T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

C H R I S T M A S A T M C L E A N B I B L E C H U R C HW H O W E A R E .............................................................. 02W H E R E W E ’ L L B E ..................................................... 04E V E N T I N F O R M AT I O N ........................................... 06

A D V E N TD AY 0 1 : Sunday, December 2 ......................................... 08D AY 0 2 : Monday, December 3 ........................................ 11D AY 0 3 : Tuesday, December 4 ........................................ 12D AY 0 4 : Wednesday, December 5 .................................. 13D AY 0 5 : Thursday, December 6 ...................................... 14D AY 0 6 : Friday, December 7 ........................................... 17D AY 0 7 : Saturday, December 8 ....................................... 18D AY 0 8 : Sunday, December 9 ......................................... 19D AY 0 9 : Monday, December 10 ........................................ 20D AY 1 0 : Tuesday, December 11 ....................................... 22D AY 1 1 : Wednesday, December 12 .................................. 23D AY 1 2 : Thursday, December 13 ...................................... 25D AY 1 3 : Friday, December 14 ......................................... 26D AY 1 4 : Saturday, December 15 ...................................... 29D AY 1 5 : Sunday, December 16 ......................................... 30D AY 1 6 : Monday, December 17 ....................................... 34D AY 1 7 : Tuesday, December 18 ....................................... 35D AY 1 8 : Wednesday, December 19 .................................. 38D AY 1 9 : Thursday, December 20 ..................................... 40D AY 2 0 : Friday, December 21 ......................................... 41D AY 2 1 : Saturday, December 22 ..................................... 43D AY 2 2 : Sunday, December 23 ...................................... 44D AY 2 3 : Monday, December 24 ...................................... 45D AY 2 4 : Tuesday, December 25 ...................................... 46

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W E L C O M EWelcome to McLean Bible Church! We’re glad you’re here. No matter where you’re from or how you got here, you matter to God and us. Everything we do is shaped by our mission statement:

W E G L O R I F Y G O D … We want everything we do to be focused on God! While it’s tempting to center everything on us, we want to fix our eyes on the one who created us, sustains us, knows us, and has made salvation possible through Jesus’ death and resurrection (Colossians 1:16–17, Hebrews 12:2).

B Y M A K I N G D I S C I P L E S A N D M U LT I P L Y I N G C H U R C H E S …We give God glory by personally growing to be more like Jesus. We then spread His glory by helping others grow to be like Him. We do that by equipping our church family to learn and obey the Bible personally and in large and small group communities. As more people come to understand discipleship, we seek to start more churches that can continue this work both here and abroad (Matthew 28:18–20, 2 Timothy 2:2).

A M O N G A L L N A T I O N S , B E G I N N I N G I N G R E A T E R WA S H I N G T O N , D C .You were created with unique gifts and for a particular time and place. Are you using your time, talents, and treasure to share Jesus’ love with your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers? Learn how you can make a difference for Christ by getting involved in a serving opportunity today.

If you would like to learn more about how you can join us in this mission, or if you would like to know more about who Jesus is, visit the Connect Room after any of our services.

I T ’ S A L L A B O U T J E S U SGod loves you and created you to be in a relationship with Him through Jesus. You can begin this relationship today. The truth is that God is perfectly good and holy and we are not. We all do wrong (called sin) and as a result, we are separated from God forever. Our sin deserves punishment. But there’s good news! God doesn’t want you to be separated from Him. To win you back, He did something amazing! He sent his perfect Son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross for you. Jesus rose from the dead to give you life! Jesus offers His perfect payment for sins to you as a gift. When you confess Jesus as Lord and trust in Him alone for the forgiveness of your sins, you will be saved. Only then can you begin a life-giving, all-satisfying relationship with the God of the universe. This new life is available for you today!

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A B O U T U SWe are followers of Jesus Christ committed to becoming more like Him by obeying Him, serving Him, and trusting Him. Those who worship here represent differing political views, backgrounds, and life experiences. We care for everyone, including those with intellectual and physical disabilities. Whether you’ve been burned by religion or are just looking for a place to belong, we want you to experience a life-giving relationship with the living God through Jesus Christ. There’s a place for you at McLean Bible Church, in a location near you. Learn more about our communities below.

C H I L D R E N ( I N FA N T S — 5 T H G R A D E ) Our Kid’s Quest program offers something for every child – from newborn infants to 5th grade students – and is available at all MBC services.

M I D D L E & H I G H S C H O O L The Rock Student Ministries provides unique opportunities for 6th-12th graders to experience Christ in a real and tangible way.

N E W Y E A R ’ S A I D | T Y S O N S C A M P U S | M O N D A Y, D E C . 3 1 , 9 P M - 6 A M Join the Rock Student Ministries for New Year’s Aid 2018! Ring in the year with us at New Year’s Aid, the largest underage party for teens in the D.C. metro area! The cause-driven night is open to all 6-12 graders, and will take place from 9pm-6am starting New Year’s Eve, December 31st. More information to come soon at rockdc.com.

Y O U N G A D U LT S Our young adult ministries are for the college-aged, 20s, and 30s. Our goal is connect them to community, fellowship, and serving opportunities.

A D U LT S Our adult communities are safe, welcoming places where you can grow in faith, experience Christ-centered fellowship, and impact others through service. We have a wide range of ways for couples, singles, parents, men, and women to connect. Learn more in the Connect Room after any service.

I N T E R P R E T A T I O N S Our church is made up of people from all cultures, ethnic backgrounds, and walks of life. Interpretation of our Sunday morning worship services is available at our Tysons campus during the 11 am service in Korean, Mandarin, Spanish, and ASL. Visit the Interpretation Booth in the Tysons Main Lobby for more information.

D I S A B I L I T Y C O M M U N I T Y We offer a variety of services and programs for those who are disabled, including our Access ministry which features programming for both children and adults.

C H U R C H P L A N T I N GMBC cannot alone reach the city with the gospel of Jesus Christ alone. Through New City Network, we pray that God will renew and establish more gospel-centered churches throughout greater Washington, DC.

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W H E R E W E ’ L L B E

ALEXANDRIA

SPRINGFIELDBURKE

CENTREVILLE

FAIRFAX

CHANTILLY

ASHBURN

LEESBURG

POTOMAC

BETHESDA

BOWIE

ARLINGTON

WASHINGTON, DC

MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

MCLEAN

SILVER SPRING

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MBC MONTGOMERY COUNTY

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C H R I S T M A S A T M C L E A N B I B L E C H U R C H | E V E N T I N F O R M A T I O N

ARLINGTON1835 N. Nash Street, Arlington, VA | 5 pm, Sundays

M O B I L E C H R I S T M A S V I L L A G E O U T R E A C H | S A T U R D A Y, D E C . 8 | 5 P MDrew Model Elementary School | 3500 23rd Street S, Arlington, VAShare the gospel with your community at our Christmas Village carnival event! Start the season right with Christmas treats, crafts, games, music and a show!

C H R I S T M A S E V E S E R V I C E S | M O N D A Y, D E C . 2 4We will be joining MBC Tysons services.

MBC LOUDOUN44180 Riverside Parkway, Lansdowne, VA | 9 & 11 am, Sundays

M O B I L E C H R I S T M A S V I L L A G E O U T R E A C H | F R I D A Y, D E C . 7 | 6 - 8 P MCrossroads Baptist Church, 850 Edwards Ferry Rd NE, Leesburg, VAShare the gospel with your community at our Christmas Village carnival event! Start the season right with Christmas treats, crafts, games, music and a show!

C H R I S T M A S E V E S E R V I C E S | M O N D A Y, D E C . 2 4 | 4 * & 6 P M*Childcare (Nursery – 3yrs old) available

MBC MAINE AVE740 Water Street SW, Washington, DC | 10 am, Sundays

C H R I S T M A S E V E S E R V I C E | M O N D A Y, D E C . 2 4 | 5 P MUnion Stage at the District Wharf | 740 Water Street SW, Washington, DC

MBC MONTGOMERY COUNTY12440 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD | 9 & 11 am, Sundays

C H R I S T M A S A R O U N D T H E W O R L D | S A T U R D A Y, D E C . 8 | 3 - 9 P MMBC Montgomery County CampusCome experience Christmas around the World, where everyone is home for the holidays! Join us for either of our two shows at 3 or 7 pm, and make sure to catch our Christmas Carnival, which will run between 4-7 pm! There will be food trucks, inflatables, carnival games, a petting zoo, face painting, and much more!

