Advent Hope: Prepare Your Heart for the Coming King

Devotional

Day 1: God with us—divine presence in our mess

Advent declares that God did not stay distant but stepped into the exact circumstances of human life; Immanuel means God with us, coming into fear, broken families, confusion and loneliness to bring hope, peace, and the freedom only he can give—he meets people where they are and holds them there with compassionate presence. [01:12:23]

Matthew 1:23 (ESV)
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us).

Reflection: Name one place in your life today where you feel alone or overwhelmed; speak the name "Immanuel" aloud, ask God to be present in that specific situation, and take one concrete step this afternoon to let someone you trust know you need prayer or support.

Day 2: Wake up; live with urgent hopeful anticipation

Advent is a call to wakefulness—not fear-based, but hope-driven urgency—casting off casual or convenience faith and choosing to live alert to what God is doing, putting off the works of darkness and putting on the armor of light as the day of the Lord draws near. [01:16:27]

Romans 13:11–12 (ESV)
Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Reflection: Identify one specific "work of darkness" (a habit, place, or pattern) you will stop today; write it down and replace it tonight with a five-minute prayer or scripture reading when you would normally fall into that habit.

Day 3: Jesus saves his people from their sins

The angel's message was purposeful: Jesus came to save his people from their sins—this is not merely comfort or sentiment but surrender to his lordship; if you want the peace of Christ you must surrender your life to him, accepting forgiveness and turning from that which enslaves you. [01:23:46]

Matthew 1:21 (ESV)
She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

Reflection: Choose one pattern or sin you have been holding onto; pray a short prayer of confession to Jesus now, then take one immediate practical step (delete a contact or app, set a boundary, apologize to someone) that demonstrates your surrender today.

Day 4: Born again to a living, sustaining hope

The resurrection has given believers a living hope—active, breathing, and powerful enough to confront addiction, anxiety, and brokenness; this hope is not a candle but Christ himself, able to restore the weary and make things new even when circumstances do not instantly change. [01:21:45]

1 Peter 1:3 (ESV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Reflection: Write down one fear or anxious thought that weighs on you tonight; speak the words of 1 Peter 1:3 aloud three times over that fear, then text one trusted friend or church prayer line asking them to pray for you specifically about that concern today.

Day 5: Prepare the way; live ready for the Lord

The voice that cried "prepare the way of the Lord" still calls today—Advent is not sentimentalizing Jesus but actively preparing hearts; every time God shows up he expects a response, so use this season to make space, surrender, and invite others to meet the King coming again. [01:19:47]

Isaiah 40:3 (ESV)
A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

Reflection: Pick one person in your life who needs to hear about Jesus this Christmas; draft a short, personal invitation (call, text, card) you will send them this week inviting them to church or to receive a gospel resource, and then follow through today.

Sermon Summary

We began our Advent journey by naming the world as it is—tired, anxious, and dark in places—and then lifting our eyes to the promise that Jesus steps right into our real circumstances with peace and freedom. Advent isn’t passive nostalgia; it’s active anticipation. It’s the season where we remember that the King has come and the King is coming again. That shifts how we live. I asked us to see Christmas not as a warm feeling or a nice tradition—though those are gifts—but as God’s decisive move toward us in Jesus, Immanuel, “God with us.” He doesn’t wait for us to clean up. He comes to rescue, to forgive, to make new.

We celebrated that newness through baptism, declaring with our brothers that the old life is buried and the new life is raised with Christ. We prayed for healing, provision, restored relationships, and calm minds—trusting that the One who came still meets us now. Then we opened the Scriptures and heard the call to wake up. This is not the hour for convenience faith. Romans 13 says the night is far gone; the day is near. I urged us to reject lukewarm, cultural Christianity and live ready—not out of fear, but out of hope—because Jesus came once and he will return.

I reminded us that the manger points to the cross, the cross to the empty tomb, and the empty tomb to his promised return. That’s why hope for us is not an idea; hope has a name. Christ himself is our living hope, strong enough to break addiction, heal marriages, calm anxiety, and lift the weary. But hope and peace are found on the far side of surrender. We cannot cling to sin and expect joy. We cannot live for self and expect life. Advent invites us to prepare the way—to repent, to return, to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus.

