Be Ready for Him | Pastor John Hardie
“Santa Claus is coming to town,” the little song warns. “He knows when you are sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. He knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness’ sake!”
Why be good? Well obviously… because if you aren’t good, you won’t get a gift from Santa – serious stuff indeed for a child.
In the matter of the coming of Jesus Christ, we are dealing with eternal life and death, a matter so serious even many Christians would rather not think about it. The Bible warns us to not be sleeping when He returns. Rather, we must be awake and alert, for we know not the hour.
In the famous prologue of John’s Gospel it says of His first coming, “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” (John 1:10-11) How sad for God’s chosen people.
The prophetic writings pointing to a sacrificial Messiah failed to capture the interest and imagination of the Jews. But whose fault was that? The coming Messiah’s power and authority were much more interesting to readers of prophecy than His sacrificial role. And because he came to be the Lamb of God, he was neither recognized nor received by most people.
When it comes to Jesus’ return, we must be better prepared. We want to be people who anticipate and prepare for His return with joy and awe. If we are faithful, His appearing will be transformative for us. John declares, “We will be like him for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2) Wow!
For the unprepared, it’s a different story. “At the end of the age the angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:49-50)
Advent is a short but serious season intended to move us towards readiness. Nothing good can come from being caught unprepared for the world’s true King. But if we are prepared, we will have every reason to await his coming not with dread, but with unimaginable joy.
WHAT IS ADVENT AND WHY DO WE CELEBRATE IT AT CITY CHURCH?
Advent is a four-week preparatory season leading up to Christmas. It encourages us to wait and to prepare. Our goal is to more greatly appreciate the astonishing humility of the Incarnation of the Son of God – and anticipate His coming again in power and glory.
The Bible does not tell us to observe Advent, but it has been a part of the historical church’s calendar for a long time, calling us to prepare the way for the Lord. The City Church Elders believe that observing Advent helps us combat many distractions of the holiday season.
HOW ADVENT HELPS US
1) Advent helps us align our December calendars with the story of God. Often we spend more time in December thinking about the demands of Christmas than the glory of Christ. Through gathered worship on Sundays and family devotions/readings during the week, Advent helps us to dedicate December as a time to reflect on what is most precious to us: God’s gift of Himself in Christ eclipsing all others.
2) Advent stirs our longings for the second coming of Christ. Though Christ’s Kingdom is already present in the world (and in us!), it is also not yet fully realized. Advent stirs our hearts to pray for Christ’s return, to groan for the current brokenness of the world and ourselves, and to give ourselves more fully to God’s redeeming purposes in the world.
3) Advent gives us a strategic opportunity to share the hope of Christ’s coming with our friends/family who are not yet connected to Jesus or the church. Both as the church gathered on Sundays and the church scattered throughout the week, the lead up to Christmas affords us a great opportunity to share the Gospel. Many of our friends/family who are not connected to Jesus will consider coming to church and talking about Jesus during the holidays. We want to be available for these opportunities, for the glory of Jesus and the good of our loved ones.
OBSERVING ADVENT IN MY HOME THROUGHOUT THE WEEK
Advent is traditionally celebrated with an Advent Wreath, a circular candle holder that supports five candles. Each night, when an individual, family, or group gathers to celebrate and pray, candles are lit: one candle during the first week, two candles during the second week, and so on, until all five are lit on Christmas Eve.
Advent wreaths and candles can be purchased inexpensively at local stores or online. Or, you can observe Advent with a wreath and five candles that you already have in your home. However you choose to arrange your Advent Wreath and candles is unimportant; what is important is devoting ourselves to prayer, reflection and doing God’s will as we look back at Christ’s coming and look forward to His return.
A note to parents with young children: Whether your family has been observing Advent in your home for years, or if you are new to the practice of Advent, the key thing is not perfection as you go through the liturgy with your family; rather, the most important thing for your children during Advent is for them to see you, their parents, hold high in reverence daily worship in the season upon us: the celebration of the Incarnate Christ and the anticipation of His Second Coming. As your children grow each year, they will begin to imitate your reverence for the Christmas season and for Advent, one day bringing the reverence and worship to their own home and family. Each daily practice should take about 10 to 20 minutes to go through.
Outline of Advent Liturgy in the Home (Morning or Evening):
*Readings, hymns, and liturgy found in the separate weekly handouts.
Say the Responsive Advent Reading.
Light your Advent Wreath: one candle in the first week, two candles in the second week, etc.
Sing the weekly hymn stanza(s).
Read the Scriptural reading(s).
Pray the Advent prayer.
Consider the questions in light of the Scripture reading.
Adult and/or older children prayer.
Conclude with the benediction.