M O B I L E C H R I S T M A S V I L L A G E O U T R E A C H | S U N D A Y, D E C . 9 | 1 : 3 0 P MCongressional Plaza | 154 Congressional Ln, Rockville, MDShare the gospel with your community at our Christmas Village carnival event! Start the season right with Christmas treats, crafts, games, music and a show!

C H R I S T M A S E V E S E R V I C E S | M O N D A Y, D E C . 2 4 | 4 * & 6 P M*Childcare (Nursery – 5yrs old) available | Access Ministry (2 – 16yrs old) available

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MBC PRINCE WILLIAM10002 Battleview Parkway, Manassas, VA | 9 & 11 am, Sundays & 1:30 pm Iglesia La Red, Sundays

M O B I L E C H R I S T M A S V I L L A G E O U T R E A C H | S U N D A Y, D E C . 2 | 1 : 3 0 P MMBC Prince William CampusJoin us in the morning during either our 9 or 11 am service, then stay for a provided lunch. At 1:30 pm, share the gospel with your community at our Christmas Village carnival event! Start the season right with Christmas treats, crafts, games, music and a show!

C H R I S T M A S A R O U N D T H E W O R L D | F R I D A Y, D E C . 7 | 7 P MMBC Prince William CampusCome experience Christmas around the World, where everyone is home for the holidays! Learn about Christmas traditions from all over the world, see a live nativity, and participate in packing items for orphanages in Ethiopia.

C H R I S T M A S E V E S E R V I C E S | M O N D A Y, D E C . 2 4 | 4 : 3 0 * & 6 P M*Early childhood childcare available | Access Ministry available (by reservation).

MBC TYSONS8925 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA | 9 am, 11 am, 1 pm & 5 pm, SundaysMBC Latino Community 11 am, Sundays

C H R I S T M A S A R O U N D T H E W O R L DF R I D A Y, D E C . 1 4 , 5 : 3 0 - 9 P M & S A T U R D A Y, D E C . 1 5 , 3 : 3 0 - 9 P MMBC Tysons CampusCome experience Christmas around the World, where everyone is home for the holidays! Learn about Christmas traditions and try food from countries around the world. Come ready to shop for Christmas gifts! You’ll be able to buy goods from different countries that will support many of our global partners. Don’t miss crafts, photo booth, live nativity, bounce houses, performances from cultural groups and nativity scenes from countries around the world.

M O B I L E C H R I S T M A S V I L L A G E O U T R E A C HFind an outreach event near you, serve with your region, and share the gospel with your community at our Christmas Village carnival events! Start the season right with Christmas treats, crafts, games, music and a show!

S A T U R D A Y, D E C . 1 5 | 5 P MLynbrook Elementary School | 5801 Backlick Rd, Springfield, VA

S U N D A Y, D E C . 1 6 | 5 P MBraddock Elementary School | 7825 Heritage Dr, Annandale, VA

S A T U R D A Y, D E C . 2 2 | 5 P MGlen Forest Elementary School | 5829 Glen Forest Dr, Falls Church, VA

S U N D A Y, D E C . 2 3 | 5 P MHutchison Elementary School | 13209 Parcher Ave, Herndon, VA

C H R I S T M A S E V E S E R V I C E S | M O N D A Y, D E C . 2 4 | 3 * , 5 , 7 & 9 P M*Childcare (Nursery – 3yrs old) available | Access Ministry availableFor more information on tranlsations in Spanish, Korean, Mandarin and ASL during our Christmas Eve Services, visit mcleanbible.org/christmas.

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S U N D A Y, D E C E M B E R 2W H Y W E N E E D C H R I S T ’ S A D V E N TG e n e s i s 3 : 1 - 6

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of

the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did

God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?

GENESIS 3:1

These verses describe the defining moment for humanity in a way that has affected every single person – the 7 billion alive today and all that have come before us. Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, turned away from God and His Word and trusted in themselves. They rebelled against Him and experienced the results of sin entering the world. What Adam and Eve did, all of us have done. We have all turned aside from God to our own ways, and we are separated from God as a result. We deserve God’s judgment for all eternity. As we read on, Genesis 3:15 tells us that God promised to send One who will crush the serpent’s head, defeat sin, and restore sinners to Himself. That is what we anticipate during Advent as we look forward to Christmas day. We all have sin in our lives and we all need a Savior. God has made a Savior available to us. Salvation is possible for each one of us.

D I S C U S S I O NIn what areas of your life are you most likely to turn to your own ways? Do you see a pattern of distrusting God and His goodness? Confess and ask Him to help you turn toward Him rather than to yourself.

P R A Y E RGod, we praise You. As sinners before You, we have all turned aside from Your ways to our own ways. We have all rebelled against You. God, please help us in our constant battles with temptation. Help us to turn from sin. We are tempted to turn away from Your Word, to do things our own way.

God, help us not to do that. Help us to trust in Your Word. Help us to follow Your ways.

Even as we pray that, we know we fall short and sin against You.

We need You to save us from our sins. We praise You,

Lord Jesus, as our Savior, who makes forgiveness of sin possible, who makes restoration to a relationship with You a reality. All glory be to Your name, Jesus, our

Savior. You are the solution to the human problem. You

are the answer, and we exalt You. We pray this in Your holy

name. Amen.

A C T I O NMake sure to grab your Luke Journal Bibles and your Christmas invitations in your campus’ main lobby!

Are you a part of MBC Prince William, the MBC Tysons West region, or do you live in the Manassas area? Head to the Prince William campus for our first Mobile Christmas Village Outreach event! For more information, see pages 6 & 7.

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M Y FA M I L YL I N E A G E

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O T H E R FA M I L Y M E M B E R S

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M O N D A Y, D E C E M B E R 3A B R A H A M ’ S P R O M I S E D O F F S P R I N G G e n e s i s 1 5 : 1 - 5

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a

vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be

very great.

GENESIS 15:1

This text is one a few different times we see God giving this same promise to Abraham: through his family line, his offspring, would be a family more numerous than the stars in the sky. This promise is more than just the one son that would come to Abraham, but many sons and many daughters, offspring far beyond what he could ever imagine which points to a much larger family. In Matthew, we can trace the lineage of Christ all the way back to Abraham. It’s not only Jesus who would come from the line of Abraham; it is all those who trust in Jesus. In Romans, Paul says Abraham is the father of us all, the father of many nations, not just the Jewish ethnic line. He is our father in the faith, father of all who put their faith in Jesus. It’s baffling to think that, thousands of years ago, God was giving a promise to Abraham that would become a reality in Christ and have an effect on each of our lives right now.

D I S C U S S I O NWhat does it mean to you that you are among the promised offspring of Abraham?

P R A Y E RGod, we praise You for Your promises and Your faithfulness to Your promises. We praise You for this promise to Abraham, especially amidst the barrenness in his family, that You would give him

offspring so numerous, in a way that You alone would receive glory. We praise You for the coming of Jesus, the culmination of this promise. Through Jesus, many different nations and peoples will be brought to You, all those who have placed their faith in You. God, we pray for the proliferation of this offspring, not just physically, but spiritually,

to more and more people and nations. God, we pray for the four million Hazara

in Afghanistan, so few of whom are followers of Jesus. God,

please bring many Hazara to know Jesus, to be grafted

into Your family. Use our lives to bring about the salvation of the Hazara and other people groups across the world and in our own neighborhoods

and workplaces. We ask You to increase the

multitude of offspring in this family line that goes back to

Abraham, our father in the faith, for the glory of Jesus’ name. Amen.

A C T I O NGenerosity Monday: We are generous, never by obligation, but as an outpouring of worship in response to the Lord’s generosity to us. What act of generosity will you do today?

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T U E S D A Y, D E C E M B E R 4T H E G O D W H O R E D E E M SE x o d u s 1 5 : 1 9

For when the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots

and his horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought back

the waters of the sea upon them, but the people of Israel walked on

dry ground in the midst of the sea.

