Ah well, another child let loose into the world! It's really strange how similar it is when you finish a book and allow it to wander off alone into the vastness of the interweb! Somehow it seems sad to say goodbye, and yet you know it has to go....... well, I think that's taken that analogy about as far as it can go!
Four Advent studies look at the themes of Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh and Journeying, and their spiritual significance for the Christ child, as within them we begin to hear a whisper of the Easter to come - Gold for a King, frankincense for a High Priest and myrrh for sorrow.
In researching the study for Myrrh (which pictures Jesus' future suffering) I came across this lovely quote from Watchman Nee,
"The Alabaster Box
‘The breaking of the alabaster box and the anointing of the Lord filled the house with the odor, with the sweetest odor. Everyone could smell it. Whenever you meet someone who has really suffered; been limited, gone through things for the Lord, willing to be imprisoned by the Lord, just being satisfied with Him and nothing else, immediately you scent the fragrance. There is a savor of the Lord. Something has been crushed, something has been broken, and there is a resulting odor of sweetness.’
There are leader's notes and background material and lots of questions to stimulate discussion. Also included are prayers to open and close a meeting.
The Advent study is in A4 format, and each week's study can be printed on 2 double sided sheets, allowing space for note taking.
Permission is given for a church to photocopy these resources, so only 1 copy is needed per group!
No comments:
Post a Comment