1st DAY of ADVENT

Sunday, November 29


First Sunday of Advent

Watchword for the Week
Jesus says, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."
Luke 21:33

Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-10
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36

Inquire first for the word of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 18:4

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory. John
1:14

Jesus, you provide us with a perfect example of how to stand firm against the
surrounding criticism. Keep us focused on you when challenges come our way.
Amen.

Jeremiah 33:14-16 (New International Version)

 ¹⁴ " 'The days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.

 ¹⁵ " 'In those days and at that time
       I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David's line;
       he will do what is just and right in the land.

 ¹⁶ In those days Judah will be saved
       and Jerusalem will live in safety.
       This is the name by which it ^[a] will be called:
       The LORD Our Righteousness.'

Psalm 25

A David Psalm

 ^1-2 My head is high, God, held high; I'm looking to you, God;
   No hangdog skulking for me.

 ³ I've thrown in my lot with you;
   You won't embarrass me, will you?
   Or let my enemies get the best of me?    Don't embarrass any of us
   Who went out on a limb for you.
   It's the traitors who should be humiliated.

 ⁴ Show me how you work, God;
   School me in your ways.

 ⁵ Take me by the hand;
   Lead me down the path of truth.
   You are my Savior, aren't you?

 ⁶ Mark the milestones of your mercy and love, God;
   Rebuild the ancient landmarks!

 ⁷ Forget that I sowed wild oats;
   Mark me with your sign of love.
   Plan only the best for me, God!

 ⁸ God is fair and just;
   He corrects the misdirected,
   Sends them in the right direction.

 ⁹ He gives the rejects his hand,
   And leads them step-by-step.

 ¹⁰ From now on every road you travel
   Will take you to God.
   Follow the Covenant signs;
   Read the charted directions.

 

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 (New International Version)

⁹How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? ¹⁰Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
 ¹¹Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. ¹²May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. ¹³May 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.

Luke 21:25-36 (The Message)

 ^25-26"It will seem like all hell has broken loose—sun, moon, stars, earth, sea, in an uproar and everyone all over the world in a panic, the wind knocked out of them by the threat of doom, the powers-that-be quaking.

 ^27-28"And then—then!—they'll see the Son of Man welcomed in grand style—a glorious welcome! When all this starts to happen, up on your feet. Stand tall with your heads high. Help is on the way!"

 ^29-33He told them a story. "Look at a fig tree. Any tree for that matter. When the leaves begin to show, one look tells you that summer is right around the corner. The same here—when you see these things happen, you know God's kingdom is about here. Don't brush this off: I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too—these things will happen. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out.

 ^34-36"But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don't go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that's coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man."