EXODUS 15:19

This verse summarizes the story of how God, at the Red Sea, redeemed His people from the clutches of Egyptian slavery. The whole picture of redeeming a people is bringing them out of slavery and into freedom. God brought His people out of plague after plague after plague, culminating in the Passover. Then they left Egypt, and the Egyptians came rushing to overtake them. When the Israelites came to the edge of the Red Sea, God split the sea in two. Imagine that scene: a massive body of water split in two, passing through on dry ground just as the waters come crashing down on the enemies pursuing from behind.

That is deliverance from slavery, redemption into freedom. This is also a picture of the salvation that would come through Jesus. We are slaves to sin, and God sends His Son to redeem us from that slavery and the penalty of our sin so that we can live the life God created us to live – enjoying Him, knowing Him, walking with Him, and worshiping Him. The God who redeems His people has sent His Son to save them from ultimate slavery into ultimate freedom.

D I S C U S S I O NWhat does it look like to live as though you believe that you have been freed from sin?

P R A Y E RGod, we pray during this Advent season that we may know that Jesus has come to save and redeem us from slavery to sin. We are no longer slaves to sin. We are sons and daughters of God. Lord Jesus, You have purchased us with Your blood. You have paid the price for our sins so that

we might be free. It was for freedom that Christ set us free. God, help us to live in

this truth today. We are free from the clutches of sin, guilt, and

shame. You have set us free to live in the freedom You

bought for us with Your blood for Your glory, according to Your Word and Your ways. Help us to live that way. Help us to worship You and

experience all that You’ve designed for our lives. We

praise You as the God who redeems us. In Jesus’ name we

pray, amen.

A C T I O NBuying a peppermint mocha today? Consider paying for the person behind you as well.

Are you a part of MBC Prince William? Invite someone today to join you this coming Friday to experience Christmas Around the World. For more information, see pages 6 & 7.

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W E D N E S D A Y, D E C E M B E R 5 A S C E P T E R W I L L R I S EN u m b e r s 2 4 : 1 7

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of

Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the

sons of Sheth.

NUMBERS 24:17

The word “scepter” relates to kingship. Genesis 49 prophesies a scepter coming out of the tribe of Judah. Balaam’s final oracle in Numbers 24 is speaks of a King coming out of Jacob and a King rising out of Israel. The coming King is a consistent theme in the Old Testament. Imagine struggling under a leader and hoping for a new and better one to come. Jesus is that leader, but He’s not just better, He is perfect. Perfect in justice, righteousness, goodness, purity, and love. This King has come. This is the Good News, that the good and faithful Creator God has come to us as King. This changes how we view salvation. Jesus is not just Savior, He is King. He doesn’t just save us, He rules our lives. That affects the way we live on a day-to-day basis. We’ve been saved and are ruled by Jesus the King.

D I S C U S S I O NThink about what it meant to live under a king in Bible times. What character traits would you desire in a king?

P R A Y E RJesus, You are the promised King of the Old Testament. You came 2,000 years ago. You lived a perfect, sinless life. You died on a cross for our sins. You rose from the dead. You are exalted as King over all. You are King over the nations and King over our individual lives. We praise You as

the One who saves us from our sins. Help us to follow, honor, and glorify You as our King. Give us courage to tell others how good a King You are. We pray that this image of You as King will transform how we live every day. You are the King today and the King who is coming back. Lord, we want to be found honoring and proclaiming You on

the day You return. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. May we be found following You

faithfully, submitting to You totally, and honoring You completely

as our King. In Your name we pray, amen.

A C T I O NWatch today’s devotional!

@mcleanbible

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T H U R S D A Y, D E C E M B E R 6W E N E E D A K I N GJ u d g e s 2 1 : 2 5

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was

right in his own eyes.

JUDGES 21:25

The book of Judges ends with no king on the throne and everybody doing what is right in their own eyes. It is difficult to read the book of Judges and see the effects of having no leader who worships, knows, and leads others to follow God. Everybody doing what is right in their own eyes leads to all kinds of horrible evil. Judges gives us many pictures of human depravity, men and women left to their own sinfulness. Judges leaves us longing for a king who is righteous in every way. In this Advent season, we recognize that this longing is met in Christ. Jesus is the King who is righteous in all His ways. Just, good, holy, loving, merciful, compassionate, strong, and wise. All the things we would want in a leader Jesus has. In Jesus, you have the leader your heart most wants and needs. He is the perfect leader of your life.

D I S C U S S I O NWhat tends to happen in a group situation where nobody seems in charge? Why is it important to have a good leader?

P R A Y E RGod help us to trust Jesus as He leads our lives. Help us to trust and obey Your Word. You are good, Lord Jesus. There is no one like You. You alone are the perfect King. We praise You as Lord of our lives. We gladly, not grudgingly, submit our lives

to Your Lordship. We praise You for the privilege of following You. Help us to live in obedience to Your ways, to follow You and advance Your Kingdom. Help us to tell others about You, especially at this time of year when there are so many opportunities to share the Good News. In the name of King Jesus we pray, amen.

A C T I O NReach out to a leader in your

life, whether it’s a friend, family member, boss, or

just someone you admire, and let them know how you appreciate their leadership.

Are you a part of MBC Montgomery County?

Invite someone today to join you this coming Sunday

to experience Christmas Around the World. For more

information, see pages 6 & 7.

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M Y FA M I L YC H R I S T M A ST R A D I T I O N S

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F R I D A Y, D E C E M B E R 7A N U N E X P E C T E D F A M I LY T R E ER u t h 4 : 1 3 - 1 7

Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day

without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel!

RUTH 4:14

Ruth is a powerful story of God’s provision for Naomi who had lost her husband and sons. At first, Naomi didn’t see Ruth, a Moabite woman, as God’s provision to bring blessing to her family. God had pronounced a curse upon the Moabites centuries earlier because they had seduced Israelite men into sexual immorality. As a Moabite, Ruth would not have been seen as an ideal woman for Naomi to bring back to her people in Bethlehem. Yet, Obed, the son of Ruth and Boaz, would be the father of Jesse, who would be the father of King David. Ruth is the story of God’s provision for all His people. God took this Moabite woman and her faith in Naomi’s God and planted her in the lineage of King David and ultimately King Jesus. You may wonder what a Moabite woman is doing in the line of Jesus. That’s the point. God is bringing the nations to His diverse family tree, including us. The way into His family is through trusting in Jesus. The great news of Jesus’ coming is that salvation is available to anyone who believes, anywhere, in any nation. There are no limits when it comes to whom Jesus loves and who can be part of His Kingdom. Think of the 2.5 million Berber people in Algeria who do not know Him. Revelation 5:9 tells us that God wants them to be part of His family. If you are a believer, be awed by the fact that you are a child of God. Be awed that all nations are part of God’s family tree. Live to see this family tree spread to all nations.

D I S C U S S I O NWhat is it like to be the one who is different in a group of people who have something big in common? In your everyday life, how can you demonstrate your understanding that God’s family includes people from diverse backgrounds?

P R A Y E RAll glory be to Your name for the privilege

of being sons and daughters of Yours. We pray for the spread of this

family tree to all the nations. We pray this for all the nations.

Use our lives, our families, and our church toward that end. God, help us to live with urgency for the expansion of this family tree until every nation, tribe, and tongue has

heard, received, believed, and become part of Your

family. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

A C T I O NDiscuss your family’s Christmas traditions, old

and new, and write them down here!

Are you a part of MBC Loudoun, the MBC Tysons North Region, or do you live in the Loudoun area? Head to Crossroads Baptist Church in Leesburg for our second Mobile Christmas Village Outreach! For more information, see pages 6 & 7.

Are you a part of MBC Prince William? Come experience Christmas Around the World! For more information, see pages 6 & 7.

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S A T U R D A Y, D E C E M B E R 8D A V I D ’ S R O YA L L I N E2 S a m u e l 7 : 1 2 - 1 3

He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

2 SAMUEL 7:13

These words from God to David are a powerful promise with application immediately and in the future. Part of the application is in David’s son Solomon who would build a temple for the dwelling of God’s glory. It happened just as God promised. When you read the words “I will establish his kingdom” in verse 12, you might think God is just talking about Solomon. But then, when verse 13 says, “I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever,” this is not merely about David and Solomon. This Kingdom will last forever, today and 10 trillion tomorrows. During this Advent season, we remember God’s promise not just to bless David or Solomon, but to send a King through David’s line who would reign forever. Neither David nor Solomon nor any other earthly king is still reigning, but Jesus came as King and He is still reigning. He will always reign. Throughout the Old Testament, we see the promise of a royal line and the provision of a coming King for His people. The Advent season reminds us that Jesus is that King and His Kingdom will last forever.

