advent 2022

Today is Christmas Day, and on behalf of the leadership here at Society Church, we wish you a very Merry Christmas. 

We hope that as you have engaged in these scriptures, prayers, and prompts over this Advent season, you have sensed God’s present presence.

How to participate in this Christmas Devotional:

● Set aside some time today and throughout your week to re-read the scriptures & prayers. Include your family, spouse, children, housemates or friends.

● Allow yourself to ponder this scripture and reading slowly. Maybe even consider journaling your thoughts. Allow yourself the time to reflect and go deeper.

● Be drawn into this holy invitation of anticipation of what Jesus' birth is meant to speak to us specifically during this season of Advent.

Reading:

Today our Advent reading is from the book of Luke and a few verses from the Christmas song “O Come all ye faithful”. Take note of any word or phrase that sticks out to you. 

Luke 2:4-14

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will

cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

O Come All Ye Faithful

Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;

Jesus, to thee be glory given!

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!

O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;

Come and behold him

Born the King of Angels:

O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Christmas Blessing

We come and behold you, almighty God!

We rejoice in your coming, such great news meant for all people. 

May it spark joy in our hearts today as we celebrate your birth - your incredible love that extended from heaven to earth. 

We embrace this gift of presence. 

May it initiate something within us today that we might carry it forth, as a living expression of our most loving God. 

Let it shape and form us deeply.

Hope, peace, joy, and unexplainable love birthed through your son, our Savior.

Amen.

Quiet: 

We invite you to linger a little longer in this posture of reflection. After the podcast is done, set a timer for 2 minutes to sit in stillness & silence. Giving your mind and heart a moment to reflect on the prayer and scriptures you just read.

CR Lesson 25 | 7 Reasons We Get Stuck

True Joy From GOD | The Advent Of Jesus

Sermon & Small Group Resources

This is the third sermon in our Advent series on the Incarnation. This sermon is “Fully Human Fully God”. Preacher: Bishop Cam Venables. Bible Reading: Hebrews 2:14-18

DOWNLOAD the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF).

Next Steps this Week

BIBLE READING: Hebrews 2:14-18

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

Download in PDF format.

CONNECT: How could we grow in our service to others to be more like Jesus over advent? 

WARM-UP 

1. What do you think is the best thing about being human? What do you think is the most challenging?
2. Do you think people find it more challenging to acknowledge Jesus as human or divine?

Read Hebrews 2:14-16

1. As you think through the New Testament accounts of Jesus’ life, how do we see his humanity?
2. As you think through the New Testament accounts of Jesus’ life, how do we see his divinity?
3. What does it mean to you to know that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine?
4. What does the author mean by, “the children have flesh and blood”? Why was it necessary for Jesus to also share in our humanity?
5. How did Jesus ‘help’ us (along with all of ‘Abraham’s descendants’)? How can that fill us with wonder?
6. If Jesus is fully human, in what ways can he sympathise with us? How does that bring you comfort?
7. How did Jesus suffer when he was tempted? How can Jesus help us when we are tempted? Practically, how can we better: (a) recognise that we need help in those situations; and (b) come to him?
8. In your own devotional life, how does (or could) remembering Jesus’ humanity help shape your prayer?
9. If Jesus is fully God, in what ways can he know and help us? How does that shape your life as worship?
10. Who holds the power of death? How is it a form of slavery? How does Jesus break those bonds?
11. Have you ever thought of yourself as a slave? If so, in what way? What does it mean to you to be free?
12. Do you ever have a tendency to emphasise one aspect of Jesus’ nature over the other (i.e., you might tend to emphasise his humanity over his divinity, or his divinity over his humanity)? Why so?
13. What can it look like to emphasise Jesus’ humanity over his divinity? How might that be a problem?
14. What can it look like to emphasise Jesus’ divinity over his humanity? How might that be a problem?
15. As you prepare to celebrate Christmas, how can you be reminded that Jesus is both fully human and fully God?

APPLY: What is one way that your prayer life this week can reflect both Jesus’ humanity and divinity more richly?

