Hope Community Church

A New Years sermon from Rev. 21

The fourth sermon in the Advent Series: LOVE

The trappings of the season often distract us from the reason. If you're tired of the holidays by the time it's Christmas, then you haven't been celebrating Advent. What is Advent? Let's start with what it's not. Advent is not decorations, shopping, wrapping, pictures, parties, stressing, or the receiving of gifts. Advent is waiting, expecting, observing, praying, hoping, and preparing for the arrival of Christ, first as Child and Savior, and then as returning King. The Advent tradition is observed the four Sundays before Christmas when we commemorate Christ's birth and anticipate Christ's return. It's intended to clear our minds of holiday distractions by preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ. The holidays may bring the burden of expectations but Advent brings the Joy of expectation. Instead of longing for Christmas to be over, start longing for Christ to arrive. Contemplate and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas -- Advent, a season of anticipation.

The trappings of the season often distract us from the reason. If you're tired of the holidays by the time it's Christmas, then you haven't been celebrating Advent. What is Advent? Let's start with what it's not. Advent is not decorations, shopping, wrapping, pictures, parties, stressing, or the receiving of gifts. Advent is waiting, expecting, observing, praying, hoping, and preparing for the arrival of Christ, first as Child and Savior, and then as returning King. The Advent tradition is observed the four Sundays before Christmas when we commemorate Christ's birth and anticipate Christ's return. It's intended to clear our minds of holiday distractions by preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ. The holidays may bring the burden of expectations but Advent brings the Joy of expectation. Instead of longing for Christmas to be over, start longing for Christ to arrive. Contemplate and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas -- Advent, a season of anticipation.

The trappings of the season often distract us from the reason. If you're tired of the holidays by the time it's Christmas, then you haven't been celebrating Advent. What is Advent? Let's start with what it's not. Advent is not decorations, shopping, wrapping, pictures, parties, stressing, or the receiving of gifts. Advent is waiting, expecting, observing, praying, hoping, and preparing for the arrival of Christ, first as Child and Savior, and then as returning King. The Advent tradition is observed the four Sundays before Christmas when we commemorate Christ's birth and anticipate Christ's return. It's intended to clear our minds of holiday distractions by preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ. The holidays may bring the burden of expectations but Advent brings the Joy of expectation. Instead of longing for Christmas to be over, start longing for Christ to arrive. Contemplate and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas -- Advent, a season of anticipation.

Special message by Dr. David Seiver

The trappings of the season often distract us from the reason. If you're tired of the holidays by the time it's Christmas, then you haven't been celebrating Advent. What is Advent? Let's start with what it's not. Advent is not decorations, shopping, wrapping, pictures, parties, stressing, or the receiving of gifts. Advent is waiting, expecting, observing, praying, hoping, and preparing for the arrival of Christ, first as Child and Savior, and then as returning King. The Advent tradition is observed the four Sundays before Christmas when we commemorate Christ's birth and anticipate Christ's return. It's intended to clear our minds of holiday distractions by preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ. The holidays may bring the burden of expectations but Advent brings the Joy of expectation. Instead of longing for Christmas to be over, start longing for Christ to arrive. Contemplate and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas -- Advent, a season of anticipation.

When most of us think about prayer, we probably tend to think about prayer as primarily getting from God what we ask for. But maybe prayer was meant to do something much deeper. Maybe prayer was meant to transform us and our relationship with God. How so? Join us this Sunday as we begin our new message series “30-Day Prayer Adventure”!