D I S C U S S I O NOur earthly leaders move in and out of power. What does it mean to, at the same time, live under a King who reigns now and forever more?

P R A Y E RGod, we pray with total trust in You. Kingdoms and leaders rise and fall in this world. One King remains. Jesus, You reign over all. We praise You as our great King forever. What great news! You will never disappoint us or forsake us. We worship You now and forever. We praise You as

the promised King from David’s line whose throne is established for all eternity. We

pray that You will help us live to honor You as King every day as

we look forward to eternity with You in Your Kingdom.

It is in Your name we pray, amen.

A C T I O NHow can you show God’s love to a neighbor

today? Whether you drop off some cookies, firewood

or hot choloclate, let them know you appreaciate them and

make sure invite them to Christmas at your campus.

Are you a part of MBC Arlington, the MBC Tysons South Region, or do you live in the Arlington area? Head over to Drew Model Elementary School today for our third Mobile Christmas Village Outreach! For more information, see pages 6 & 7.

Are you a part of MBC Montgomery County? Come experience Christmas Around the World! For more information, see pages 6 & 7.

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S U N D A Y, D E C E M B E R 9A N O B E D I E N T S O N1 K i n g s 9 : 4 - 5

And as for you, if you will walk before me, as

David your father walked, with integrity of heart and

uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules, 5 then I will establish your royal

throne over Israel forever...

1 KINGS 9:4-5A

God told Solomon to keep his heart close to Him and follow Him like his father David did. David was not perfect, but when he sinned, he confessed and repented. He had a heart to please God. This is what God called Solomon to do, but it didn’t take long for Solomon to indulge in immorality and idolatry. The effects of Solomon’s sin led to family strife and civil war among God’s people, which split into two kingdoms – Judah to the south and Israel to the north. God promised David that his throne would last forever. If the promise had been dependent on Solomon being sinless, then it would have fallen apart quickly. Thankfully, we know that God’s promise remained true because it wasn’t dependent on Solomon or any of the imperfect kings who came after him. God’s covenant was dependent on a sinless Son from the line of David. We need a sinless King. That is the only way Jesus is able to save us from our sins. That is what we celebrate at Christmas. Jesus is the Son of God to whom this covenant with David was pointing. Because He was sinless, Jesus was able to die on a cross for our sins. If He had sin for which He had to pay a price, He could not have served as the substitute for us. When it comes to our standing before God, 2 Corinthians 5:21 teaches that God made Jesus, who had no sin, to become sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God. We give

Jesus our sin; He gives us His righteousness. That means we stand before God forgiven of our sins and enabled to walk in obedience to God by the power of Jesus in us.

D I S C U S S I O NHow have you learned to trust the Holy Spirit to help you obey God? How does your trust change

your view of your situation?

P R A Y E RGod, we know the only way we

can come to You is through Your obedient Son, Jesus’

life, death, and resurrection on our behalf. Conform us more and more into the image of Jesus, the obedient Son. We pray these things in Your name, amen.

A C T I O NDid you share the gospel with

anyone this past week? Grab an ornament in your campus’ main

lobby, write their name and put it on the tree! Then, pray, along with your church

family, that every gospel conversation would result in someone turning from death to life.

Are you a part of MBC Montgomery County or the MBC Tysons East Region? Join us at the Congressional Plaza for our fourth Mobile Christmas Village Outreach! For more information, see pages 6 & 7.

Watch today’s devotional!

@mcleanbible

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M O N D A Y, D E C E M B E R 1 0T H E G O D W H O C O M F O R T S H I S P E O P L EI s a i a h 4 0 : 1 - 2

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare

is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received

from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

ISAIAH 40:1-2

These verses open the second half of Isaiah amidst condemnation and judgment for sin. God spoke these words of comfort and good news over His people: warfare has ended and your iniquity has been pardoned. Notice the relationship between comfort and pardon. When your sin has been pardoned and paid for, there is comfort and tenderness in your relationship with God. As we celebrate this Advent season, remember that this is what Jesus came to bring. He came to bring the comfort of pardon, to die on the cross and shed His blood to cover our sin. Because of our faith in His blood, God has forgiven us of all our sin. With this pardon comes a comforting and tender relationship with God. Sometimes we can feel beat up by the sin in our lives and struggle to turn from it; we can feel God constantly condemning us. While it’s good to understand the seriousness of sin and to hate it, if you have placed your faith in Jesus, there is no condemnation for you in Christ. The holy God of the universe pardons us and pours out His comfort on us. Receive that today. Hate sin, run from it. Yet, know the love and compassion of God toward you.

D I S C U S S I O NWhen do you feel condemnation? How should your attitudes and actions – toward yourself and

others—reflect an understanding that God hates sin yet loves sinners?

P R A Y E RGod, we praise You for this truth, that there is no condemnation in Christ because He has paid the price for my sin. There is comfort from You toward

all who have trusted in Jesus. I pray for those who have not trusted in Jesus, that this

would be the day that they turn from their sin, put their trust

in You alone, and receive Your comfort. No more

condemnation. For all who have received this from You, we pray that they would live in it and know they are loved by You in a fresh way today.

In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

A C T I O NGenerosity Monday: We are

generous, never by obligation, but as an outpouring of worship in response to the Lord’s

generosity to us. What act of generosity will you do today?

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“T h e r e i s t h e r e f o r e n o w

N O C O N D E M N AT I O Nf o r t h o s e o f w h o a r e

I N C H R I S T J E S U S .Fo r t h e l a w o f

t h e S p i r i t o f l i f e

H A S S E T Y O U F R E EI N C H R I S T J E S U S

f r o m t h e l a w o fs i n a n d d e a t h .

“R O M A N S 8 : 1 - 2

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T U E S D A Y, D E C E M B E R 1 1D O N ’ T T R U S T Y O U R E Y E SI s a i a h 5 3 : 2 - 4

Surely he has borne our griefsand carried our sorrows;

yet we esteemed him stricken,smitten by God, and afflicted.

ISAIAH 53:4

During this Advent season, when our hearts are drawn toward Jesus, we must remember that there was nothing, humanly speaking, to draw us to Him. No form or majesty that we should even want to look at Him. No beauty that we should desire Him. He was very different from what most people were expecting from a Messiah King. It’s the same in our world today. We naturally look toward people who have forms that attract us, majesty that shouts splendor and glory, beauty that’s desirable, or people who are powerful. Jesus had none of that. In fact, the opposite was true. He was despised and rejected by men, as one from whom men hide their faces. They viewed Him as stricken and afflicted by God. This is how the God of the universe came in the flesh. He came as a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. This is so much better than what we would have expected. God came to us in the form of a man like us – understanding our sorrows, grief, and challenges of life in a sinful world. He understands our pain, and He has borne our grief and carried our sorrows. Yet, unlike us, Jesus was without sin. He came to conquer sin and death in a way none of us could ever have imagined. He has conquered sin, the root of all sorrow and grief. By conquering sin, He has conquered death and freed us from the grave. As a result, He has beauty and majesty that draws us to Him.

D I S C U S S I O NIn what ways has sin in the world caused you pain? What difference does knowing that Jesus is acquainted with such pain make?

P R A Y E RYou experienced suffering to the fullest extent,

not just physically, but also spiritually. You took upon Yourself at the cross the

payment due from us. We praise you for taking our just judgment

from God. We praise You for Your resurrection from the

dead, Your ascension into heaven, and the promise of Your return. We will see You and adore You forever and ever. Jesus, You are our Savior, Lord,

and King. We worship You. God, for those who

are hurting, particularly at this time of year, please remind them

that You know their pain and that You have ultimately conquered the root of it

all. Jesus, You are our hope, joy, and love. In Your name we pray, amen.

A C T I O NShare the gospel with someone that the Lord has put in your life, in your neighborhood, or at your workplace. You could be the only way someone right around you will hear the truth of the gospel and know eternal life.

