyone can earn, but what we inherit by God's free grace, a full forgiveness we don't deserve.

2.	The Lord makes it clear (Mark 1:3, for example) that Isaiah pointed ahead to John the Baptist. John was the voice who preached stern, pointed law to the people to prepare their hearts with repentance. John also pointed out the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” This is the good news we are also shout to people―a word that will outlast worldly experts.

3.	God is not slow in keeping his threat to judge all people. We are bound to clocks and schedules. But God is not restrained by time, which he created for us. He sees and knows past, present and future as one “now.” The end of the world may seem far away for scoffers, but God sees it clearly as “today.” God didn't end the world yesterday because he patiently waited for more people to repent.

4.	It should be evident in our lives that we are looking forward in Christ to eternal life with God. Every effort should be made to be at peace with God realized by faith in Christ. Every effort should be made to live lives that represent the holiness for which he has destined us.

5.	John baptized with a focus on the reality of our sinfulness and the forgiveness God gives us in the Lamb of God―Jesus. This is the same focus you hear from Peter on Pentecost as he sets the pace for our baptisms.

6.	Although true baptism always carries the Holy Spirit’s presence, Jesus carries the full authority to send the Spirit in a miraculous way as was first evidenced at Pentecost. His dying and rising gives baptism its power.

Jesus is the Central Focus of our Message and the Joy in our Living
The Third Sunday in Advent―CWS Series B

God’s Word for Today

We often become enamored with eloquent and influential speakers who promise wealth and ease. But Malachi said that the true messenger of God would be another Elijah. He would speak God's Word and prepare people for God's judgment. He would turn fathers' hearts to their children and children's hearts to their fathers. Through the Word comes real change in our faith-born outlook. Through the Word comes humility that longs to serve God.

First Lesson (Malachi 4:1-6)

1.	In verses 5-6, whom does the Lord promise to send?

2.	If everything will burn, and all the arrogant people will be stubble, should we concentrate on money and the things it can buy? Why or why not?

3.	Look at verse 2. What will happen when the Last Day dawns? What will be the end result for us?

Second Lesson (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24)

4.	When the Holy Spirit changes us, what attitudes will emerge?

5.	How in the world are we to keep our whole spirit, soul and body blameless at the coming of the Lord Jesus?

Gospel (John 1:6-8, 19-28)

6.	Who was the focal point of John’s message?

7.	What was John’s attitude toward Christ?

Answers:

1.	The Lord promises to send Elijah. Elijah had been a prophet centuries before Malachi, though. Jesus said that John the Baptist was the Elijah whom Malachi had foretold (Matthew 11:14).

2.	No, we shouldn't concentrate on things that will burn. We shouldn't imitate the godless and their ways. That is senseless. Also, someday we will trample those who may today be trampling us. Instead, we will trust in God's promises, do good in whatever callings God has placed us, and wait eagerly for the last day.

3.	When the Last Day dawns, the rays of Jesus' glory (which Malachi pictures as the “wings” of the rising sun) will heal us in every way. The joy! Judgment day will bring freedom for all believers. We will be so happy that we will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.

4.	Those attitudes include joy, habitual prayer, unflappable thanks despite obstacles, respect for God and his Word all have a part in our Christian living. In all things we are to stay away from every brand of evil.

5.	We don't have to do it. God called it; God will do it. If we try to make these changes on our own we will end up even more frustrated and guilty. These are attitudes that emerge as a fruit of the Spirit as he works in us. “The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”

6.	Some might have focused on John as their leader. But John said he wasn’t the “light” but only the messenger to point out the light. Jesus is the Light of the world.

7.	John didn’t want the spotlight on himself but on Christ. His selfless humility is heard as he voiced that he wasn’t even worthy to do slave duty for Christ. Can we have any less an understanding of our relationship to Christ?

God Makes the Impossible Happen So We Can Be Part of His Kingdom
The Fourth Sunday in Advent―CWS Series B

God’s Word for Today

We have many hopes and dreams in this world. Some even seem to have honorable motives. The Lord, though, steps in and outshines our plans with the miraculous. He sends his Son to earth in a miraculous way to set up an eternal kingdom. Then in an equally wondrous way he draws us into that kingdom through the gospel and establishes our place in it.

First Lesson (2 Samuel 7:8-16)

1.	What does God promise for David?

2.	What house would the Lord establish for David?

Second Lesson (Romans 16:25-27)

3.	How does God establish us in faith?

4.	Who gets the praise for our stability in faith?

Gospel (Luke 1:26-38)

5.	How was it that Mary found favor with God?

6.	What simple phrase answered Mary’s puzzled inquiry about having a child while she is still a virgin?

Answers:

1.	David had wanted to build a permanent house (temple) for his God. The Lord told him someone else would build the house of the Lord. Yet God was going to make David’s name great and make the conditions ideal for his people. He accomplished that in Jesus, a “son” of David.

2.	This prophecy goes far beyond Solomon to the One who would establish an eternal kingdom. Jesus (Luke 1:29-33) would be the cornerstone of a spiritual house―a people in which God dwells with his Spirit―the people of God (Ephesians 2:19-22) who will rule eternally with Christ.

3.	God uses the simple gospel message, the proclamation of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, to create faith and obedience in people. Do you keep the connection strong by continual growth in God's word?