PRAYER

Gracious God, thank you that your Son became flesh—fully sharing in our humanity— in order to break the power of sin and death. Thank you that it is in Jesus we find the one who is perfectly able to sympathise with us and help us, especially in times of temptation. Please help us to see who Jesus is clearly and run to him. Amen.

GOING DEEPER

On Your Frontline This Week: Ask someone what is the most challenging moment of Christmas?

Listen, Watch, and Read:

• WATCH: Seminary Now: Talks on Advent
• LISTEN: “The Suffering Son” by William Taylor
• LISTEN: “And was made Man” by John Stott
• LISTEN: Handel’s Messiah
  
  

SERIES Resources:

• Series Overview (PDF & Audiobook)
• Read: “The God who Became Human” by Graham Cole
• Read: “On the Incarnation” by Athanasius
• Read: “What Christians Ought to Believe” by Michael Bird
• Read: “Is Christmas Unbelievable” by Rebecca McLaughlin
• Watch: “The Word Becomes Human” by the Bible Project
• Watch: “The Incarnation (Spoken Word)” by Humble Word
• Listen: A Carols Playlist (curated by the St Bartʼs staff team)

Grow as Families 

Each week St Bart’s Kids and CHARGE Youth provides resources for you to use at home. Join the livestream and then spend 30 minutes to work through these together.

Families: Read, Chat, Do, and Pray

High School: CHARGE Discussion Questions

Kids’ Talk: Watch the Kids’ Talk

eBook: Watch the eBook

This week Pastor Michael talks to the church about listening and responding to the God who can do more than we could ever imagine. Eph 3

Sermon & Small Group Resources

This is the second sermon in our Advent series on the Incarnation. This sermon is “Begotten Not Made”. Preacher: The Rev’d Michael Calder. Bible Reading: Philippians 2:1-11

DOWNLOAD the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF).

Next Steps this Week

BIBLE READING: Philippians 2:1-11

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death –
        even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

Download in PDF format.

CONNECT: What is one practical way (this advent) that can help you to grow in the wonder of the incarnation?

WARM-UP

1. Think about the most humble person you know. Why do you think they were like this?

2. What does our culture think about humility?

Read Philippians 2:6-11

1. How does Paul describe what Christ has done for us in these verses?

2. What was the nature of Jesus before he became human? How does this make the incarnation all the more wonderful?

3. What did he do with his high position of being with God? How is this different from people in authority here on this earth?

4. How did Jesus make himself nothing? In becoming human, how was this Jesus emptying himself?

5. What did Jesus empty himself of? Why did Jesus have to become human?

6. Why is it important that Jesus didnʼt become any less God or any less of a human? How is this of great comfort for you?

7. In what ways has our God served us? How is this distinct from other human religions?

8. If you were to ask your friends who donʼt know Jesus yet what they thought Christianity was all about, what do you think they would say? Does this align with the picture we see here?

9. How could you let them know of the reality of what Jesus has done for us?

Read Philippians 2:1-5

1. What would make Paulʼs joy complete? Why do you think that this should be a high priority and hope for the church?

2. In what ways might we be tempted to do things for our own praise or our own selfish ambition?

3. As we interact with others, what should be the lens through which we think of serving them?

APPLY: How could we grow in our service to others to be more like Jesus over advent?

PRAYER

Lord God, thank you for the awesomeness of the incarnation, that Jesus would step down from his high position to become human and serve us. Help us in our interactions with others to be like him. Amen

GOING DEEPER

On Your Frontline This Week: Ask someone what is their favourite moment of Christmas.

Listen, Watch, and Read:

• WATCH: Seminary Now: Talks on Advent

• LISTEN: “Worthy of the Gospel” by Simon Manchester

• LISTEN: “Adopt Jesusʼ Death as the Test of Your Outlook” by Don Carson

• LISTEN: “Humility” by John Stott

• LISTEN: “Imitating the Incarnation” by Tim Keller

• BORROW & READ: “Knowing God” by J.I. Packer
  

SERIES Resources:

• Series Overview (PDF & Audiobook)

• Read: “The God who Became Human” by Graham Cole

• Read: “On the Incarnation” by Athanasius

• Read: “What Christians Ought to Believe” by Michael Bird

• Read: “Is Christmas Unbelievable” by Rebecca McLaughlin

• Watch: “The Word Becomes Human” by the Bible Project

• Watch: “The Incarnation (Spoken Word)” by Humble Word

• Listen: A Carols Playlist (curated by the St Bartʼs staff team)

Grow as Families

Each week St Bart’s Kids and CHARGE Youth provides resources for you to use at home. Join the livestream and then spend 30 minutes to work through these together.

