Happy Thanksgiving!
This Sunday we will begin our Advent journey. Our Advent theme this year is…
This year’s Advent theme is, Restoration is Near. The two verses that are the focal point of this theme are…
Psalm 80:3…
Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
James 5:8…
Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
The theme for this Sunday is… Watch: The day is almost here
The scriptures we are looking at are…
Isaiah 2:1–5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11–14; Matthew 24:36–44…
Matthew 24:36–44 NSRV
36 “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so, too, will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two will be in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken, and one will be left. 42 Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Who’s ready for Christmas?
That seems weird to say before we celebrate Thanksgiving. But if you have spent any time in the stores or listened to the radio, you would think Christmas is sooner than it actually is.
In some ways it feels that we start thinking about Christmas too soon but in others ways Christmas kinda sneaks up on us.
But what if we didn’t have any sign or indicators to tell us what day Christmas was coming on? What if we knew Christmas was coming, but didn’t know the exact day?
We would have to be always ready for Christmas to appear! You couldn’t procrastinate on your gift buying, your meal preparations, and sending out your Christmas cards.
I think that is what Jesus is trying to tell us in Matthew 24. Jesus is coming back but we don’t know when.
Are we ready?
What preparations are we making?
What are you watching for, waiting for, and hoping for as an individual, as a church, and as a wider community?
Who is your neighbor and what are they longing for?
Our passages this Sunday call us to watch, pray, believe, and “come, let us go.” From the beginning to the end of Scripture we meet a God who enters the story of humanity at just the right moments to call, redeem, and restore, so we seek peace and live faithfully as we watch and wait for God’s Spirit to move in our midst today.
What stories from Scripture encourage you to trust that God will act at the right time?
What situations do you encounter that might cause you to take control of a situation, searching for solutions that bring temporary power and comfort, rather than seeking God’s ways and being a part of what God is wanting to do in our lives, families, and communities.
What is the good news we proclaim when everything seems wrong?
Let’s talk about it on Sunday.
Merry Thanksgiving… Happy Advent… Have a great week.
~ Pastor Dustin
