Advent is the celebration of Christ’s birth and second coming. It is from the Latin word Adventus, meaning a coming or arrival.
It is traditionally celebrated on the four Sundays prior to Christmas. Each Sunday contains Bible readings from the Old Testament, Psalms, New Testament, and Gospels.
Many churches light a candle on each of the four Sundays, with the themes being hope, peace, joy, and love.
Recognizing that many of our readers are serving in churches where Advent is celebrated, we are taking a break from our Five Smooth Stones series to provide a series of Advent devotionals.
Each is followed by an experiential activity that can be used by churches or families to teach the weekly theme.
This second week, we focus on peace.
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:1–12 NIV)
In my early years of ministry as a Children’s Pastor, I loved spending time with the younger kids. I would make my rounds through the various classes and usually end my time with the two-year-olds.
One Sunday, when I entered the room, little Alison appeared to be in trouble. Chad, a chunky two-year-old boy, was crying. I arrived just as the leader asked Alison what had happened. With an innocent look, she replied, “I don’t know.”
I turned to Chad and saw a perfect set of top and bottom teeth marks across his cheek. Sweet little Alison did not yet understand the importance of confession, repentance, and forgiveness.
This was exactly the kind of spiritual work John the Baptist emphasized in Matthew 3.
John was the herald announcing the arrival of the Lord. His use of Isaiah 40:3 points to the promised return of Yahweh to His people. John prepared the way for that return, and his message centered on confession and repentance.
Confession
Closely tied to the call to repentance, confession is an acknowledgment of one’s sin before God—an admission of wrongdoing and a declaration of what one knows to be true in their own heart.
Confession is an outward testimony that leads to forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and spiritual growth. Confession makes peace with God.
Repentance
Repentance appears at the very beginning of John’s message (Matthew 3:1) and aligns closely with Jesus’ own teaching in Matthew 4:17: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Repentance is more than regret or remorse; it is a decision to turn to a different way of life. John called people to assess their thoughts and actions and turn away from sin. Repentance is a commitment to living at peace with God.
Guilt is a powerful force. Unresolved guilt leads to tumultuous living. Confession frees us from the snare of guilt. Repentance—guilt’s essential follow-up—leads us into a life of peace and reconciliation with God and with others.
While serving with Every Generation Ministries, I traveled extensively and was not usually the type to strike up conversations on planes. But on one flight from Denver to Chicago, an elderly man wearing a World War II hat sat beside me, and I decided to ask about his story.
He was born on an Iowa farm, and the first time he left home was to enlist in the Army Air Corps. After training, he flew to England and was shot down on his first mission over Germany.
He hid in the woods for several days before sneaking into a village at sunrise to steal food. A young boy saw him and alerted the police. He was captured and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp. Somehow, he survived, returned to Iowa as a hero, and later had children and grandchildren.
Now he was traveling to France for a commemoration event with other WWII survivors—then on to Germany for an extraordinary meeting.
A few months earlier, he had received a letter written in German and translated into English by the writer’s daughter. It was from the boy—now an elderly man—who had turned him in more than fifty years before.
After the war, the boy learned of the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime. Guilt weighed on him deeply, and he spent decades searching for the American airman he had helped capture.
The man next to me was on his way to meet him. It would be a powerful moment of forgiveness and peace for a guilt-stricken German man who had carried his burden for half a century.
Guilt is powerful. And in this second week of Advent, we celebrate the peace we can have with God and with one another.
Experiential Activity: The Peace Jar
Supplies Needed:
- Clear plastic jars or bottles (baby food jars, water bottles, etc.) Amazon link
- Warm water
- Glitter glue or clear glue
- Loose glitter or confetti (optional)
- Food coloring (optional)
- Spoon or stick for stirring
- Permanent marker or label stickers
Steps:
1. Talk About Peace
Sit the kids in a circle and ask:
- “What does peace mean?”
- “When do you feel calm or safe?”
- “When do you not feel peaceful?”
Explain: “Peace from God means we can feel calm inside even when things around us are crazy. God’s peace is like a quiet heart.”
2. Make Peace Jars
- Fill each jar with warm water almost to the top.
- Add a spoonful of glitter glue (this helps the glitter float slowly).
- Add loose glitter and a drop or two of food coloring if desired.
- Stir well and seal the lid tightly (hot glue or tape can be used for safety).
- Label the jar: “Peace Jar” and write Philippians 4:7 or “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
3. Shake and Watch
- Have everyone shake their jar and watch the glitter swirl.
- Say: “This is like our hearts when we’re upset, worried, or angry.”
- Then hold it still, take deep breaths, and watch the glitter slowly settle.
- Say: “Now it’s calm — that’s what God’s peace does in us when we stop and trust Him."