[INTRODUCTION]

The Advent Conspiracy began The Advent Conspiracy began with the intention to reframe how we celebrate the birth of at . In an effort to recover the profound story of our Savior’s birth from the grips of consumerism, Ecclesia and a few other churches set out to redefine a faithful response to the birth of Christ. For many who decided to take these first steps a few years ago, it undoubtedly has changed our perspective and reshaped our entire lives. The story of Christ’s birth is a story of promise, hope, and revolutionary love that has captivated the Ecclesia community.

As a church, tremendous stories have come out of our participation and involvement in [AC] since it began in 2006; an end to the water crisis in the Mount Barclay region of Liberia, countless water wells installed in India, previously unemployed women finding work in Nicaragua, and well rehabilitations in Port au Prince. And these are just scratching the surface. However in the midst of these stories, the most miraculous part is the reality of our community joining hands with brothers and sisters around the globe to celebrate Jesus well. With a united voice, we have found comfort at Christmas proclaiming together that God is not distant. In fact, He stepped into our lives and revealed a deeper understanding of His love for us all. Our celebration of Jesus’ birth has expanded beyond socio-economic lines, physical borders and into new communities both here in Houston and across the globe. Today, tens of thousands of Christians in countries all around the world are taking seriously the invitation to fully explore how the birth of Jesus can deeply impact our lives. You are invited into the conspiracy. How will you embrace Advent differently this year? How will you celebrate the birth of the Savior in new ways this year? Where will you find yourself in this story? Learn more at ecclesiahouston.org/advent

[BIBLE STUDY]

Following is a four-part bible study on the four tenants of the Advent Conspiracy: Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, and Love All. Families are encouraged to through these lessons week by week. These lessons are designed to instigate meaningful conversations about this season of Advent. Take time to walk through these stories and questions over the course of each week. There is about 30 minutes of material per lesson. Our prayer is that you and your students would engage in the Christmas story in new ways this year, and that we will celebrate Jesus’ birth with a sense of anticipation and awe. We would love to hear about your Advent experience, so please feel free to share your stories with us at [email protected] WORSHIP FULLY | WEEK 1 - December 1st- 5th There are few things harder to do than wait. I hate waiting. There are only a few things that I am good at waiting for. Recently, a couple of my favorite people in the world, who I hadn’t seen in a while, announced that they were coming for a visit. Instead of going crazy waiting for them, I started to get ready. I cleaned my house. I got the guest room ready. I bought food that I knew they liked. I cleared my schedule for the time they would be here. I began to orient my life and my world around what I knew they wanted. Advent is a season of expectation and preparation, waiting for the arrival of Christ in the world. This is a time for us to slow down and refocus on Christ, preparing our hearts and making room for Him as we anticipate His coming.

[TALK] 1. Why is waiting so hard? Why does God ask us to wait, and how are we invited to wait well in this season? 2. Have you ever known somebody who was pregnant and expecting a baby? What kinds of things did they have to do (or stop doing) to make room for that baby in their life? [READ] When we read the Christmas story in scripture, you start to notice something remarkable. Nearly every character who hears the news of Jesus’ arrival has the same response -- worship. Mary (Luke 1:26-38, 46-55), Shepherds, (Luke 2:8-20), the Magi (Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11), Simeon (Luke 2:25-35), and Anna (Luke 2:36-38) all responded by reorienting their lives around Jesus’ arrival. Everyone stopped and worshipped. You could even say that Joseph offered his obedience, and sacrificed his reputation (Matthew 1:18-25)- both acts of worship. And baby John the Baptist leapt in his mother’s womb when he heard the news (Luke 1:39-45)! Worship is our response to God’s presence with us, his power in us, and his provision for us. [TALK] 3. Take time to read these stories. Talk about how each person responded. Which story did you connect with? 4. Why is it important for us to stop and worship, especially during Advent? [READ] Advent is a season when we celebrate God’s arrival on earth in the form of baby Jesus. Just like he came once before, thousands of years ago, Jesus has promised to return again someday, and restore all of creation to the way he always intended it to be. In light of Christmas, all of life is now a celebration, an expectation, a preparation for his coming a second time. Matthew 25:31-45 tells us he’s looking for the kind of world where hungry people are fed, thirsty people are given something to drink, strangers are welcomed, the naked are clothed, the sick are looked after, and those in prison are visited. In the same way that I prepared for my beloved guests, and in the same way a family prepares for the arrival of a baby, we prepare our world for his return. [TALK] 5. What should your response be to the news that Jesus is coming? 6. Read Micah 6:8 and Romans 12:1-2. What do these verses teach us about how to worship? [CHALLENGE] The Psalms were the worship songs of the Hebrew people. Write a psalm together that expresses your response to the good news that Christ has come, and that Christ will come again. It can be short (like Psalm 117), or long (like Psalm 119). Maybe you want to choose a word that has special significance and write a Psalm where each line begins with the next letter of that word. Be creative. Be personal. Be honest.

