4th Sunday in Advent - A King Who Loves Us - First Covenant Church of Willmar

First Covenant Church of Willmar

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4th Sunday in Advent - A King Who Loves Us

December 18, 2022 • Pastor Chris Pappenfus • Isaiah 54, John 3:16–21, 1 John 4:7–16

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Since the early days of the Christian Church, faithful followers recognized Jesus as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies recorded hundreds of years earlier. God had been preparing his people for a long time. God’s story of redemption -- as recorded in the Scriptures -- can only be described as a labor of love. Jesus is the ultimate expression of God’s love. Jesus told a religious leader named Nicodemus that God’s love for the world was so great that he sent his one and only son. Jesus came not to condemn or punish the world, but to save it!

This Sunday, we celebrate our fourth Sunday in Advent by declaring that our Heavenly King loves you. While the earthly rulers we crave merely demand affection from you, your Heavenly King loved you first. You have done nothing to earn His affection and you are unable to force Him to retract His love for you. The disciple who was known for being loved by Jesus recognized that the motivating characteristic of our Heavenly Father is love. This Sunday, we celebrate the love the Father has for you and the fulfillment of that love in Jesus the Messiah.

In preparation for this Sunday, read Isaiah 54:1-17, John 3:16-21 and 1 John 4:7-16.

Christmas Eve Service: Majesty - A King Worth Living For

December 24, 2022

The Season of Advent is a time to prepare for the coming of our King. As the day draws near the wonder and celebration of our glorious King is finally upon us. We have made such a spectacle out of our Christmas celebrations, that unless we consciously stop and remember the story of Christ’s birth, we run the risk of rushing right past the Christ of Christmas. Over the past four weeks, we have contrasted the earthly kings and rulers that we desire but who constantly fall short of expectations, with the Heavenly King who is worthy of your hope, your preparation, and your joyous celebration. This is The King who loves you first. This Saturday we celebrate the Birth of our Savior and LORD, Jesus Christ. On one of the darkest and longest nights of the year we proclaim that light has come into the world. We again turn to the Prophet Isaiah, 8:19-9:7 and consider that Jesus is a King Worth Living For. Join us this Saturday at 4:30 pm for our Christmas Eve Candlelight service with prelude music beginning at 4 pm.

Christmas Day - A King Worthy of Our Praise

December 25, 2022 • Pastor Chris Pappenfus • Isaiah 8:19–22, Isaiah 9:1–7, Isaiah 12

1st Sunday of Advent - The king we want ... the King who came

November 27, 2022 • Pastor Chris Pappenfus • Isaiah 11:1–5, Romans 15:4–13

This Sunday marks the beginning of a new year for the church. Advent is a time of preparation. A time to focus on the coming birth of Jesus -- the Messiah. It is a time to consider His promised return. The people of Jesus’ time were also awaiting a messiah: A king who would deliver them from the hands of foreign oppressors. A high priest who would restore the true and proper worship of YHWH and initiate a new period of prosperity and prominence. The prophet Isaiah of Jerusalem (800 years prior) had spoken about a descendent of King David who would once again sit on the throne and rule justly. Generations would pass before the true Messiah would enter the scene. Throughout this Advent season, we will consider the juxtaposition between the kings we want and the king who came. The kings we want always seem larger than life and full of big promises. In return, we dress them in opulence, shower them with wealth, and surrender our power to live under their authority. And do they live up to the hype? Rarely! Compare those kings to the one who left His throne to come to earth. Consider the one who held the power of creation in His hands, but gave it up for tiny fingers. All majesty, all authority, all power, all wealth, all of heaven and earth are His, yet He became one of us. What kind of King is this Jesus? We begin our Advent season with the hope of the Messiah. In preparation, read Isaiah 11:1-5 and Romans 15:4-13.