“The End* Is Near" Advent 2009
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©2006, image of a painting by Lauren Bailey. What is your heart reaching for? What discouragement must you overcome? What signs of hope do you see? |
Are you surprised to see “The End is Near” as the message of Advent? Indeed, Christ’s return is imminent and we must always be spiritually prepared for that great day. But the image of men wearing sandwich boards on street corners to proclaim this message plays to our fears of condemnation and the wrath of God. In contrast, our Advent message speaks to the expectation and anticipation of the season. The “end” that we can grasp as Christians is an end to waywardness, joylessness, loneliness, and hopelessness. Our God has brought a promise of redemption through the birth of the Christ child, and we can access His power to change our lives today. |
Date |
Speaker |
Resources |
Notes |
| Prior Series: ReThink Church | |||
| Nov 29, 2009 | Pastor Melissa Rudolph | audio1129; slides1129; video; image1; image3; image4; |
Advent 1: “The End to Waywardness is Near”, Matt. 3:1-12, Luke 3:1-16, Isaiah 40:3-5 We are often filled with uncertainty. We ask, “what should we do?” Our directionless laments are met with John’s call to repentance as we make straight paths, preparing the way of the Lord. Returning to God begins the end of our waywardness. |
| Dec 6, 2009 | Pastor Melissa Rudolph | audio1206; slides1206; video; cartoon5; cartoon6; communion.mp3; communion.pdf |
Advent 2: “The End of Joylessness is Near”, Luke 1:57-80 The circumstances of our lives bring darkness. But just as God could bring mercy and honor to Elizabeth and Zechariah with the blessing of John’s birth, the Lord is waiting to shine into our lives and bring us a joy that is not a result of our environments, but comes from the Spirit at work in us. We have to be able to abandon ourselves to that power to bring about the end of joylessness. |
| Dec 13, 2009 | Pastor Melissa Rudolph | audio1213; slides1213; video; film-The Nativity Story(2006); lbaileyimage7 |
Week 3: “The End of Loneliness is Near” Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:35-45, Isaiah 7:14 Mary found herself alone. She was facing an embarrassing pregnancy and a quiet divorce. But, through her kinship with Elizabeth and Joseph’s willingness to remain with her, she found community. And, we do not face our challenges alone, but we know of “God with us” through His work in our lives and through the community of the church. Immanuel is the beginning of the end of loneliness. |
| Dec 20, 2009 | Cancelled due to snow | ||
| Dec 24, 2009 | Pastor Jenny Smith | audio1224;video; unto_us; heavens_rose; |
Candlelight Christmas Eve Services at 5pm (children's), 7pm (families) and 9pm (traditional) |
| Dec 27, 2009 | Pastor Melissa Rudolph | audio n/a; video; slides1227; baileyimage8 | Week 4: “The End of Hopelessness is Near” Matt 3:11-12, Matt. 24:4-14, Micah 5:1-5, Isaiah 40:28-31 Christ speaks of His impending return, and we recognize the birth pangs. Christ was God’s promise to Israel and the salvation of humankind. He is the “wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” And, in him, we find the end of our hopelessness as we serve the God who keeps His promises. We do not face His coming with fear, but we hope in the assurance that “he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” |
| Next Series: Life's Healing Choices |
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Scripture links to Biblegateway.com.