QUEST: Preschool Lesson for December 19
This week’s reading from the Jesus Storybook Bible:
The Light of the World, p.184
This week’s Big Idea:
The Good News About Jesus Is For Everyone, Everywhere!
This week’s Key Verse:
Luke 2:11
Doxologies: Light Has Come
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:4-5
Christmastime is here. (Are you singing the Charlie Brown theme in your head right now?) The decorations, the lights, the music – and that feeling of anticipation for something long-awaited. We run from place to place in preparation and take part in things that bring incredible joy in the moment… but that often result in the great “December 26th Let-Down.” Do you know what I’m talking about? On December 26, it’s time to go back to normal: as we take down the lights and the tree, put away the music and the decorations, and start looking ahead, we begin feeling the weight and the pressures of the approaching new year.
How can we anticipate December 25th with great excitement without dreading December 26th? It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the shift… and that’s where Jesus comes in and sits with us in the pile of crinkled-up wrapping paper, tree flocking and storage boxes. While the worldly evidence of the season may disappear, the Reason for the season remains and will reign forever and ever. The goodness of God and light of His glory will never fade. It remains tangibly evident in every element of His creation (Isaiah 55:12, Psalm 96:11-12).
“Light Has Come” was written as a testament of this truth and as a joyful declaration of God’s lovingkindness. Its lyrics contain some of my favorite names of God, those which I frequently call upon in times of joy and sorrow.
- “King of Heaven” (Daniel 4:37)
- “Son of Man” (Matthew 18:11, Matthew 25:31-32, Mark 14:62)
- “Blameless One” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
- “Perfect Sacrifice” (John 1:29, Hebrews 10:12)
- “King of Kings” (1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 19:16, Revelation 17;14)
- “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6, John 14:27, John 16:33, Ephesians 2:14)
- “God’s Own Son” (Romans 8:32, John 3:16)
- “Messiah” (John 4:25-26, John 1:41)
- “Light of the World” (John 8:12, John 1:5, Psalm 27:1, 2 Corinthians 4:6) who has overcome darkness, sin and death (2 Timothy 1:10, Revelation 1:18, Isaiah 25:8, John 11:25-26)
Perhaps most frequently heard at Christmastime, Jesus is Emmanuel: “God with Us” (Matthew 1:23, Isaiah 7:14). We have a real and personal Savior, mighty enough to take away the sin of the world and merciful enough to love and help us every step from now through eternity.
He sees every high and low, standing with us on the mountaintops and equipping us with His sufficient grace (2 Corinthians 12:9) to navigate the valleys and wilderness without fear (Psalm 23:4, Psalm 118:6, Psalm 27:1, Romans 8:31, Philippians 4:13). He shows His infinite lovingkindness and mercy (Psalm 145:9, Deuteronomy 7:9, Nehemiah 1:5, Psalm 100:5) to the least of these and calls us to do the same (Matthew 25:40, Proverbs 19:17, Matthew 10:42). He is kind to bring people and circumstances across our paths that provide opportunities to share the light of Christmas and the joy of the world throughout the year (Ephesians 5:8, Ephesians 5:30, Matthew 5:13-16.)
With Jesus, God’s Christmas gift of hope, light and joy becomes a permanent fixture rooted deep within us and held fast by the Holy Spirit (Jude 24, John 10:29-30). This unspeakable joy overflows and permeates every facet of life, compelling us to live it out loud and declare it boldly in words and deeds (Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:16-20).
This sums up the message of “Light Has Come,” and my prayer is that this song and its lyrics will encourage your heart this season as we turn our eyes upon the Light and the Hope that came down to dwell among us more than 2,000 years ago in the frailty of human flesh (John 1:14). In Jesus, that frailty was put to death (Hebrews 4:15) so that we could be raised to abundant life for all of eternity when we place our hope solely in Him (1 John 2:2). May we keep Christ in Christmas and may we share the steadfast love of Jesus with the world during this season and beyond – during the silent nights and during the busy days.
LIGHT HAS COME
In a stable, history began
King of Heaven, born the Son of Man
A star shone bright, the angels sang
Wise men, shepherds, all they came
Knelt before the newborn Savior King
Innocence wrapped in Love’s pure light
Blameless One, Perfect Sacrifice
King of Kings, Prince of Peace
Lover of the least of these
God’s own Son, come to give us life
So light the candles, ring the bells
Climb the mountains, go and tell
Of Messiah’s love for us
It’s Christmas!
Emmanuel, God with Us
Hallelujah, Christ has come!
Sin defeated, death undone
It’s Christmas, it’s Christmas!