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W E D N E S D A Y, D E C E M B E R 1 2A N E V E R L A S T I N G C O V E N A N T F O R Y O U R G O O DJ e r e m i a h 3 2 : 4 0

I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I

will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the

fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.

JEREMIAH 32:40

This verse is from the Old Testament. Another way of saying this is old covenant. A covenant is a way in which God relates to His people. It’s how we can know God. This verse is an Old Testament promise of the new covenant, the new relationship with God which was to come. It’s not altogether new in the sense that it’s not out of the blue. The entire old covenant is pointing toward the new covenant. That’s the point of Advent, anticipating Jesus coming to inaugurate the new, everlasting covenant between God and His people. Everlasting means that God’s goodness toward His covenant people will never end. This everlasting covenant is made possible by Jesus. All those who trust in Him for the forgiveness of their sins are brought into covenant relationship with God that will last forever. God will work His goodness toward all those who are in covenant with Him forever. Let that soak in. No matter what you’re going through right now, if you’ve trusted Jesus, the God of the universe has entered an everlasting covenant with you where He is working for your good. Even when you don’t understand how your circumstances are good, you can believe that God is working for your good, and He’s not going to stop, because this in an everlasting covenant.

D I S C U S S I O NIn what ways has God shown His goodness toward you? Recount His faithfulness to help you remember that His goodness toward you continues.

P R A Y E RGod, this is too good to even imagine. It is

more than we deserve that You would work for our good for a day, much

less forever. I pray that Your people would know this in

their hearts. We pray for our good, for others’ good, and for the spread of this covenant relationship to more and more people. We praise You for the privilege of being in

everlasting covenant with You and for Your constant

work for our good. In Jesus’ name, amen.

A C T I O NAre you a part of MBC Loudoun, MBC Tysons, or

MBC Arlington? Invite someone today to join you this Friday and Saturday to experience Christmas Around the World. For more information, see pages 6 & 7.

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A D - L I B F U N

On a(n) __________________ winter’s night, a group of

carolers __________________ into our neighborhood to

__________________ Christmas carols. When they got to our

__________________, a caroler __________________ our doorbell.

__________________ __________________ to open the door.

As soon as it opened, we felt the cold __________________

and heard __________________. They sang “Have a

__________________ __________________ Christmas,”Frosty the

__________________,” “O, __________________ Night,” and “Go

Tell it on the __________________.” When they were done, we

__________________ for them and invited them to church with us.

They __________________ agreed. The next time we saw them, we

were able to sing together!

a d j e c t i v e

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T H U R S D A Y, D E C E M B E R 1 3D I V I N E R E S T O R AT I O NA m o s 9 : 1 1

In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the

days of old,

AMOS 9:11

Notice the verbs in this verse. God will raise up, repair, rebuild. The picture here is the line of David which points to Christ, who will make all of this a reality. Where do you see brokenness and sin and their effects in your life? Do you feel regret or shame over it? There is so much broken in our world. We have pain from broken relationships. Our pain makes this Advent promise more beautiful. God will one day raise up, repair, and rebuild. In one sense, God is doing this in our lives every day, gradually restoring us to Himself, conforming us to the image of Christ. He is changing our hearts to turn from sin and obey, honor, and glorify Him. This is the Christian life – being rebuilt in the image of Christ. One day the process will be complete. We will one day see Him, and we will be like Him. We will be totally free from sin, shame, regret, pain. We will be restored to God completely. We long for that day. In Advent, we look forward to Christmas day, the celebration that Jesus’ coming makes this reality possible.

D I S C U S S I O NWhat specific aspects of this world or your life do you look forward to God raising up, restoring, or rebuilding?

P R A Y E RCome, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Even as we celebrate the anticipation of Your first coming, we long for Your second coming. God, send Your Son back soon to finish this work of raising up, repairing, and rebuilding a New Heaven and a New Earth free from sin, death, and brokenness. God,

rebuild our lives each day more in the image of Jesus. Restore us more and more to

You. We pray this in the name of Jesus, our King, Redeemer, and

Restorer, amen.

A C T I O NShare with a friend, a neighbor, co-worker, or on your social media profile how the Lord has restored and redeemed

you. This might be the only time someone hears

the Good News that Jesus can redeem and restore them, too.

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F R I D A Y, D E C E M B E R 1 4A R U L E R F R O M B E T H L E H E MM i c a h 5 : 2

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little

to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel,

whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

MICAH 5:2

This verse gives a specific promise that a Ruler would come from ancient days, long before He was physically born in Bethlehem. This is a clear promise not just that Jesus would come, but from where. Remember in Ruth, God showed Himself as her redeemer in Bethlehem. This small town would be the ancestral home of King David, where Jesus would be born. Jesus was unlike any other baby ever born in Bethlehem, a Ruler from ancient days. This is the awesome incarnation of Jesus, God made flesh.

D I S C U S S I O NHow do most leaders come to power? What does it tell you about Jesus that He came as a baby?

P R A Y E RGod, it is baffling that You, Creator of the world, would come to the world as a baby born in Bethlehem. You have existed forever. You are timeless, eternal. You had no beginning, yet You chose to come in the form of a baby to save us, to pay the price for our sins. You lived totally human, totally divine, totally victorious over sin to offer Your life as a substitute sacrifice for sinners. You rose in victory over sin and ascended into heaven. Jesus, there is no one like You. In this Advent season, there is so much temptation to focus on so many other things. Help us to fix our eyes on You with wonder and awe. You are glorious beyond comprehension. We worship You

and want You to be worshiped among all peoples. God, we pray for the spread of Jesus’ glory among all the nations. Today we pray specifically for the Muslims who think it preposterous, even offensive, that God would become a man. We pray for the spread of the Good News particularly to Muslim neighbors, co-workers, and friends. God, open

their eyes to the truth that You have not left us alone in our sin. Jesus, we exalt

You. You are God in the flesh. We worship and follow You. In Your

name we pray, amen.

A C T I O NIs there a family or individual you know in need? Talk together as a family or gather some friends and think about

how you can bless those in need in the name of Jesus.

Are you a part of MBC Loudoun, MBC Tysons, or MBC Arlington?

Come and experience Christmas Around the World! For more information, see pages 6 & 7.

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C O N N E C TT H E D O T S

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11

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57

58

59

60

61

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65 66

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C O L O R I N G PA G E

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S A T U R D A Y, D E C E M B E R 1 5C O N C E I V E D B Y T H E H O LY S P I R I TM a t t h e w 1 : 2 0

But as he considered these things, behold, an

angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take

Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the

Holy Spirit.

MATTHEW 1:20

Joseph was preparing to divorce his wife quietly because she was pregnant even though they had not yet consummated their marriage. Then he received a message from an angel of the Lord saying that the conception within her was from the Holy Spirit, a supernatural child. This is the mystery of the incarnation: Jesus is fully divine and fully human. God did a miraculous work in Mary’s womb to bring His Son into the world in the flesh. We may not understand all the details of how God did it, but it is glorious. Because Jesus is fully human and fully God, He is uniquely able to represent us before God, to offer His life as a sacrifice for our sins, and to bear the divine judgment that we deserve. During this Advent season, be careful not to get so caught up in the trappings of modern Christmas that you miss the wonder of a baby born of woman by the power of the Holy Spirit. This should cause us to kneel in awe of Him and how God has made a way for sinners to be reconciled in relationship with Him.

D I S C U S S I O NWhat do you think it was like to interact daily with Jesus who was fully man and fully God from birth?

P R A Y E RJesus, there is truly no one like You. You are perfect God and perfect man. Jesus, You are like us in every

way except You are without sin, and You are like God in every way. We praise You as the God-man, the Word made flesh. We pray that You would help us know and glorify You more and more. We pray that Your Spirit at work within us would empower us, especially during the Christmas season, to share this Good News even if we can’t

explain every mystery. Lord, we can proclaim that God came to us to save us from

our sins. May that message be in our mouths constantly in these

days. Use us to lead people to Jesus so that they can

experience supernatural rebirth, forgiveness of sin, and a relationship with You through faith in Jesus. God, we pray for the spread of the Good

News that You’ve become man to save us from our sins.

In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

A C T I O NWatch today’s devotional!

@mcleanbible

Are you a part of MBC Loudoun, MBC Tysons or MBC Arlington? Come and experience Christmas Around the World!

