Advent One - Be Ready!
This week we are looking at one of Jesus famous advent parables; commonly known as the parable of the 10 virgins. often when this parable is taught people try to find direct allegorical meanings for each element such as “sleep” and “oil”. we'll talk about some of these questions and the overarching meaning of the parable - to always be ready for our “meeting” with Jesus when He returns.
I couldn't locate the source of this painting. It's one of the more accurate depictions of what this scene would have looked like. While often we think of lamps like something from either Arabic countries or more modern European ones, the women would have most likely been carrying something we would recognize as a torch. A wooden handle with fabric soaked in oil wrapped around the end.
Anchor Texts:
Matthew 25:1-13 NET - The Parable of the Ten Virgins
Questions to Ponder:
Pastor Nate described the Kingdom of Heaven is several ways, what were they? It begins as _______________, it becomes _______________, it is ultimately a _________________________________.
Pastor Nate broke up the parable into four main sections, what were they? ___________, ___________, ___________, _____________.
If you were going to sum up the main point of the parable, what would you say it is?
Carrying oil represented that the girls were prepared, what are some ways we can live “prepared” for Jesus’ coming today?
Have you ever been tempted to believe one of the recent predictions of Jesus’ return? Reflect on it for a moment. What were your motivations? What enticed you to believe it?
Both the wise and the foolish girls __________. What does this tell us about the meaning of sleep in the parable?
Answers: 1. Invitation, relationship, New life in a New creation. 2. The Journey, the Slumber, the Call, the Meeting 5. Slept
The Theme in Song:
Put this song on repeat in your house if you want to be prepared for singing a new song together on Sunday! I found this song searching for Advent songs and it fits so well with the theme of the Parable of the 10 Virgins. Being prepared and waiting patiently because we don’t know the day or hour. The chorus talks about a bride waiting for her groom. Although the 10 virgins are not brides they are similar to the other biblical theme of bride/groom, Church/Christ referenced in passages like Ephesians 5.