SPEND LESS | Week 2 - December 6th -12th Christmas is a season of excess. Unfortunately, this is more a slap in the face and cut at our hearts than most of us are willing to admit. Now spending less at Christmas doesn’t mean we should stop giving gifts. Instead, this is a challenge to stop spending money and time on things that we won’t remember in less than a year. Giving gifts and getting gifts has always been a part of Christmas tradition, but it should never have become the focus over the arrival of our Savior. We must allow Jesus to prepare room within our lives for Himself. Every year, Americans spend around $450 billion on Christmas. Now there are roughly around 316 million people living in the US. That is roughly around $1400 per person. Much of that is spent on meaningless gifts that will be returned, broken, or shoved in a closet. There is nothing wrong with wanting the newest video games, but first we must ask, “How does getting this stuff, help me celebrate the birth of Christ more fully?” If our schedule and shopping list during Advent are already full and “more stuff” becomes our first thought during the season, where do we invite Jesus in? Maybe we need to evaluate how we spend our money and time, and intentionally cut out the extraneous, even choosing to make a sacrifice in our spending. As we clear out space in our lives and in our finances, we get to better engage in the story of Advent. [TALK] 1. What extravagant gifts do you really want this Christmas? What over-the-top gifts are you planning on buying for others? How much money do you hope people will spend on you this Christmas? [READ] 1 Corinthians 10:23 says everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Thinking about that verse, have you ever received a gift that didn’t turn out to be that great? Have you ever spent money on something that you later regretted? Have you ever opened a present Christmas morning, played with it for a week, only to have it break or become super boring? This Advent evaluate the value of the gifts you give and receive. Where does your treasure lie? And does this satisfy? [TALK] 2. Read Psalm 37:4 and talk about how you can shift your focus this Christmas 3. Read Matthew 6:19-21 and talk about the ways you can avoid falling into the “buy, buy, buy” trap this Christmas. [READ] Everyone has an opinion on how we should spend our money. If we are following Jesus, then He will help us to know how and where to be spending and investing. Since we are God's stewards, we get to invest our money (God's money) in ways that honor God and build His Kingdom. If you had a personal banker that you trusted to invest your money and instead he went out and bought a lifetime supply of chocolate and ate it all himself, you'd fire him immediately. And also recommend a good dentist. We do not want to be bad investors of the gifts God has given us, spending unwisely or carelessly. God is more than able to give us wisdom about how to use all that He has given us for His glory and His work. [TALK] 4. How are we invested in God’s story? How are we using our time and resources for God’s Kingdom? 5. Read 1 Timothy 6:6-8 and talk about how you are thankful for what you already have. [CHALLENGE] This week, sit down and make a list of the luxuries and excess spending in your life. This may include things beyond even your Christmas list, like buying new clothes, going out to eat often, or even how much time you spend in front of the TV. This Advent season, try giving up a luxury and instead put the money you would normally spend on these things into a jar. The money you save could help provide clean water through Advent Conspiracy, rescue victims of human trafficking, or go to another cause that honors God. GIVE MORE WEEK 3 - DECEMBER 14TH- 20TH When Christmas morning finally arrives, and the tree is surrounded by gifts, our minds race with what prize we will furiously unwrap. At the first Christmas, three men from a far away land came to celebrate Jesus’ birth. They brought gifts for Jesus and received nothing in return. Matthew 2:9-11 tells us about this exchange: The wise men left Herod’s chambers and went on their way. The star they had first seen in the East reappeared —a miracle that must have been overwhelming to these scholarly men who spent their lives studying the stars. The star led them to the house where Jesus lay. As soon as the wise men arrived, they found Him with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. They unpacked their satchels and gave Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. [TALK] 1. Getting gifts is obviously awesome. How were the wisemen able to give gifts without expecting anything wrapped up in return? Did they really leave empty-handed though? 2. Why do you think the three wise men brought gifts to Jesus in the first place? [READ] The wise men brought exceptionally good gifts. Gold is what is given to a king, and Jesus is the King of kings. Incense is what you expect to be given a priest, and Jesus is the High Priest of all high priests. Myrrh ointment is used to heal, and Jesus is a healer. Myrrh is also used in ancient burials— and Jesus was born to die on behalf of all people. These gifts are not exceptionally good because they were expensive. They were exceptionally good because they were thoughtful and intentional. These gifts were perfect for Jesus. The best gifts to give and to receive are those that are thoughtful and intentional. [TALK] 3. Have you ever received a gift that was perfect for you? How and why was it so great? 