Are you a part of the MBC Tysons South Region? Head to Lynbrook Elementary School for our fifth Mobile Christmas Village Outreach event! For more information, see pages 6 & 7.

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S U N D A Y, D E C E M B E R 1 6H E D I D N O T C O M E T O B E S E R V E D M a r k 1 0 : 4 5

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for

many.

MARK 10:45

This is a shocking verse. We often think about ourselves as servants of God, which we should. The New Testament certainly teaches that. Here, however, Mark points out the reverse. Jesus came not to be served by us, but to serve us. He came as our servant. The word here means helper, slave. That doesn’t mean He does whatever we tell Him to do, but He came in service to us. Think about that. Whatever is going on in your life right now, you have a servant named Jesus. He came to help you, to give His life as a ransom for you, to save you from your sin, and to serve you as you live your life. We can believe that. We can rest in that. We can live based on that. We need His strength, wisdom, and peace. He offers them to us. Let us ask Him in prayer.

D I S C U S S I O NWhat specific help do you need from Jesus? Have you asked Him for it?

P R A Y E RGod, we need the help that You’ve promised to give. We need your grace and power to overcome temptation. We need Your wisdom and peace as we wrestle with decisions. We need You to serve us today as You’ve promised. Thank You for loving us and being present with us right now. You provide for us in every way. Help us to live secure

as recipients of Your service to us today. In Jesus’ glorious name we pray, amen.

A C T I O NDid you share the gospel with anyone this past week? Grab an ornament in your campus’ main lobby, write their name and put it on the tree!

Then, pray, along with your church family, that every gospel conversation would result

in someone turning from death to life.

Are you a part of the MBC Tysons South Region? Head to Braddock Elementary School for our sixth Mobile Christmas Village Outreach event! For more information,

see pages 6 & 7.

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- 30 - - 31 -

In the month of December, we’re challenging every family to partner with us as we strengthen churches here and around the world by meeting urgent physical and spiritual needs. Our desire is to glorify God and see more people turn from death to life because of the truth and power of the gospel. Our desire is also for all of us to grow in our generosity, never through obligation, but only as an outpouring worship in response to the Lord’s generosity to us.

Join us this December by giving either one day, one week, one month, or one year of your annual salary as a gift of gratitude to the Lord.

W H I C H G I F T H A V E Y O U D E C I D E D T O G I V E ? (circle one)[ One day ] [ One week ] [ One month ] [ One year ] [ One _____________________ ]

H O W I S B E I N G G E N E R O U S C H A L L E N G I N G ?

H O W I S T H E L O R D G R O W I N G Y O U R H E A R T A N D FA I T H I N T H E A R E A O F G E N E R O S I T Y ?

H O W H A S G O D U S E D M C L E A N B I B L E C H U R C H I N Y O U R L I F E O V E R T H E PA S T Y E A R ?

WA Y S T O G I V ET E X T | Give #Campus and dollar amount to 703-293-5758 (Ex: Give #tysons $20)O N L I N E | mcleanbible.org/giveM B C A P P | Gift icon on the bottom of the home pageIN P E R S O N | At any of our campuses

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M O N D A Y, D E C E M B E R 1 7J U S T A S H E S A I DL u k e 2 : 4 - 7

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him

in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no

place for them in the inn.

LUKE 2:7

Joseph went up from Nazareth to Bethlehem because he was from the house and lineage of David. Every detail came to pass just as God said it would. Everything happened by divine appointment. The amazing details of Jesus’ birth had been prophesied centuries earlier. Not just His birth, but also His life and resurrection. God’s Word always proves true. There is no one like Jesus.

D I S C U S S I O NWhat prophecies regarding Jesus can you recall? Which ones have yet to be fulfilled?

P R A Y E RGod, we praise You for the truth in Your Word. We praise You for Your promises given centuries before they came to fruition in the coming of Jesus. Jesus, we praise You as the fulfillment of all those promises. We are awed and encouraged by the authority and reliability of Your Word. We bank our lives on it. We know You will fulfill Your promises regarding things that are yet to come. As we approach Christmas day, we acknowledge that Your Word is a rock we can count on as individuals and as a church. In Jesus’ name, amen.

A C T I O NGenerosity Monday: We are generous, never by obligation, but as an outpouring of worship in response to the Lord’s generosity to us. What act of generosity will you do today?

T U E S D A Y, D E C E M B E R 1 8T H E Y W E R E W R I T I N G A B O U T M EL u k e 2 4 : 2 4 - 2 7

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the

things concerning himself.

LUKE 24:27

These men on the Emmaus Road were unknowingly talking with Jesus about Jesus. Verse 27 is important in understanding the whole Bible. Moses and all the prophets were writing about Jesus. This unity of the Bible is glorious! It all points to Jesus, from beginning to end. It was written over centuries, by the hands of dozens of human authors, through one divine Author to point to one over-arching story in astounding detail. Jesus’ life, death, resurrection. The whole Bible is about Him. He is the center of history.

D I S C U S S I O NWhat difference does it make for us to see signs pointing to Jesus throughout the Old Testament?

P R A Y E RJesus, You are unlike any other. All history before You points to You. All history since You points to You. Your first coming changed everything. Your second coming will consummate everything. As we pray according to Your Word, day after day, help us to know You more, Lord Jesus. Help us to love You more and look more like You. God, conform us more into the image of Jesus. Lord, help us to think, love, and live more like Jesus. We look forward to the day when we will see Your face and be completely conformed to Your image. You are the center of it all and we worship You. Keep our minds fixed on

You. Help us to live Jesus-centered lives. In His name we pray, amen.

A C T I O NInvite a neighbor, friend, co-worker, or stranger to join you for one of our many Christmas Eve Services across Greater Washington, DC. For

more information on times, locations, and details, see page 6 & 7.

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T H E M E S S I A H W I L L B E B O R N I N B E T H L E H E MProphecy Micah 5:2Fulfillment Matthew 2:1-6 | Luke 2:4-5, 7, 15 | John 7:42

T H E M E S S I A H W I L L B E B O R N O F A V I R G I NProphecy Isaiah 7:14 | Isaiah 9:6-7Fulfillment Matthew 1:20-23

T H E M E S S I A H W I L L B E A P R O P H E T L I K E M O S E SProphecy Deuteronomy 18:15Fulfillment John 7:40-42 | Acts 3:20-23

T H E M E S S I A H W I L L B E T E M P T E D B Y S A T A NProphecy Psalm 91:10-12Fulfillment Matthew 4:5-7

T H E M E S S I A H W I L L E N T E R J E R U S A L E M T R I U M P H A N T L YProphecy Zechariah 9:9Fulfillment Matthew 21:8-11 | Luke 19:35-37 | John 12:12-15

T H E M E S S I A H W I L L B E R E J E C T E D B Y H I S O W N P E O P L EProphecy Isaiah 53:1, 3Fulfillment John 1:10-11 | John 12:37-38 | Matthew 26:3-4

T H E M E S S I A H W I L L B E B E T R A Y E D B Y O N E O F H I S F O L L O W E R SProphecy Psalm 41:9 | Psalm 55:12-13 Fulfillment Matthew 26:47, 49-50a | Luke 22:21-22, 47b | John 13:18, 21, 26

T H E M E S S I A H W I L L B E B E T R A Y E D F O R 3 0 P I E C E S O F S I LV E RProphecy Zechariah 11:12-13Fulfillment Matthew 26:14-16 | Matthew 27:3-4a

T H E M E S S I A H W I L L B E T R I E D A N D C O N D E M N E DProphecy Isaiah 53:8Fulfillment Matthew 27:1-2 | Luke 23:1, 23 | Acts 4:26-28

The Old Testament is the part of the Bible written before Jesus was born. Its writings were completed in 450 B.C. The Old Testament, written hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, contains over 300 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled through His life, death, and resurrection. Mathematically speaking, the odds of anyone fulfilling this amount of prophecy are staggering. Mathematicians put it this way:

1 person fulfilling 8 prophecies: 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000; 1 person fulfilling 48 prophecies: 1 chance in 10 to the 157th power; 1 person fulfilling 300+ prophecies: ONLY JESUS!

