The first Sunday of Advent 2018 is December 2nd. Here are the message, readings and sermons for the season.
Advent 2018 Message
As we look at God’s word, we need to understand how the Christ (as the word of God) comes to humankind now and how we can receive and carry the Christ’s presence today. This starts with our attitude… the guides for which can be found throughout scripture. I am calling this attitude “Getting Busy”: Awareness and watchfulness, getting prepared, doing the work, understanding the all-inclusive Gospel. The task then becomes to take a journey over the next four weeks to come into a full consciousness with God, who comes to us in Jesus the Christ, and in fact to be prepared to get busy doing the Gospel — using words if needed.
Advent 1 Readings: “Pay Attention”
Psalm 25:1-9
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Luke 21:25-36
Advent 2 Readings: “The Mechanics of Being Prepared”
Malachi 3:1-4
Luke 3:1-6
Philippians 1:3-11
Advent 3 Readings: “What Should We Do?”
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Philippians 4:4-7
Luke 3:7-18
Advent 4 Readings: “The First Shall Be Last”
Psalm 22:25-31
James 3:17-18
Luke 1:39-45
Luke 1:46-55
Advent 2018 Sermons
Remember: To turn on the volume for any video you play, just click on the speaker icon in the lower right corner of the frame. These videos are reposted from our Facebook page, where we post our weekly sermon videos. You can also listen to them on our podcast.
December 23, 2018
Sermon for December 23, 2018. From the Gospel reading: “I’m bursting with God-news; I’m dancing the song of my Savior God. God took one good look at me, and look what happened — I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!”
(Luke 1:46)
December 16, 2018
And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”
Luke 3:10-14
December 9, 2018
So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.
(Philippians 1:9-11)
December 2, 2018
Don’t brush this off: I’m not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too — these things will happen. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won’t wear out.
(Luke 21:33)