4. What is an example of a thoughtful and intentional gift that you could give this year? [READ] Our gifts can impact people around the world. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells us that when we help the hungry, the thirsty, the sick, and the poor that we are helping Jesus. We get to follow the example of the wise men and give gifts to Jesus by helping those in need. Around the world, there are nearly 800 million people without access to clean water. The dirty water they drink, cook with, wash clothes and dishes with, water their crops with, is brimming with disease. Our brothers and sisters around the world are in great need of clean water. Through Living Water International, we have the opportunity to give the thoughtful and intentional gift of clean water to those who are thirsty. And Jesus says these are the kinds of gifts he wants. He wants for us to show extravagant love and care to those who are in need, to those who are hurting. [TALK] 5. How can you make sure all the gifts you give this year are thoughtful and intentional? 6. If Christmas is about Jesus, how do we give good gifts to him? [CHALLENGE] 1. Create a plan for your Christmas gifts this year. Write down every person you want to get a gift for, then brainstorm thoughtful and intentional gifts for them. Keep in mind that great gifts are not great because they are expensive. If you are an artist, draw a picture as a gift. If you like to give encouragement, write a note of thankfulness as a gift. Use the gifts that God has given you, and give it as a gift to others. 2. Remember Jesus on this list. Brainstorm ways to help those in need, and think of how your family can join together to give a gift to Jesus. LOVE ALL | Week 4 - December 21st- 28th [READ] The Son of God came into this world as the son of a carpenter in a small town named in a barn for livestock and then placed in a manger (a feeding trough for animals). God became man and chose to be born in these conditions. Jesus lived in a poor family and chose both poor fishermen and a rich tax collector as his disciples. He ministered to all kinds of people. Jesus loved all. Isaiah 61 says, "He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to repair broken hearts, And to declare to those who are held captive and bound in prison, “Be free from your imprisonment!” Jesus came to bring Good News to those who have been forgotten, the poor, the lonely, and the oppressed. [TALK] 1. Who are some of the people Jesus hung out with? Who did he choose to associate with? 2. How did Jesus show love to everyone? How did He bring together so many different people? [READ] Jesus loved those whom others avoided, mocked, or judged. For example, in Matthew 8, a man with leprosy (a contagious skin- disease which makes parts of your body fall off) falls at Jesus' feet to be healed. At that time, people would avoid lepers who were excluded from living a normal life or worshiping God at the temple. If someone even touched a leper, they would be considered unclean. But Jesus chose to heal this man, not just with his words, but also by his touch. He loved him no matter what. I spent time with a Christian leader in India, M.A. Thomas. He was highly respected by people from all religions. The former President of India, who was Muslim, even came to the dedication of his new church building. Even with all of this honor and prestige, you would find M.A. Thomas with the poor. He helped take care of people with leprosy in India who are taken out of society and from their families and then ignored. MA Thomas would enter the leper colonies with the love of Jesus and hug and encourage everyone he could find. Leprosy didn't scare him either. He was going to love no matter what. [TALK] 3. Who are the forgotten or disliked in your community? What about at your school or job? 4. How can you show love to these people, no matter what? How can we be especially intentional about this during Advent? [READ] In a couple of the past lessons, Matthew 25 has been mentioned as something that gives insight to how we can worship and give well in this season. Here is what Jesus said: "King: Come here, you beloved, you people whom My Father has blessed. Claim your inheritance, the Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of creation. You shall be richly rewarded, for when I was hungry, you fed Me. And when I was thirsty, you gave Me something to drink. I was alone as a stranger, and you welcomed Me into your homes and into your lives. I was naked, and you gave Me clothes to wear; I was sick, and you tended to My needs; I was in prison, and you comforted Me.... Righteous: Master, when did we find You hungry and give You food? When did we find You thirsty and slake Your thirst? 38 When did we find You a stranger and welcome You in, or find You naked and clothe You? 39 When did we find You sick and nurse You to health? When did we visit You when You were in prison? King: 40 I tell you this: whenever you saw a brother or sister hungry or cold, whatever you did to the least of these, so you did to Me. [TALK] 4. How can serve Jesus by serving and the "least of these"? What does this look like for us this Advent season? [CHALLENGE] Find someone in your own community who is hungry, thirsty, feeling alone, needs clothes, is sick, or in prison and show them personally the love of Jesus through meeting their needs and loving all of them. Do not just drop off a gift and leave, but try to build a relationship here, embracing them wholly. Listen to their story if they want to share. Email the way your family "loved all" to [email protected] and we will make an anonymous list of all our stories from this Advent season.