December Sermon Series: “We Have Good News: The Message of Advent”
by Nathan Parker, Senior Pastor
December Sermon Series: “We Have Good News: The Message of Advent”
No. 29 - "Hear It" (Luke 2:8-14)
Dec. 6 - "Go Tell It" (Special Christmas Music)
Dec. 13 - “Wait For It” (Galatians 4:4-5)
Dec. 20 - “Live By It” (Romans 1:16-17)
I love it when someone tells me, “I have good news!” I immediately smile as the anticipation builds. I can’t wait to hear what they have to say, and to share in their joy. I also love to be the bearer of good news. I have a hard time sitting on good news (Morgan has learned to simply not tell me certain things…). I love getting to tell our church family about God’s work among and through our people. I love telling my wife about something awesome that happened at work. Really good news is powerful - it’s infectious and draws people in. It’s inspiring, compelling, and motivating. A truly great message can transform people.
For many of us, 2020 has been a year full of bad news. The harsh reality of this fallen world can be overwhelming at times, and this year it has hit us square between the eyes. Many of the tensions and issues that were lurking under the surface of culture have now been laid bare. Anxiety and fear continue to rise.
But into the darkness, a great light has come. We as Christians are able to look intently into the brokenness around us and say, “It doesn’t have to be this way.” We have actual, authentically good news for a world rife with bad news. The central message of the Advent season is that God has entered into our world in order to dramatically change it for good. He has not abandoned us to our own devices, but showed up in the flesh - right in the nick of time. We call this good news “the gospel.”
This Advent, we will walk through some key passages that relate to the gospel message. If we are scared, then let’s hear the angel say to us, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Then let’s be inspired and energized to share the good news after hearing our special Christmas musical presentation. Then we will strive to be patient as we wait for God’s perfect timing in bringing us good news. And finally, let’s learn to keep the gospel at the center of all that we are and all that we do.
My hope and prayer is that we all will close this year out full of hope and blessed assurance. We can proceed into 2021 with a settled confidence that God has come to reverse the curse of sin and sorrow. And, as with every Advent season, we remember that the God who came into our world as a baby in a manger is coming again as the final judge, making all things new once and for all. Let’s hold out good news to a world that desperately needs to hear it.
Grace and peace,