Sing joy to the world!
Joy to the world!
Sing joy to the world!
Light has come!
Preparing for Sunday | December 19
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
All Creation Sing (Joy To The World) | [listen]
Isaac Watts, Steve Fee
Luke 2:10
Redemption Song | [listen]
Canyon Hills Worship
Romans 8:22-23
Crown Him (Christmas) | [listen + lyrics]
Chris Tomlin, Daniel Carson, Matt Redman, DK Kim, Colby Taylor
Hebrews 2:9
SERMON TEXT
Philippians 4
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)
QUEST: Preschool Lesson for December 12
This week’s reading from the Jesus Storybook Bible:
He’s Here, p.176
This week’s Big Idea:
God’s Promised Son Came To Live With Us.
This week’s Key Verse:
Luke 2:11
Preparing for Sunday | December 12
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel | [listen + lyrics]
John Mason Neale, Henry Sloane Coffin, Andy Melvin
Isaiah 7:14
What Child Is This? | [listen]
William Chatterton Dix
Luke 2:11-12
Christmas Day | [listen + lyrics]
Andrew Bergthold, Scott Cash, Franni Cash, Ed Cash, Ed Cash Jr.
Isaiah 49:13
SERMON TEXT
Philippians 4
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)
Family Quest: The Hope – The Story of God’s Promise (Lesson 9)
LESSON 9: BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING
And Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide. Our God is a promise maker and a promise keeper. Most of us would like to think of ourselves as promise keepers, but the reality is that even the best of us cannot truly guarantee a promise. Too many variables are outside of our control. That is why we in the church have the tradition of tacking, “Lord willing,” onto the end our verbal commitments. But with YAHWEH it is an entirely different case. We have already learned that our God created all things from nothing, He is all powerful, all knowing, and unchangeable. When God makes a promise you can take it to the bank. Help the children this week to appreciate how deeply God can be trusted.
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ABOUT FAMILY QUEST: At Reston Bible Church, we firmly believe that parents are a child’s first and most important spiritual leader. In order to support you that mission, we have created a parent devotional and some discussion starters to go along with each lesson your grade school age children are learning at Quest on Sundays. Our hope and prayer is that this material will help you to engage with your children around the topics they are learning on Sunday mornings, answer their questions, go deeper with them, and find real, day-to-day applications. We are honored to be able to partner with you in the critical task of sharing Christ with the next generation.
BABY QUEST: December Lessons
Baby QUEST is Reston Bible Church’s ministry to the youngest members of our Body.
Each month, we will feature a guide for your family to use with children ages 0-2. The guide includes follow up activities, a craft or sensory activity, recommended reading, a song, and other tips that are uniquely tailored to the development of infants and toddlers.
The guide follows the themes we are teaching in our nursery classes, giving you an opportunity to connect and reinforce the ideas taught at home. Because children this age need repetition, each activity can be done multiple times throughout the month to continue to press it upon your child’s memory as they grow!
This month, children will be excited to talk about the birth of Baby Jesus! They will be introduced to the Christmas story with fun play activities, learning about the star, angels, shepherds, the manger, and more! But most importantly they will begin to discover the importance of Jesus and His birth.
Big Idea:
Jesus Came To Be With Us
Scripture Focus:
Luke 2: Baby Jesus is Born!
QUEST: Preschool Lesson for December 5
This week’s reading from the Jesus Storybook Bible:
God Makes a Way, p. 92
This week’s Big Idea:
God makes a way where there is no way.
This week’s Key Verse:
Exodus 6:7
Preparing for Sunday | December 5
SONGS WE’LL BE SINGING TOGETHER
Joy to the World | [listen]
George Frideric Handel, Isaac Watts, and Phil Wickham
Psalm 98:4
He Has Come For Us (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen) | [listen + lyrics]
Meredith Andrews, Unknown
Luke 2:13-14
Angels We Have Heard On High | [listen]
Hymn, possibly from the 18th century; translated by James Chadwick (1862)
Luke 2:9
Noel | [listen + lyrics]
Michael Guy Chislett, Ben Tan
Isaiah 6:9
Your Promises | [listen]
Chris Brown, Mack Brock, Steven Furtick, Wade Joye
2 Peter 1:3-4a
SERMON TEXT
Numbers 13-14
2 Corinthians 5
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:6-7)
QUEST: Preschool Lesson for November 28
This week’s reading from the Jesus Storybook Bible:
God to the Rescue, p. 84
This week’s Big Idea:
God is our rescuer!
This week’s Key Verse:
Exodus 6:7