Families: Read, Chat, Do, and Pray

High School: CHARGE Discussion Questions

Kids’ Talk: Watch the Kids’ Talk

eBook: Watch the eBook

This week Pastor Michael leads us into the Advent season with a timely message from 1 Samuel regarding Hannah's prayer. 

Sermon & Small Group Resources

This is the first sermon in our Advent series on the Incarnation. This sermon is “Word Made Flesh”. Preacher: The Rev’d Adam Lowe. Bible Reading: John 1:1-14

DOWNLOAD the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF).

Next Steps this Week

BIBLE READING: John 1:1-14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

Download in PDF format.

CONNECT: When you are facing challenge, what most helps you to stand firm and depend on the Lord?

WARM-UP

1. When was the last time that you experienced a sense of ʻwonderʼ? What is at the heart of wonder?

2. What is the ʻincarnationʼ? How is verse John 1:14 a brilliant summary of this event and good news?

Read John 1:1-5

1. What are the opening words in Johnʼs Gospel? What do they remind you of?

2. Who is the Word? What is the Word like? When did the Word begin?

3. What are the ways in which John points to the Sonʼs eternal nature? How is he uniquely qualified to bring us life?

4. What is the darkness? How have you experienced that? How is Godʼs light greater than the darkness?

Read John 1:6-14

1. How human did the Son become? What evidence do we have that the Son was not merely masquerading as a human, but truly human?

2. Do you think people struggle more with Jesusʼ humanity or divinity? Why do you think that is the case?

3. Do you ever emphasise Jesusʼ humanity over his divinity (or vice versa)? What could be the effect?

4. How is God becoming human a big ʻYESʼ to our humanity and physical world?

5. What does John mean by the Word making his dwelling among us? How is it related to the tabernacle?

6. What are the implications of Jesus dwelling with us? What significance does that have for you?

7. What are the ways that people try to “find God”? How is it through Jesus that we can meet with God?

8. Re-Read verse 12. What is the status we can receive from Jesus? How do we become ʻchildren of Godʼ?

9. What are the types of filters that prevent or inhibit us from seeing who Jesus is fully? Do you have any filters that particularly are a struggle for you?

10. What could help you this year to let the wonder of the incarnation interrupt your life more?

APPLY: What is one practical way (this advent) that can help you to grow in the wonder of the incarnation?

PRAYER

Gracious God, thank you for the tremendous news that the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. Help us to grow in our wonder of this truth, that Jesus may take a bigger grip on our lives. Amen.

GOING DEEPER

On Your Frontline This Week: Who are you going to invite to CAROLS? Of all events in the year - this is the simplest invite! Maybe you could invite a neighbour, family friend, colleague or someone youʼve just met.

Listen, Watch, and Read:

• WATCH: Seminary Now: Talks on Advent

• LISTEN: Word Became Flesh by Stephen Nichols

• LISTEN: Carols Service Talk by William Taylor

• LISTEN: In the Beginning by Tim Keller
  

SERIES Resources:

• Series Overview (PDF & Audiobook)

• Read: “The God who Became Human” by Graham Cole

• Read: “On the Incarnation” by Athanasius

• Read: “What Christians Ought to Believe” by Michael Bird

• Read: “Is Christmas Unbelievable” by Rebecca McLaughlin

• Watch: “The Word Becomes Human” by the Bible Project

• Watch: “The Incarnation (Spoken Word)” by Humble Word

• Listen: A Carols Playlist (curated by the St Bartʼs staff team)

Grow as Families

Each week St Bart’s Kids and CHARGE Youth provides resources for you to use at home. Join the livestream and then spend 30 minutes to work through these together.

Families: Read, Chat, Do, and Pray

High School: CHARGE Discussion Questions

Kids’ Talk: Watch the Kids’ Talk

eBook: Watch the eBook