In this second week of Advent we celebrate FAITH in his Coming. Our faith is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence which is not seen” (Heb. 11:1), and “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb. 11:6).
Today we light the first and second candles, and prayerfully ask for faith to see Christ again. When we look at the first Advent story, we see ordinary humans who are surprised by God and have to deal with their own questions and unbelief…just like we do.
This week we will spend some time on their participation in the first Advent. Were they people of faith? Yes…but like the old black preacher proclaimed: “they leaked!”.
Faith does not have to be perfect to be faith. Still, faith is what holds us in a place of trust and hope, and leads us to God, the person who can bring us out of the darkness around us.
A Scripture Reading for this second Sunday in Advent:
A Scripture Reading for this second Sunday in Advent:
Psalm 100:1-5 (NIV)
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Today, hopefully for all of us, we celebrate Advent in worship with our community of faith. Each day of Advent is an opportunity to turn my heart towards God in worship by focusing on the real reason we celebrate Christmas. This is the 2nd Sunday in Advent and I believe it is crucial that we not let our Advent sojourn become our own private (or perhaps if you’re doing this with a spouse/family) time of worship but purposefully, intentionally, bring it into our worship in community also. In that sense, along with many others we “enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.”
I want to do that intentionally, purposefully, and excitedly…because He has made me, and those I worship with, for Himself and together as a faith community we declare His worth (worth-ship).
A Song:
“Jesus is Lord! ‘Tis the message of Christmas,
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Today, hopefully for all of us, we celebrate Advent in worship with our community of faith. Each day of Advent is an opportunity to turn my heart towards God in worship by focusing on the real reason we celebrate Christmas. This is the 2nd Sunday in Advent and I believe it is crucial that we not let our Advent sojourn become our own private (or perhaps if you’re doing this with a spouse/family) time of worship but purposefully, intentionally, bring it into our worship in community also. In that sense, along with many others we “enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.”
I want to do that intentionally, purposefully, and excitedly…because He has made me, and those I worship with, for Himself and together as a faith community we declare His worth (worth-ship).
A Song:
“Jesus is Lord! ‘Tis the message of Christmas,
We sing of more than a long-ago birth;
More than just shepherds and wise men and angels –
Christmas is God coming right down to earth!
Jesus is Lord! May the message of Christmas
Swell from our hearts in exultant accord;
The message of Christmas, that Jesus is Lord!
(Words by Wayne Becker)
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