Our time of waiting is almost over. This Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Advent and this week we will focus on the theme of love.

Our scripture this Sunday is Paul's introduction to the Christians in Rome. He is not only introducing his letter but he is also introducing himself to a congregation that has only heard of him.

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, ²which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, ³the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh ⁴and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, ⁵through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, ⁶including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, ⁷To all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Romans 1:1-7

•  How do you introduce yourself to others?  If you were to introduce yourself to someone knew how would you define yourself?
• Would you, like Paul, define yourself in reference to the gospel of Jesus Christ?
• Would you define yourself by your calling from God?
• Before his experience of Jesus Christ, Paul was a Pharisee, which means literally someone who is separate. Now he is an apostle-which is one set out-as well s a saint-which is one set apart.  How can one be both someone who is set apart and one who is sent out?
• Like Paul, we are God's beloved people called to belong to Jesus Christ and therefore called to be saints.  One of the characteristics of God that should set us apart is our love.  And one of the things we are sent out to do is to declare God's love for others.
• As you prepare for Christmas, what are some of the ways you can declare God's love for others?
• What must you do to prepare yourself to love others as Christ loves them?
• Are you spending as much time in preparation for Christmas engaging in acts of love as you are in shopping, baking and decorating?
• In what ways would people who know you describe you in terms related to the love of God we declare at Christmas?
   

Don't forget to join us at 6:30 tomorrow night or on Sunday night as our children share the good news of Christmas with us!