Enough

WEEK TWO - ADVENT DEVOTIONS

DECEMBER 4
Acts 17:22-27a

• Write out the Acts passage
• What images came to mind when you heard these words? 
• How does this passage stretch your understanding of God?

Have someone close in a simple prayer.

Conclude together by saying “We go now in peace, ending this time in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.” Blow out the candle.

The Advent wreath helps us get ready for Jesus. Christians throughout history have tried to ensure the busyness of this season does not overtake their focus. Advent can be an incredible time of spiritual refreshment and renewal!

This week is all about seeing God as enough. Emmanuel. God with us. Jesus did not need us nor did He need our love. God is fully, wholly, and completely love. God, out of goodness and generosity, created this beautiful world. And from that same heart, He came down to us to be with us and live with us, to love us, and heal us.

Here are some other ways you can put your faith into practice with this week’s focus of “Enough.”

For Adults

Get outside this week and find beauty. Breathe in the cold air and give time for your eyes to really take in God’s amazing creation. Thank Him for his goodness. Invite someone to join you on a walk, hike or jog to search for what speaks God’s creativity to you.

For Teens

Get outside this week and find beauty. Breathe in the cold air and give time for your eyes to really take in God’s amazing creation. Slow down and thank Him for his goodness. If you like to take pictures, invite a family member or friend to join you on a search for what speaks God’s creativity to you from nature. Post and share it with others if you like. #ualcgodwithus

For Kids

Take a walk with your kids this week. Make a game out of finding things that look beautiful all around you, such as “I spy…” Once you are done, give thanks together to God for how amazing He is for creating the world. God is good and he loves us!

—Andrea Taphorn & David White

Acts 17:16-34

How often do you find the saying, "some things never change," to be true?  There are times I realize a particular scenario, be it good or bad, has happened before. For instance, the scripture today highlights the fact idols are everywhere in Athens, the community Paul now finds himself.

As much as Paul tells them God is all everyone needs, he is the true God, “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.  And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else" (Acts 17:24-25)

Idols are everywhere today as well.  I can't help but feel like the budget battles going on in Washington now involve idols.  We humans want to hold on tight to things that don't really matter while allowing the important things in life to go wanting.  " “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill." (Acts 17:29)

While we might not pray to a statue for fertility or to another shrine for wealth or health -- we have a God who is in control of everything.  We don't need to go to a mountainside to find Him; we need not travel further than the place we now stand to call upon Him.

Read Acts 17:16-34 here.