4th Sunday in Advent - Blessed and Challenged
/Preacher: Alan Cameron
Verses: Luke 1:39-45
3rd Sunday in Advent - Rugged Repentance
/Preacher: Alan Cameron
Verses: Luke 3:7-20
Occasionally I find myself driving, my mind elsewhere, keeping an eye on the road but heading in the wrong direction. So, I turn around and head back the way I came. In this regard psychologists speak of two kinds of attention: primary and secondary attention. Primary attention is that which is at the forefront of our thoughts. Secondary attention enables us to do familiar things whilst our thoughts are elsewhere.
Both these things, changing direction and paying attention is what Advent is all about. John the Baptist interrupts our meandering thoughts with the call to repent, to turn around. His language is harsh and arresting. “You bunch of snakes!”. Hardly the greeting we place on Christmas cards! “Who told you to flee from the coming wrath?” What’s good news about that you may well ask. John’s stern proclamation is good not because it is nice but because it is true.
2nd Sunday in Advent - Prepare the Way
/Preacher: Jones Liwewe
Verses: Luke 3:1-6
God is more concerned with our spirituality and our relationship with Him
Luke starts the passage by recording seven historical figures because; (i) He wants us to know that this is a historic event, (ii) He wants us to know the circumstance the Jewish nation suffered under the leadership of these seven figures. The Jewish nation was under the leadership of: The pagan Roman Empire (Tiberius Caesar and his governor Pirate), three ungodly local leaders (Herod, Philip and Lysanias), and 2 corrupt spiritual leaders (Annas and Caiaphas). Historically, at this time Palestine and the rest of the Roman Empire was filled with corruption, struggles for power, political unrest, economic crisis, social upheaval, religious apostasy. In addition to this situation, the nation experienced 400years of silence from God. However, this circumstance led to a profound Messianic expectation by the Jewish nation (Luke 3:15).
1st Sunday in Advent - Watch and Pray
/Preacher: Alan Cameron
Verses: Luke 21:25-36
Advent marks the start of the Christian calendar. It’s a time of preparation, not simply preparing for Christmas and trying to avoid the so-called ‘silly season’ of the year end functions, but preparing our hearts and lives in anticipation of the return of Christ. For return he will, not in the manner of his first coming, incognito born in humility, rather his return will be dramatic and majestic.
Highly descriptive words are used in Scripture to depict the return of Jesus. Pictorial language sets the scene, designed to capture our imagination and attention, rather than providing mere factual information by way of a chronological blue print of what we will see when it happens. Three words by way of theological shorthand are noteworthy in this regard:
i. parousia, the word means ‘presence’ or ‘arrival’ in connection with a royal visit. We live in expectation of a royal visit by our living and risen Saviour.
ii. apocalypse, literally an unveiling of Jesus. At the moment his majesty and dominion are veiled. On that Great Day the veil will be drawn aside and the whole world will see Jesus as he truly is.
iii. epiphany, an unmistakable appearance. “We wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13)
Testifying About the One
/Preacher: Lincon Atherton
Verses: John 1:19-28
So in just over a week we will be celebrating Christmas. This should be such a joyous time for us. Many of us will wake up, sit in front of the Christmas tree, a cup of tea or coffee in the one hand, a hot cross bun, possible a rusk in the other. Some of us will have the option of sleeping in a little bit later than usual, others, parents, grandparents, you might not be so lucky.
For me personally, there is nothing much better than seeing a child’s face on Christmas morning. When I think of what excitement should look like, that is generally the face that I always picture. I have two younger siblings, and I can distinctly remember their faces when they were younger, opening their presents on Christmas morning. And what always amazed me was the fact that for them, it never really mattered what that gift was. For my brother, it could have been a set of small toy cars, a soccer ball, a bicycle. For my sister, it might have been paint, a doll, a puzzle even. For them, it was the sheer excitement of getting something that they enjoyed. And I believe that we all had the same basic emotions as children...