4.	Often, sadly, people emphasize their wise “choice” to follow Jesus. But that robs the praise from the one to whom all credit is due. The only wise God gets all the glory for setting up our salvation through Jesus and changing hearts to faith through the gospel. That will be the main theme of our singing, forever. 

5.	Many people focus on Mary's virtues, but God’s favor starts with his own loving plans and his unmerited choice. His favor focused on this one individual through whom the Holy Spirit would provide this miraculous birth. This happened so God’s favor could in turn rest on everyone because of that child.

6.	The angel helped her put aside simple, experiential logic and replace it with faith in God's promise: “For nothing is impossible with God.” How important for us to realize this in the season that challenges the world with things too hard and awesome to explain―the birth of Jesus.

Jesus Comes to Save Us, Even as an Infant
The First Sunday after Christmas— CWS Series B

God’s Word for Today

Whether or not we had a “good Christmas,” as some may ask us, today over and over we hear good news of God’s grace.

First Lesson (Isaiah 45:20-25)

1.	What key ability does the Lord have that idols do not have (verses 20-21)?

2.	Why do all the ends of the earth need to turn to the Lord (verses 21-22)?

3.	On the Last Day, how will all believers in the Lord be found? How will we feel (verse 25)?

Second Lesson (Colossians 3:12-17)

4.	What three key gospel truths motivate our new lives in Christ (verse 12)?

5.	Where is the only place to find strength for our new life in Christ (verse 16)?

Gospel (Luke 2:25-40)

6.	What did God do for Simeon, compared to what God had promised Simeon (verses 25-28)?

7.	What did Simeon hint at to Mary (verse 35)?

8.	For what were Simeon and Anna waiting (verses 25, 38)? For what are you waiting?

Answers:

1.	The Lord can predict the future, and has done so many times. Every time, he does so with perfect accuracy. Idols and those who follow them have no ability to predict the future.

2.	All the ends of the earth need to turn to the Lord because he is the only God. He is the only Savior. He is righteous, so he must punish sinners, but in mercy the Father has punished his Son in our place.

3.	All believers in the Lord will be found righteous, and will exult. To be found righteous means that on the Last Day God will judge us sinners right with him, for Jesus’ sake. This will make us exult. That is, we will be full of joy.

4.	A) In Christ, we are God’s chosen people. In eternity, in pure grace, the Father picked us to be his own. B) In Christ, we are holy in God’s sight. Jesus’ holiness is credited to us, as if we have had only holy thoughts and actions all our lives. C) In Christ, we are dearly loved.

5.	The only place to find strength for our new life in Christ is in God’s Word. (Let’s dig into it daily it to teach and warn each other! Let’s sing it gladly!)

6.	God had promised Simeon that he would not die before he saw God’s Anointed Son. But God did better than he promised. He let Simeon hold his Savior!

7.	He hinted that Jesus would suffer great pain, and Mary, without Joseph at her side, would see it. A sword would pierce her own soul, too.

8.	They were waiting for the consolation of Israel, the redemption of Jerusalem—waiting for God to come and comfort his people by paying for their sins. We wait for Jesus to comfort and rescue us by coming again.

Jesus Is our Peace
The Second Sunday after Christmas—CWS Series B

God’s Word for Today

“O Little Town of Bethlehem,” we sing at Christmas time. Bethlehem, “the house of bread,” was a little town, but an important town too. There, in humility, the Savior of the world was born.

First Lesson (Micah 5:2-5a)

1.	Why was Bethlehem seemingly an unlikely place for a king to be born (verse 2)?

2.	Even though Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem, what was his true origin (verse 2)?

3.	Besides being ruler and shepherd of God’s people, what else was Jesus predicted to be (verse 5)?

Second Lesson (Hebrews 2:10-18)

4.	List all the names Jesus receives in these nine verses.

5.	Why did Jesus share in our humanity (verse 14)? (Couldn’t he have just taken on the appearance of a man, without actually becoming man?)

6.	What kind of high priest for us is Jesus (verses 17-18)?

Gospel (John 7:40-43)

7.	On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, what two opinions did people have of Jesus (verses 40-41)?

8.	What confusion about Jesus’ origin caused this conflict (verses 41-42)?

Answers:

1.	Bethlehem was an unlikely place for a king to be born because it was a small town.

2.	His “goings out,” were from ancient times, “from days of eternity,” as the NIV footnote translates. He is the eternal Son of God, who has no beginning.

3.	Micah predicted that Jesus would be our peace. That is, he would take our place under God’s law, then suffer and die under God’s holy judgment to earn our peace with God.

4.	The writer to the Hebrews calls him “the author of salvation,” our Brother, our Rescuer, our “High Priest.” 

5.	Jesus shared in our humanity so that by his death he would destroy the one who holds the power of death, that is, the devil. He had to become a man to die in our place. (God can’t die unless he is also man.)

6.	Jesus is a merciful and faithful high priest. He suffered, so he can help us in all our sufferings and temptations.

7.	Some thought he was the Prophet Moses promised in Deuteronomy 18. Others thought he was the Christ, God’s Anointed. The irony is that Jesus is both.

8.	People knew Jesus had grown up in Galilee, but Micah had prophesied that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem. People in Jerusalem, only a few miles from Bethlehem, did not know Jesus had been born there.