Finally, I called us to live sent. Every gathering is an open door for someone to meet Jesus. This is why we invite, why we give, why we serve: so that people in our city would hear that there is a Savior, and his name is Jesus. Today, many took steps toward him. That’s the miracle I long for in every season—lives made new in Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. Wake up from casual faith Advent is an alarm clock, not a lullaby. Scripture calls us to get out of spiritual drowsiness and live with clear-eyed hope, reordered priorities, and ready obedience. Readiness looks like concrete choices—how we pray, spend, serve, and invite—because a real King will really return. Hope doesn’t make us passive; it makes us prepared. [76:27]
2. God steps into our real mess Immanuel means God shows up in places we’d rather hide—fear, conflict, confusion, and shame. The incarnation frees us from pretending; we meet Jesus best in truth, not polish. He doesn’t offer distance coaching; he offers withness that transforms. Invite him into the room as it is. [72:23]
3. Hope is a living Person Christian hope isn’t optimism or denial; it’s union with the risen Christ. Because he lives, hope breathes, confronts, heals, and restores. It changes what we expect when we pray and how we persevere when we suffer. Our hope is measured by whom we trust, not what we feel. [81:45]
4. Peace follows surrendered obedience You cannot hold on to sin and hold the joy of Christ at the same time. Repentance isn’t self-loathing; it’s returning to reality—the freedom for which you were made. Surrender is not loss but alignment, where God restores desire and reorders our loves. That’s where lasting peace grows. [83:46]
5. Live sent with everyday invitations Our gatherings are intentionally shaped so people can meet Jesus and decide to follow him. An invitation is an act of love, a small seed with eternal weight. Pair hospitality with clarity and trust the Spirit to work. Simple obedience can change someone’s forever. [89:36]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[12:44] - Worship: Jesus Sets Us Free
[38:50] - Baptisms: Raised To New Life
[44:35] - Prayer For Needs And Healing
[55:15] - Invitation Culture And Evangelism
[58:18] - Advent Devotional And Spark Gospel
[67:14] - Stand, Pray, Open The Word
[70:56] - Advent: Light In Our Darkness
[72:23] - Immanuel: God In Our Mess
[74:49] - Traditions Are Good; A Savior Is Better
[76:27] - Wake Up From Casual Christianity
[79:47] - Prepare The Way Of The Lord
[81:45] - Hope Is Christ, Not A Feeling
[83:46] - Surrender: Leave Sin, Find Joy
[91:25] - Prayer Of Surrender To Jesus

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

- Matthew 1:23 — "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). - Romans 13:11–12 "Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light." - 1 Peter 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

Observation Questions

Read Matthew 1:23. What does the name "Immanuel — God with us" change about where you expect God to be present? ([01:12:23])
Read Romans 13:11–12. What concrete behaviors or routines in daily life could be signs that someone is still "asleep" spiritually rather than living as if "the day is at hand"? ([01:16:27])
Read 1 Peter 1:3. What differences do you notice between "hope" as a feeling and "a living hope" described here? How would you explain that difference to a friend? ([01:21:45])
The sermon used baptism as a picture of the old life being buried and the new life being raised (baptisms in service). What visible elements of baptism (public declaration, water as symbol, community witness) communicate that change to you? ([38:50])

Interpretation Questions

How does the claim "God with us" reframe the idea that people must "clean up" before approaching God? What implications does that have for how someone steps into a church or a small group? ([01:12:23])
When the pastor warns against "casual Christianity" and urges people to "wake up," what patterns of thought or action is he targeting (e.g., cultural faith, convenience, passive attendance)? How might those patterns be identified in a believer's life? ([01:16:27])
The sermon says hope is not an idea but a Person. How would a person's prayer life, expectations in suffering, or perseverance change if they treated hope as "Christ" rather than as optimistic thinking? ([01:21:45])
The speaker states that "you cannot hold on to sin and expect the joy of Christ at the same time." What practical tensions arise when someone claims faith but deliberately continues a known pattern of sin? What pastoral responses follow from that statement? ([01:23:46])

Application Questions

Identify one area in your life where you have been waiting to "clean up" before inviting Jesus into the situation. What single action will you take this week to invite Jesus into that room of your life? ([01:12:23])
The sermon urged people to "wake up" from casual faith. Name one habit (time spent on media, work, shopping, social patterns, church attendance) that contributes to spiritual drowsiness for you. What replacement habit will you try for the next four weeks? Be specific about time and frequency. ([01:16:27])
The pastor connected baptism with publicly declaring a life-change. If you have been baptized publicly, who were the first people you told about how Jesus changed you? If you have not, what practical step could you take to make your faith public this month (e.g., tell a friend, post a short testimony, sign up for baptism at church)? ([38:50])
The sermon called for surrender — leaving sin to find joy. Pick one particular sin or recurring temptation you want to surrender. What accountability steps will you arrange this week (name one person to check in with, one small habit to remove, and a Scripture or prayer to use when tempted)? ([01:23:46])
"Live sent" was a key point — every gathering is an open door. Who is one person in your circle (neighbor, coworker, family member) you could invite to a church event or a coffee conversation about Jesus this month? What will you say when you invite them? ([55:15])
The sermon emphasized hope that heals anxiety and lifts the weary. What is one realistic, immediate prayer request you can bring to the group this week about something causing anxiety or weariness in your life? How can the group practically support you (call, pray daily, help with a task)? ([01:21:45])
The pastor encouraged giving, inviting, and serving so people would meet Jesus. Which of those three (give, invite, serve) is hardest for you right now? Choose one small, measurable step you will take this week to move in that direction (e.g., give a specific percentage/amount, invite one person, sign up for one serving slot). ([01:29:36])

