Advent is a time of preparation – a time when we reflect on the coming of the Lord in the Person of Christ. These daily studies take us right through December and dwell on God’s preparation of people and events in history, which made the incarnation possible.
When we read the word ‘time’ in the New Testament, it is a translation of one of two Greek words – chronos or kairos. Chronos, from which we get our English word ‘chronology’, means the time on your wristwatch, time on the move, time passing from present to future, and so becoming past. Kairos, on the other hand, means ‘the appointed time in the purpose of God’, the time when God acts. Kairos is time in a qualitative rather than a quantitative sense. It is time as a stirring breakthrough, a significant occasion, an imminent, immeasurable quality. The New Testament writers use the word kairos to communicate the idea of God’s time; it is eternal reality breaking into the now. When we read about kairos, we sit up and listen.
We are delighted that THE TIME IS NOW features sections of the scriptures read by one of Britain’s best loved actors, David Suchet. Ever since David Suchet became a Christian aged 40 the Poirot actor has had a dream to record the entire Bible. This dream became a reality earlier this year, when Hodder and Stoughton released the NIV Audio Bible with Suchet reading. In between filming episodes of Poirot, Suchet recorded over 200 hours in the studio, giving his entire fee to charity, and creating the first full-length audio version of the NIV by a single British actor. David Suchet’s Bible Readings from the NIV are available as an audio Bible from www.hodder.co.uk. Watch the video of David Suchet talking about the recordings: http://bit.ly/11Gf9LL
Hand out two pieces of paper to each person in the group. Say the Lord’s Prayer together. When it comes to the line ‘forgive us our sins’, take a moment of quiet to each write on one of the pieces of paper the things for which you are asking God’s forgiveness. Then gather the papers in a large saucepan, light a match and let the papers burn. If you have an open fireplace, burn that the papers there. As you say the line ‘as we forgive those who sin against us’, take Your second piece of paper and write down the names of those you need to forgive. Ask for God’s help to forgive these people, and again gather the papers and burn them. Then continue saying the rest of the Lord’s Prayer together.