P R O P H E C I E S F U L F I L L E DI N J E S U S

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T H E M E S S I A H W I L L B E S I L E N T B E F O R E H I S A C C U S E R SProphecy Psalm 35:11 | Isaiah 53:7-8aFulfillment Matthew 27:12-14 | Mark 15:3-5 | 1 Peter 2:22-23

T H E M E S S I A H W I L L B E S M I T T E N A N D S PA T U P O NProphecy Micah 5:1, Isaiah 50:6Fulfillment Matthew 26:67-68 | Matthew 27:30 | Mark 14:65a | Mark 15:19 | John 19:1-3

T H E M E S S I A H W I L L B E M O C K E D A N D T A U N T E DProphecy Psalm 22:7-8Fulfillment Matthew 27:39-40 | Luke 23:11, 35

T H E M E S S I A H T O D I E B Y C R U C I F I X I O N , W I T H P I E R C E D H A N D S A N D F E E TProphecy Psalm 22:14-16, Zechariah 12:10aFulfillment Matthew 27:31 | Mark 15:20 | John 19:15-16

T H E M E S S I A H W I L L S U F F E R W I T H S I N N E R SProphecy Isaiah 53:12aFulfillment Matthew 27:38 | Mark 15:27 | Luke 23:32-33

T H E M E S S I A H ’ S G A R M E N T S W I L L B E D I V I D E D B Y C A S T I N G L O T SProphecy Psalm 22:18Fulfillment Matthew 27:35 | Mark 15:24 | John 19:23-24a

T H E M E S S I A H ’ S B O N E S W I L L N O T B E B R O K E NProphecy Numbers 9:12Fulfillment John 19:31-37 | 1 Corinthians 5:7b

T H E M E S S I A H W I L L D I E A S A S I N O F F E R I N GProphecy Isaiah 53:5-6, 8, 12Fulfillment John 1:29 | Acts 10:43 | Acts 13:38-39 | 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 | Ephesians 1:7 1 Peter 2:24 | Revelation 1:5b

T H E M E S S I A H W I L L S E E H I S S E E DProphecy Isaiah 53:10-11Fulfillment Ephesians 1:4-5, 21-23 | Hebrews 12:2

T H E M E S S I A H W I L L B E B U R I E D I N A R I C H M A N ’ S T O M BProphecy Isaiah 53:9Fulfillment Matthew 27:57-60

T H E M E S S I A H W I L L B E R A I S E D F R O M T H E D E A DProphecy Psalm 16:10, Psalm 30:3Fulfillment Matthew 28:5-7 | Mark 16:6-7 | Acts 2:27-31 | 1 Corinthians 15:17, 20

T H E M E S S I A H W I L L S I T A T G O D ’ S R I G H T H A N DProphecy Psalm 110:1Fulfillment Mark 16:19 | Acts 2:32-36 | Hebrews 10:12-13

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W E D N E S D A Y, D E C E M B E R 1 9T H E W O R D B E C A M E F L E S HJ o h n 1 : 1 4

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have

seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace

and truth.

JOHN 1:14

This is the most astounding miracle in the entire Bible. God has become flesh. Think about all the miracles Jesus did. They aren’t that surprising if you realize that He is God in the flesh. Walking on water seems unbelievable until you realize He is the God who created the water and the water obeys Him. It isn’t that startling to learn that He fed 5,000 since He created their stomachs and the food itself. He’s the one who nourishes us. Even the resurrection isn’t too much for the Lord of life and death. He rules over it all. During this Advent season, don’t miss the wonder of this God who came in the flesh to dwell among us.

D I S C U S S I O NWhich Christmas carols or other songs express the awe of Jesus as the Word made flesh?

P R A Y E RGod, we confess our inability to fully comprehend this truth in Your Word and in history. Yet, we praise You for the wonder of the incarnation, the Word made flesh dwelling among us. We praise You that we have seen Your glory in the face of Your Son. Jesus, we praise You as the one full of grace and truth. The justice of God and the mercy of God are exemplified in Your life, death, and resurrection from the grave. There is no one like You. You are the unique Son, the only begotten of the Father. Help us not to treat this

truth lightly. Help us to feel the wonder and to share the great news that Jesus has come to save us from our sins. God, we pray that You would bring more people to know Your love, as the one who became flesh and dwelt among us so that we might be saved from our sins. In the powerful, unique name of Jesus we pray, amen.

A C T I O NWhat are your favorite Christmas

hymns and songs? Sometimes these songs can be so familiar

we don’t think about the meaning of the lyrics as we sing along. Take a moment today and look up the full version of these songs and reflect on the truth found in

the many verses you don’t always hear. May the truth of

these words ignite praise and worship within you!

Here are just a few classics to examine:• “O Little Town of Bethlehem”

• “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”• “Joy to the World”• “Angels We Have Heard on High”• “O, Holy Night”• “Away in a Manger”• “Go Tell It On The Mountain”• “O, Come All Ye Faithful”• “Silent Night”• “What Child Is This?”

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1. Hark! The her - ald an - gels sing, ‘Glo - ry to the new - born King’2. Christ, by high - est heaven a - dored, Christ, the ev - er - last - ing Lord! 3. Hail, the heav’n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the son of Right-eous-ness!

Peace on earth, and mer-cy mild, God and sin - ners rec - on - ciled!’Come, De - sire of N - tions, come, Fix in us thy hum-ble home.Light and life to all he brings, Risen with heal-ing in his wings;

Joy - ful, all ye na - tions rise, Join the tri - umph of the skies;Veiled in flesh the God-head see; Hail th’In-car - nate De - i - ty,Mild he lays his glo - ry by, Born that man no more may die,

With the’an-gel - ic host pro-claim Christ is born in Beth-le - hem!’Pleased as man with men to dwell; Je - sus, Our Em - man-u - el!Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them sec - ond birth;

Har! the her-ald an-gels sing, Glo-ry to the new-born king!’ A - MEN.

H A R K ! T H E H E R A L D A N G E L S S I N G

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T H U R S D A Y, D E C E M B E R 2 0A S A V I O R F O R A L L T H E P E O P L E SR o m a n s 1 0 : 1 2 - 1 3

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all,

bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who

calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

ROMANS 10:12-13

Everyone who believes in the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved. Everybody, regardless of ethnicity, nationality, upbringing, or background. The same Lord is Lord of all and bestows His riches on everybody who calls on Him. On a personal level, think about your sphere of influence, God is ready to bestow His riches on anyone who calls on Jesus. Invite somebody to call on Jesus, to experience salvation, to receive the riches of God. Now that’s a Christmas gift!

D I S C U S S I O NWhen was the last time you prayed for an opportunity to share the Good News? Who is God laying on your heart?

P R A Y E RGod, we pray that you will use us to introduce somebody to Your riches. We pray that You will open up an opportunity today to lead somebody to call upon Your name and be saved. We pray for the people around us and for those far from us. We pray for the 14 million Khmer in Cambodia who have not even heard about Jesus, the true meaning of Christmas. We pray for the spread of this Good News that every Khmer who would call on Your name will be saved. Cause many Khmer to be saved. Use our lives, our families, our church to make this Gospel known among the nations. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

A C T I O NShare the gospel with someone that the Lord has put in your life, in your neighborhood, or at your workplace. You could be the only person who has ever shared the gospel with them. Give them this priceless gift of truth that leads to salvation.

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F R I D A Y, D E C E M B E R 2 1A M E S S A G E O F F I R S T I M P O R TA N C E1 C o r i n t h i a n s 1 5 : 3 - 4

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ

died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the

Scriptures,

1 CORINTHIANS 15:3-4

God through Paul tells us there is nothing more important than what he is about to say: Christ died for our sins and was buried and resurrected in accordance with the Scriptures. No one else has done that. Those considering Christianity should look at the resurrection. Everything hinges on it. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then Christianity is totally false. But if Jesus did rise from the dead, then we must listen to what He said. An honest look at the resurrection will show it is real. Think about one person in your sphere of influence whom you can talk to about Jesus’ resurrection. Know that this is of far more importance than their Christmas travel plans or wish lists. Talk to them and see what God does.

D I S C U S S I O NWhat are some practical ways we can introduce Jesus’ life and resurrection into our everyday encounters with people?

