Engaging Faith

In Advent we wait in hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Introduction: As the students arrive, ask them to write a two to three paragraph journal entry titled “Waiting is Hard.” Ask them to share a particular occasion they found waiting for Christmas hard when they were a young child. How does this type of waiting compare to the first century Jews and Gentiles of Palestine who longed for a Messiah? How does this type of waiting compare to people today who long for Christ’s return? Choose a student to read the Gospel from the first Sunday of Advent. Gospel (Mark 13:33-37) Jesus said to his disciples: "Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his own work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch. Watch, therefore; you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning. May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: 'Watch!'" The Gospel of the Lord. Response: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Play this short music reflection: Advent: Waiting in Silence Call on students to share their stories of Christmas waiting with a partner. After a short time for discussion, ask a few volunteers to share their stories with the entire class.

Here’s a short exercise your students might complete upon entering your classroom or at the end of a lesson. Have the students look up each passage and complete the following items related to Jesus’ disciples. Matthew 10:1–15. List the Apostles. Name three things Jesus instructed the Apostles to do. Luke 8:1–3. Name three women followers of Jesus. Luke 10:38–42. What was Martha complaining about? What did Jesus tell her? John 3:1–21. What did Nicodemus not understand about Jesus’ teaching? John 20:11–18. Why did Jesus tell Mary Magdalene not to hold onto him? Luke 19:1–10. Why was Zacchaeus despised by so many? What was the sign that he became a true disciple of Jesus? Answers The Apostles are Simon called Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot. Jesus instructs them to go to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel,” proclaim the kingdom of Heaven, cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons, and take very little. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna She complained that her sister did not help her serve the guests. Jesus told her not to worry, but to sit and listen to him like her sister Mary. Nicodemus did not understand the meaning of being born again. Jesus had not yet ascended to his Father Zacchaeus was despised because he was a wealthy tax collector, but he proved his loyalty as a disciple by giving half of his possessions to the poor and promising not to steal from anyone.

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