Church family,
I pray that your week has been blessed in this season of Advent. Out of all the seasons of the year, the season of Advent is my favorite. I love all the decorations, seeing family, giving and receiving gifts, and celebrating the birth of Christ. The word "Advent" comes from the Latin word "adventus," meaning "coming" or "arrival". The purpose of Advent is to prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ (His first coming) and to anticipate his future return (His second coming).
This past Sunday, we began our Advent/Christmas series, "The Manger and the Throne," which explored the profound mystery of the incarnation, emphasizing how Jesus, the King, came as a baby in a manger to fulfill Old Testament prophecies and offer hope. The sermon on Sunday focused on John 1:1–3 and 14–18, highlighting that the Word, who is both God and with God, became flesh to bridge the gap between humanity and the divine. This act of God’s gracious descent illustrates His intimate involvement in human life and invites believers to engage deeply in their relationships with God and others. Ultimately, the incarnation serves as God's ultimate love letter, revealing His desire for a close relationship with humanity and calling Christians to embody grace and mercy in their lives.
This coming Sunday, we will have one service celebrating the Advent season with praise and worship led by our chancel choir. Our choir has been hard at work, and I know that Sunday will be a blessing. On Sunday evening, we will have our Live Nativity followed by warm soups, Christmas treats, and photos with Santa. Let us join together in prayer that this will be a great day in the life of our church to share the greatest gift of Christ in our community.
Below, I wanted to provide some questions to reflect on from this past week’s sermon!
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 NKJV
DIG DEEPER IN THE SERMON
Week 1—The Wonder of the Incarnation: God's Love Revealed
Text: John 1:1–3, 14–18
Big Idea of the Message: The Incarnation is God's ultimate love letter to humanity, revealing that God is not distant or detached but intimately involved in our lives, calling us to respond to His love with our own in our relationships and daily walk.
Application Point: The incarnation is the point at which God and humanity intersect. In Jesus, we see the presence of the eternal God and God’s love for us.
Discussion Questions:
1. What is one thing that stood out to you from this week’s message?
2. Have you ever taken a trip or been away for an extended time and had to rely on your phone to communicate with loved ones? How did it feel to finally get to sit down with them when you got back?
3. Read John 1:1–18. As you read, consider the ways John describes the person of the Word. How do these words help you better understand the person of Jesus? What might you use to describe him to others?
4. How important is it to know that God dwelled among us in the person of Jesus? Why would it be significant for us to consider?
5. How might this help encourage you about God’s presence with you today?
6. How can we pray for you?
REMINDERS
Advent devotionals
We have Advent devotionals for each family. You can get your copy this Sunday if you haven't already. The Advent devotionals will be available in the Family Life Center lobby and the sanctuary lobby. Join with us each day of the Advent season in God’s word.
