Advent: The Arrival or The Coming | November 30, 2025

Advent has begun, and my heart is full. Advent means the appearing—the coming—and it always carries two parts: anticipation and preparation. Isaiah said it seven hundred years early: a Child will be born, a Son will be given, and He shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Jesus is Wonderful. He made the heavens, redeemed us at the cross, sent His Spirit, and still heals the deepest places of our souls. Every miracle He did in the Gospels, He mirrors in salvation—opening blind eyes, unstopping deaf ears, cleansing the leprosy of sin, and raising the lame to walk with Him.

But He is not only Wonderful; He’s our Counselor. We don’t just need information; we need Him. You can read a lot of Bible and still miss the Person the Bible points to. Jesus told the scholars of His day: you search the Scriptures, yet you won’t come to Me to have life. So let’s come. Ask for wisdom. And when He gives it—obey it. Do the known, and you’ll know the next step.

This is a season to practice intentional preparation. Lead your home toward Jesus for 24 days: Scripture, prayer, simple acts of generosity, meaningful gifts that stir adoration for Christ. Enjoy the tree, lights, and even the candy cane as a shepherd’s staff pointing to Him. Not legalism—just focus. Holiness isn’t stuffy; it’s power. Blessed are the pure, for they shall see God. Set aside noise, carve out quiet, and you’ll hear the still, small voice.

I held up a power saw as a picture. It’s beautifully designed, but useless unplugged. Many of us try harder without the Source. Plug in. Then become an extension cord. God showed me people trying to make life work, still far from power—marriages, diagnoses, despair. When we stay connected, He untangles our knots and extends His reach through us farther than we thought possible. We are not the Source; we’re the conduit. Like Jesus felt virtue flow to the woman who touched His garment, power flows from intimacy with the Father. This is fellowship: the one-anothers, plugging each other back in, and carrying hope to a valley that’s ready.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Advent invites anticipation and preparation. Advent isn’t just looking forward; it’s getting our hearts ready. Shape the days leading to Christmas with Scripture, prayer, generosity, and meaningful gifts that point to Jesus. Let the beauty of the season become a teacher that lifts our eyes to the Giver, not just the gifts. Aim your home toward wonder and worship. [29:37]
• 2. Come to the Wonderful Counselor Himself. Information alone can leave us dry; Jesus offers life. Read the Word to meet the One it reveals, and bring Him your real questions and needs. Ask for wisdom and be ready to act on it. Presence precedes clarity; encounter fuels obedience. [25:55]
• 3. Obey the known to grow. We often ask for direction while ignoring the simple steps already in front of us. Faithfulness in the known—prayer, Scripture, fellowship, serving, loving our families—opens the door to the unknown. God’s guidance meets us in motion, not stagnation. Do what you know, and you’ll know what to do next. [28:43]
• 4. Holiness positions us to see God. Purity isn’t perfectionism; it’s alignment. When we remove the noise and repent of compromise, our spiritual sight sharpens. Holiness makes space for God’s active work in and through us. The pure in heart see what others miss. [32:08]
• 5. Stay connected; be an extension cord. We are designed to carry power, not generate it. Stay plugged into the Source, and let God untangle the knots that limit your reach. Then extend hope to those far away—praying, listening, speaking wisdom, and loving with Jesus’ power. You’re not the hero; you’re the conduit. [36:44]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [21:30] - Opening prayer and blessing
• [22:10] - Advent: anticipation and preparation
• [23:08] - Isaiah 9:6: Mr. Wonderful
• [24:12] - Salvation as total healing
• [25:55] - Come to Jesus, not just text
• [28:43] - Do the known first
• [29:37] - Practicing Advent at home
• [30:48] - Candy cane and meaningful gifts
• [32:08] - Holiness positions us to see God
• [33:31] - Ask for wisdom—and obey
• [35:33] - Plug into the Source
• [36:44] - Be the extension cord
• [41:53] - Power flows from intimacy
• [46:20] - Communion and sending

1. What four names does Isaiah give to the coming child, and what first impressions do those titles create about who this person is?
2. The Bible pictures salvation as healing the blind, unstopping deaf ears, cleansing leprosy, and enabling the lame to walk. What does it mean practically that those same works were “accomplished in every believer” at salvation? [24:12]
3. Advent was defined as both anticipation and preparation. What concrete practices were suggested to prepare a home for Jesus during the 24 days before Christmas? [29:37]
4. The Scriptures can be studied for information, yet still miss the One they point to. What problem does that describe, and where in the Bible was that concern identified? [25:55]

1. How does the title “Wonderful Counselor” change the posture one should have toward Scripture and toward asking God for wisdom? [25:55]
2. If holiness “positions us to see God,” what is the link between removing distractions/compromise and experiencing God’s activity in daily life? [32:08]
3. In the “extension cord” metaphor, what does it imply about the believer’s role in bringing God’s power to others—what are believers meant to be and not meant to be? [36:44]
4. What does “obey the known” suggest about how God commonly leads people—how does simple faithfulness open the door to clearer direction? [28:43]

1. Advent invites shaping the days before Christmas with Scripture, prayer, simple generosity, and meaningful gifts that point to Jesus. Which of these four practices will you commit to doing daily this Advent, and what will it look like in your home this week? [29:37]
2. Wisdom is promised to those who ask God (James 1:5). When was the last time you asked God for wisdom about a specific need and then obeyed what you heard? What step of obedience can you take in the next 48 hours? [32:46]
3. Identify one “known” spiritual practice you have been neglecting (prayer, Scripture reading, fellowship, serving, tithing, etc.). What one measurable action will you take this week to do that known thing? [28:43]
4. What noise or compromise will you intentionally set aside during Advent so your heart can be purer and more attentive to God? Name one specific thing to remove and one specific habit to add. [32:08]
5. Who in your life seems “unplugged” or too far from the Source right now? How can you act as an “extension cord” to them this season—be concrete (a phone call, a visit, praying with them, bringing a meal, sharing a Gospel-centered gift)? [36:44]
6. Consider one gift, decoration, or small family tradition you can give or reshape so it points to Jesus (for example, a meaningful gift that stirs adoration, the candy cane explained as a shepherd’s staff and J for Jesus). What will you do and when will you do it? [30:48]