First Sunday of Advent

Scriptures

Jeremiah 33:14–16 Psalm 25:1–10 1 Thessalonians 3:9–13 Luke 21:25–36

Luke 21:25–36 (CSB)

“Then there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and there will be anguish on the earth among nations bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is near.”

Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they put out leaves you can see for yourselves and recognize that summer is already near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

“Be on your guard, so that your minds are not dulled from carousing, drunkenness, and worries of life, or that day will come on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come on all who live on the face of the whole earth. But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”

1 Thessalonians 3:9–13 (CSB)

How can we thank God for you in return for all the joy we experience before our God because of you, as we pray very earnestly night and day to see you face to face and to complete what is lacking in your faith?

Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you. And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone, just as we do for you. May he make your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. Amen.

Psalm 25:1–10 CSB

Lord, I appeal to you. My God, I trust in you. Do not let me be disgraced; do not let my enemies gloat over me. No one who waits for you will be disgraced; those who act treacherously without cause will be disgraced. Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; I wait for you all day long. Remember, Lord, your compassion and your faithful love, for they have existed from antiquity. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my acts of rebellion; in keeping with your faithful love, remember me because of your goodness, Lord. The Lord is good and upright; therefore he shows sinners the way. He leads the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the Lord’s ways show faithful love and truth to those who keep his covenant and decrees.

Jeremiah 33:14–16 CSB

“Look, the days are coming”— this is the Lord’s declaration— “when I will fulfill the good promise that I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a Righteous Branch to sprout up for David, and he will administer justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely, and this is what she will be named: The Lord Is Our Righteousness.

Intro

Good morning, dear family. So glad to be gathering with you and excited to be starting our observance of the Advent season together.

As we look for ways to embrace unity within the body, observing Advent is yet another avenue that we can be on that unites with the larger Church, as millions of Christians throughout the world are also observing Advent.

Additionally, in Advent, not only do we join Christians around the world, but we also join the ancient family of God, pre-Christ, who awaited and deeply longed for the coming of the promised Messiah. They awaited His first coming, and we wait for His second coming.

Upon further reflection, I understand the overall theme of Advent is the mystery, uncertainty, and quiet in the waiting. And waiting, longing even, I sense, is something that many of us know very well. Some wait for a career to come together. Some long for marriage. Others for children. Some long for racial reconciliation and justice. Others for peace. Many long for restoration in important relationships. Some wait for answers; some long for the possibility of being reunited with family and other loved ones who are at rest. And all of us collectively, long for the Lord to return. In Advent, we embrace our longings and unite in our waiting for the Lord Jesus to purify God’s good creation, wipe away every tear from our eyes, and make all things new.

Jeremiah 33

Jeremiah is often referred to as the "weeping prophet," as he ministered during the decline and fall of Judah during a period marked by political turmoil, idolatry, and the eventual Babylonian conquest and exile of Jerusalem.

Just before our passage from Jeremiah 33, the prophet is imprisoned for prophesying Jerusalem's fall to Babylon. Despite the gloom of his incarceration and the impending doom of the city, God gives Jeremiah a message of hope. We hear a whisper from the ruins of Jerusalem, "Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known" (Jer. 33:3, CSB). Here, amidst destruction and despair, God promises not just an answer but an unveiling of mysteries. This Advent, we too are called to wait in hope, to call upon the Lord, knowing that in His time, He will reveal to us the wonders of His plan.

Psalm 25

David in Psalm 25 then sings to us of trust and guidance, "Make me know your ways, Lord; teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; I wait for you all day long" (Ps. 25:4-5, CSB). This is the heart of waiting — not passive, but active; not in ignorance, but in pursuit of divine wisdom. Our waiting is an act of faith, a journey toward understanding the ways of God, a pilgrimage where each step is taken with the assurance of His guidance. When we wait rightly, the waiting isn’t waisted, it is worship.

1 Thessalonians 3

In the 1 Thessalonians passage, Paul speaks to a church in waiting, offering comfort and encouragement, "May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word" (1 Thess. 3:11-13, CSB). Here, the Apostle teaches us that our waiting is not solitary; it's communal, filled with the encouragement and strength that come from our shared faith. As we wait for Christ's return, gathered together His bride, one Church, we are fortified by grace to live out His love in our actions and words.

Luke 21

And finally, in Luke 21, Jesus paints for us the landscape of the end times, yet within this, He embeds a message of vigilance and readiness, "But stay alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:36, CSB). In Advent, our waiting, therefore, is not simply an anticipation for Christmas or the celebration of Christ's birth, but ultimately, its for His return. It's a waiting marked by prayer, preparedness, and hope — a waiting that transforms us into people who can stand before our Savior.

Conclusion

Dear family, this Advent, let our waiting be a symphony of hope, faith, and love. Let it be filled with the melodies of prophecy, the harmonies of prayer, the rhythms of community, and the crescendo of readiness. As we wait, let us not grow weary but be renewed daily in spirit, looking forward to the day when all waiting will end in the eternal presence of our Lord.

In this season, may we find joy in the anticipation, peace in the mystery, and strength in the community. May our hearts be like those ancient fields where the shepherds kept watch, ever alert, ever expectant, for the dawn of a new day, for the coming of our King.

Let us pray together, let us hope together, let us wait together, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.