Advent Season 2016
Hope | Love | Joy | Peace
Peace
December 25, 2016
The feeling of fear isn't something we naturally associate with Christmas. However, three times, at key moments in the Christmas narrative, people are told to "Fear not!" Yes, seeing an Angel is probably a nerve-racking experience, in and of itself. However, there may be more to it. They weren't just frightened by the Angel's appearance. They were frightened by the Angel's announcement. But all are told: "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." When God breaks into your life, it's always scary, but his perfect love casts out all fear. Jesus turns any scary Christmas into a merry Christmas.
Joy
December 18, 2016
Joy is a sign of a healthy heart, and by extension, a lack of joy is a symptom of an unhealthy heart. Joy is more than happiness, just as happiness is more than pleasure. Pleasure is felt in the body; happiness is felt in the mind and feelings. Joy, however, is felt deep in the heart, deep in the core of your soul. How’s your heart? How’s your joy? When the Angel brought news of the first Christmas to the Shepherds, he said, “Behold, I bring you good news of great joy.” Not minor joy. Not small joy. Not modest joy. But “great joy.” Jesus came to bring us this joy, an indestructible joy, “No one will take your joy from you.”
Hope
December 4, 2016
The word "Advent" comes from the Latin word "Adventus," meaning "coming" or "arrival. It begins the 4th Sunday before Christmas and ends on Christmas Day. Advent is a celebration of the first coming of Jesus and the anticipation of his second coming. Celebrating Advent helps us cut through the infinite distractions, of life in general, and the Christmas season in particular, and refocus our attention on what's most important in life. The four themes of Advent are "Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace." In this message Pastor Jan turns to the Holy Scriptures to remind us of the certain hope we have in Christ.