Memorize these verses as a family:

Romans 15:4: For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 

Romans 15:7: Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 

Activity: Light an Advent Wreath

We introduced the advent wreath last week. It is a wreath with four candles on the outer ring, three purple and one pink, and one white candle, the Christ candle, in the center.

Light the candle you lit last week and a second purple candle which is called the “peace candle.” Read Isaiah 11:1-10 together. 

Isaiah the prophet talks about the peace that Jesus will bring to the earth. Ask the children how Isaiah describes this peace (notice how the animals get along). Ask them how we can work for Jesus’ peace today?

Discussion. Romans 15:4 says that the Bible was written to encourage us. The Bible does this two ways: 1. It tells us what God has done for us. 2. It tells us what God will do for us. 

What has God done for you that gives you hope? 

God promises to welcome people from all over the world into his family. This is one thing he will do for us. (see Romans 15:8-14)

Hope helps us be loving and accepting of people that are different from us or who are difficult to love. We remember that Jesus accepted us and that he died for us. That helps us accept others. (see Romans 15:5-7)

Who are some people that God is calling us to love and accept, who may be difficult to love?

Set Goals.

• How can we read the Bible as a family so that we can have hope, being reminded of what God has done and what he promises to do?
• How can we love and accept each other as a family?
• What have we learned that we can share with others?
• Who will we share it with us?