Sermon Clips

``God who breaks in—God who breaks into the messes of our lives, the circumstances of our lives, and says, I still come for my people. You see, Jesus came to a world just like ours. Matthew chapter 1 verse 23: Look, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which means God with us. God with us—not God far from us, not God watching from a distance. You see, he came into the world that we actually live in, a world full of fear, a world filled with political chaos, religious confusion, broken families, people barely holding themselves together. Sound familiar? [01:13:01] (63 seconds) #GodWithUs

But Jesus didn't wait for the world to get better. He came because we couldn't fix it ourselves. You see, friends, Christmas confronts us with a truth. The truth is this morning that we need a Savior. We don't need a holiday. We don't need a feeling. We don't need a tradition. We need a Savior. Now, there's nothing wrong with having traditions. I love traditions. One of my favorite traditions is, well, everything to do with Christmas. But in all seriousness, one of my favorite traditions is getting together for Christmas Eve. [01:14:04] (52 seconds) #WeNeedASavior

Advent calls us to wake up, to wake up in anticipation. Advent isn't passive; it's a call to live ready. Romans 13 verses 11 through 12, the Bible says it is now for the hour for you to wake up from sleep. The night has advanced towards dawn, and the day is near. Friends, I've said this time and time again, and I'm going to say it again: this is not the hour for casual Christianity. This is not the hour for lukewarm faith. This is not the hour for convenience faith or cultural faith. [01:16:09] (51 seconds) #WakeUpBelievers

It is time to wake up, friends—not out of fear but out of hope. Why? Because the King came once, and he's coming again. Let that settle on your heart this morning. Jesus came once, but he's coming again. You're not waiting for some made-up story. You're not celebrating a myth. You're preparing for an actual King to return, and his name is Jesus. And the Bible talks about how when Jesus returns, every eye will see, every knee will bow. [01:17:00] (48 seconds) #PrepareForHisReturn

Jesus, the Lamb that was slain, took on our sin and made it possible so that we could have a relationship with Jesus, possible so that you and I could spend eternity with him, conquering the death of sin, conquering the grave so that we can live alive in him. You see, Christmas reminds us that God keeps his promises. The manger is proof that the cross was coming. The cross is proof that the empty tomb was coming. And the empty tomb is proof that Jesus Christ is coming again. [01:18:38] (52 seconds) #MangerToResurrection

The Advent message—it means that we need to get our hearts ready. John the Baptist's voice still cries today. We can hear his voice through the scriptures, and it says, prepare the way of the Lord. That message isn't outdated, friends. In fact, it's urgent. Christmas is meaningless if Jesus stays in the manger. He came to save sinners fully, completely, and eternally. You see, here's the truth that we need to hear this morning: you cannot save yourself, you cannot fix yourself, you cannot cleanse yourself, but my friends, Jesus came and he can. [01:19:30] (57 seconds) #PrepareYourHeart

You see, here's the good news: you don't have to climb your way to God. He has come down to you. He has come down to us. And that's the hope. That's the hope. That's the hope. That's where this gets personal. Jesus didn't bring hope as an idea. He is the hope. First Peter 1:3, he has called, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. [01:20:32] (40 seconds) #LivingHopeInChrist

A living hope means a hope that breathes, that moves, that restores, that confronts, that transforms. It's a hope strong enough, my friends, to break addiction, to heal marriages, to calm anxiety, to restore the broken, to lift the weary, to save the lost. Hope, my friends, this morning is not a candle. Hope is Christ. Hope is Christ. Christ. Christ. Christmas calls us to make a decision, to make a decision personally, as a family, as a church: how are we going to spend this time? [01:21:14] (56 seconds) #HopeThatTransforms

You see, as we comb through the pages of scripture, we notice something: that every time God shows up, he expects a response. Every time God shows up, he expects a response. And he's still showing up today. This is not a season to sentimentalize Jesus. This is a season to surrender to him. The angel didn't say he will save people from discouragement. He said, Matthew 1:21, he will save his people from their sins. A strong but tender truth. [01:22:11] (63 seconds) #SurrenderToJesus

If you want the peace of Christ, you must surrender to the lordship of Christ. You can't hold on to sin and expect joy. You can't cling to the world and expect freedom. You can't live for self and expect life. But if you come to Jesus, if you truly come to Jesus, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, he will forgive you, he will wash you clean, and he will call you his own. And friends, that is the miracle of the nativity. [01:23:14] (32 seconds) #PeaceThroughLordship

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

How does Advent call Christians to wake up?

What does Emmanuel mean for present suffering?

Why is hope defined as Christ himself?