P R A Y E RGod, we pray that You would help us have this kind of conversation today about the most important reality in the universe. We pray that today You would bring people to understand this truth and to put their trust in Jesus. Give us boldness and give them openness to hear and believe that which is of first importance. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

A C T I O NUse your sphere of influence on social media to spread the word about our Christmas Eve services. Whether it’s a post, story, or tweet, make sure your friends and family know they can join you on Christmas Eve.

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1 0 WA Y S IW I L L B E M O R EG E N E R O U S T H I SC H R I S T M A S

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

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S A T U R D A Y, D E C E M B E R 2 2H E B E C A M E P O O R F O R Y O U 2 C o r i n t h i a n s 8 : 9

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though

he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his

poverty might become rich.

2 CORINTHIANS 8:9

This verse comes in the middle of chapters where Paul is encouraging the Corinthians to give generously and sacrificially for the church in Jerusalem, which was experiencing famine. Jesus, though rich, being in very nature God (Philippians 2:6), for your sake became poor. He humbled Himself and became a man so that you, by His poverty, might become children of God, heirs to all the riches of God. In this way, Paul is encouraging the church to give. May God give us the Spirit of Christ in our giving — not just Christmas gifts to loved ones who probably have all that they need. Let’s make sure to turn our eyes toward giving to brothers and sisters truly in need in our community and far from us. We have brothers and sisters in Christ who are starving. The Spirit of Christ in us calls us to give for their sake and for the spread of God’s grace and love in their lives. Let us be intentional about turning our attention to those in urgent spiritual and physical need around us. May we be obedient to the Spirit of Christ in us and give generously and sacrificially.

D I S C U S S I O NIn what specific ways can you turn your generosity toward those truly in need? If this changes your behavior, how might you explain it to someone who notices the difference?

P R A Y E RGod, we pray for generosity to rise within us, our families, and our church. Help us to give sacrificially through the Spirit of Christ within us. Jesus, we praise You for becoming poor so that we might become rich in a way that nothing in this world compares. Your riches through Christ have been

made available to us. All glory be to Your name for Your generosity and sacrifice.

God, cause Your people to be a reflection of Your sacrificial

generosity year-round, but especially at this time of

year when we are focused on the reality of what this verse teaches us about Jesus. In His name we pray, amen.

A C T I O NWatch today’s devotional!

@mcleanbible

If you’ve enjoyed these daily devotionals, consider subscribing to Pray The Word, a daily devotional podcast with David Platt.

Are you a part of the MBC Tysons East Region? Head to Glen Forest Elementary School for our seventh Mobile Christmas Village Outreach event! For more information, see pages 6 & 7.

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S U N D A Y, D E C E M B E R 2 3A P R I E S T W H O C A N S Y M PAT H I Z E W I T H U S H e b r e w s 4 : 1 4 - 1 6

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of

grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of

need.

HEBREWS 4:16

What an incredible exhortation! In Exodus, only Moses could go up on the mountain to meet with God; all the others had to stay away. Throughout the Old Testament, only the high priest could go into the Holy of Holies once a year. Nobody else could approach God’s presence. Now, the writer of Hebrews tells us we all can go to the throne of grace with confidence. How is that possible? Jesus is our great high priest. He is the Son of God who has paid the price for our sin because He was totally without sin. As a result, we can go to Him with confidence to find grace and mercy to help us in our time of need. As we come toward the end of this Advent season, let us remember what the coming of Jesus means to our lives today. Not only can we be saved if we trust Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins, but we can also rely on Him during our temptations and trials. When we are tempted to sin, we can go right to the throne of grace because Jesus is our high priest and He’s at the Father’s right hand. He was tempted in every way that we are, yet He did not sin, and He is ready to give you grace, power, and strength to resist that temptation in that moment. Go to Him. In our trials, we can remember that Jesus is familiar with our struggles. He is not distant from us. He suffered as one of us, so we can know that He stands ready to help us. He understands our suffering and pain.

D I S C U S S I O NWhat does it feel like to ask for help from a boss or a teacher? How is asking for help from Jesus different?

P R A Y E RGod, we come to Your throne with confidence, not in ourselves but in Jesus, the one who conquered

sin and suffering and death. Please help us in the middle of temptation to resist sin

and to walk more in holiness and obedience each day. God, in the

middle of trials, give us mercy and grace in our times

of need. Jesus, show Yourself strong on our behalf, especially during this season that can highlight so much hurt. All glory to Your name for

this privilege of coming to Your throne with confidence

in Jesus’ name, amen.

A C T I O NDid you share the gospel with anyone this

past week? Grab an ornament in your campus’ main lobby, write their name and put it on the tree! Then, pray, along with your church family, that every gospel conversation would result in someone turning from death to life.

Are you a part of the MBC Tysons North Region? Head to Hutchison Elementary School for our final Mobile Christmas Village Outreach event! For more information, see pages 6 & 7.

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M O N D A Y, D E C E M B E R 2 4T H I S C H I L D I S T H E A L P H A A N D O M E G AR e v e l a t i o n 1 : 8

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God,

“who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

REVELATION 1:8

Revelation 1 provides one of the most breath-taking pictures of Jesus in all of the Bible. The Christ child born in a manger in Bethlehem is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the one “who is and was and is to come.” Before time began and for all time, Jesus reigns as Lord and God Almighty. The astounding thing about Christmas is not all the circumstances surrounding His birth, although they are interesting and marvelous. Don’t get so caught up in the birth that you miss the identity of the baby. This child is God in the flesh. This child is worthy of all worship, honor, and praise. Pray for the 7.5 million Mongols in China who do not know that the Christ Child is the Alpha and Omega. Pray for the spread of the Good News to the remotest places in China and all the earth. This child has paid the price for all our sins and made a way for us to be reconciled to God. All history will culminate with Him receiving all glory. And we want the Mongols to be in on that.

D I S C U S S I O NHow much of your life and resources are you spending on spreading the Good News to people who have never heard it?

P R A Y E RGod, we praise You for Your grace in Jesus. Jesus, we praise You for Your glory in Bethlehem. We praise You that next time You come it will not be as a baby but as a King on a white horse to consummate Your Kingdom. Hasten that day. Help us to give and live for people groups like

the Mongols in China. Help us to live with urgency toward spreading the Good

News to every person on the planet that the Child born in

Bethlehem is the Alpha and Omega come to save us

from our sins. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

A C T I O NJoin us for one our Christmas Eve services

near you! For more information on times,

locations and details, see pages 6 & 7.

This verse summarizes the meaning of Christmas day. Jesus has come to save people from their sin. That’s what His name means. On this Christmas day, have you trusted Jesus and turned from your sin? Have you acknowledged that His life, death, and resurrection has made forgiveness possible? Have you received salvation through Jesus? Is He the Lord of your life today? If not, this is the perfect way to celebrate Christmas — to trust Jesus to save you from your sins. For all who have already trusted in Him, remember that this salvation is not just for us. It is for the nations, all those near and far. His salvation is not intended to stop with us; it is intended to spread through us. He came to save all kinds of people from their sin. Pray that more people around you would be saved. Pray that Christmas would not just be a sentimental celebration, but that it would be a celebration of salvation through Jesus for more and more people. Pray specifically for the Tigre people of Eritrea. There are many challenges to getting the Good News to them, but there are growing opportunities for the message to come through neighboring Ethiopia.

If you know Jesus as your Savior, ponder the way you received that gift of salvation and the differences it makes in your life. Pray that others would come to know the difference Jesus wants

to make in their lives. Ask God to give them the gift of salvation.

P R A Y E RGod, this Christmas day we praise You for salvation in Jesus. Thank You for sending Jesus to save us from our sins. Jesus, we praise You because that

is what Your name means. We praise You as a Savior, Lord, and King. We worship

You on this day and for all eternity. We pray for the salvation of

more people right where we live and across the globe,

particularly for the Tigre people in Eritrea. Open more eyes to Your salvation. We praise You as the one who came to save Your people from

their sin. In Your name we pray, amen.

A C T I O NGather as a family and tune into

live.mcleanbible.org at any time today to hear the Christmas story read by David Platt

and his family.

T U E S D A Y, D E C E M B E R 2 5H E C A M E T O S A V E H I S P E O P L E F R O M T H E I R S I N SM a t t h e w 1 : 2 1

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he

will save his people from their sins.

MATTHEW 1:21

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