The King is Coming

I Can’t Wait!

Who’s excited about Christmas?

Who’s ready to open their presents?

Who’s already begged their parents to let them open one early?

When I was growing up, I was so excited about Christmas that I could hardly sleep on Christmas Eve. I woke up every single hour of the night. It would drive me crazy.

There may be a trip coming up that you are excited about and you’re counting down the days.

Advent is a time to remember what Christ did for us.

Luke 2:1–7 “1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

Jesus, God in flesh came into our world — but why?

Matthew 1:21 “21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.””

John 3:17 “17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Jesus came to save us from our sins.

We all stand condemned for our sins. We needed to be saved and Jesus came to save us.

John 3:36 “36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

Without Christ we all stand condemned for our sins and the eventual punishment for that is Hell, a place of suffering where we will be separated from God for all eternity.

But God didn’t want that for us. God did not create hell for us, it was created for Satan and the angels who followed him. We sinned against God and condemned ourselves.

God sent Jesus to die in our place and to take the punishment of hell for us. So that if we would turn from our sins and believe in Jesus, we would be saved from that condemnation.

One of the things the church usually does and we will do this morning is we remember not just that Jesus came as a baby, but that He was born to die for our sins.

He willingly came and took all of our sin and suffered for it all. And so as we prepare to take communion this morning I want to give us time for reflection.

We practice open communion, so if you are a follower of Jesus, you can partake even if you are just a guest of ours today.

If you are not a follower of Jesus, we encourage you to watch and pay attention as we go through this and celebrate what Jesus did for us.

I’m going to give us a moment to prepare our hearts for this time. I am also going to ask if you have a child in the nursery that you would go and get them. We’re going to spend the rest of this service all together as a family.

Communion Script…

Matthew 26:26–29 “26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.””

Advent isn’t just about what Christ did—it’s about what Christ will do.

At this time, we will begin passing out the candles. We have little electric ones for the little ones. Parent’s, we will let you decide if you want you child to play with fire or not. We will wait and light the candles together in just a moment.

While they are passing them out I want to take a moment to share what we light these candles for.

We are looking forward to the second coming of Christ. That is ultimately what advent is about. It’s about celebrating the past and looking forward to the future.

Mark 13:32–37 “32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.””

Jesus repeatedly encourages us to stay awake or prepared for His coming.

Some of you are preparers and some of you are procrastinators.

If you are a preparer, you’re packed and ready to go on a trip the night before you leave. You make a list and make sure you don’t forget anything. If you are a procrastinator like me, you wing it. You do it all in your head. And you will most likely forget something.

No one knows when Jesus is coming. Jesus has humbled Himself to not knowing.

Christ is coming and we need to live expecting that.

Hope in Christ’s return should produce transformation, not complacency.

Live as if Christ can come at any moment. This will help in our struggle with sin.

Think, if Jesus came back right now, what would He find me doing.

Am I living for Him or myself? Am I living in sin or living in Him?

Our transformation will lead to salvation in others.

We live for Christ not just for ourselves.

We proclaim that Jesus is coming so others will believe and follow Him too.

We want everyone to be ready for His return.

Matthew 5:14–16 “14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”