Advent: Look Up

SLIDE: WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING TODAY?

THE HOLIDAY STRUGGLE

WE EXPECT AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO BEGIN CELEBRATING

WE EXPECT SHOPPING DEALS

WE EXPECT PACKAGES IN THE MAIL

WE EXPECT OVERWORKING, OVEREATING, AND UNDERSLEEPING

WE HAVE BECOME EXPECTANT FOR SALES AND BELLS.

WE EXPECT FAMILY

WE EXPECT CHAOS

WE EXPECT GRIEF

WE EXPECT LONLINESS

IT WASN’T ALWAYS LIKE THIS.

WE EXPECT BECAUSE WE HAVE AN UNFULFILLED LONGING FOR THE WORLD TO BE MADE RIGHT.

WE LOOK AT THE WORLD IN LIGHT OF CREATION AND JESUS AND SAY “GOD’S NOT FINISHED YET”

ADVENT

THIS IS THE FOUNDATION OF ADVENT.

A SEASON TO RECOGNIZE OUR HOPELESSNESS UNTIL HOPE CAME FOR US

A SEASON TO BECOME CONFIDENT THAT GOD’S NOT FINISHED YET

AND THAT GIVES US PEACE IN THE MIDST OF THE CHAOS IN THE WORLD

FOR THE WORLD, ADVENT IS A HOLIDAY AT THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR,

BUT FOR THE CHURCH IT’S A NEW BEGINNING OF HOPE, PEACE, JOY, AND LOVE AS WE EXPECT GOD’S WORK TO CONTINUE IN US UNTIL HE COMES FOR US AT THE LAST DAY. ADVENT IS THE BEGINNING OF THE CHURCH CALENDAR YEAR. WE DON’T LIVE FOR HOPE, PEACE, JOY, AND LOVE. WE LIVE FROM IT.

READ: 2 SAMUEL 5:17-25 ESV

THE PHILISTINES

THE MOST DESPISED ENEMY OF ISRAEL WAS THE PHILISTINES

WHEN THE ENEMIES OF DAVID HEARD THAT GOD HAD BLESSED HIM AND HIS RULE THEY ALL WENT LOOKING FOR HIM.

SLIDE: WE NEED HOPE BECAUSE WE HAVE AN ENEMY.

DAVID’S EXPECTATION

DAVID LEARNED HIS EXPECTATION THROUGH THE CHAOS, NOT APART FROM IT

DAVID INQUIRED OF THE LORD

BALSAM TREE

IF IT’S WEIRD IT’S PROBABLY IMPORTANT

WHEN THE BIBLE GETS SPECIFIC, WE NEED TO START DIGGING

EX. TAMARISK TREE ON MY TATTOO

WHEN I LOOKED THIS TREE UP I WAS STUNNED: IT LOOKS LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE!

THE SOUND OF MARCHING

I GOT TO EXPERIENCE THIS IN ISRAEL

MEGAN KIBBUTZ

THE TREE TOP

THE SOUND OF MARCHING= GOD IS ALREADY ON THE MOVE

THE NAME ADVENT MEANS “COMING”

WHEN DAVID LOOKED UP HE WAS LOOKING FOR VICTORY

THE BALSAM TREE: WHAT DO WE PLACE AT THE TOP OF OUR TREES?

STARS AND ANGELS

STAR: THE SIGN THAT GOD IS WITH US

ANGELS: THE MESSENGERS THAT GOD IS WITH US

SLIDE: WE PLACE OUR HOPE AND EXPECTATION ON THE TOPS OF OUR TREES.

INVITATION

SLIDE: IF YOU’RE HOPELESS TODAY, LOOK UP, GOD IS COMING SOON.

THE FIRST ADVENT MEANT HOPE FOR US TO BE MADE RIGHT WITH GOD,

HIS SECOND ADVENT MEANS OUR ETERNAL HOME WITH GOD.

SLIDE: IN BOTH ADVENTS, JESUS IS DESTROYING OUR GREATEST ENEMY: DEATH

TODAY WE LIT THE FIRST CANDLE DURING THE DARKEST DAYS OF THE YEAR

A LIGHT SHINING IN THE DARKNESS

A NEW BEGINNING THAT CAUSES OUR EXPECTATIONS TO TURN TOWARDS HOPE

WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR TREE THIS ADVENT SEASON, LOOK UP AND BEGIN PRAYING FOR A NEW EXPECTATION.

HEAR THE SOUND OF MARCHING

JESUS IS RETURNING TO FREE US

THAT STAR/ANGEL IS MORE THAN A DECORATION

IT’S A DECLARATION OF HOPE THAT GOD IS GOING TO GIVE YOU VICTORY OVER YOUR ENEMIES.

PRAY