Expectant Hope: Turning Swords into Plowshares This Advent

Devotional

Day 1: Keep watch and be ready for Christ's return.

You are called to keep awake and live ready for the coming of the Son of Man, recognizing that no one knows the day or hour and that ordinary life can be interrupted by divine surprise; let this call to vigilance shape daily choices and the way you order your time and attention. [18:36]

Matthew 24:36-44 (ESV)
36 But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master 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.

Reflection: Tonight, choose one specific spiritual practice (a 10-minute Scripture reading, a short examen, or an evening prayer) to begin and do it before bed; how does this single act help you “keep awake” tomorrow?

Day 2: God will judge and transform weapons into tools of life.

Imagine nations and people laying aside instruments of harm to become instruments of growth and provision, trusting God to be the judge who resolves disputes; this prophecy invites a present hope that conversion of violence to life is possible when people surrender to God's justice. [27:34]

Isaiah 2:2-4 (ESV)
2 It shall come to pass in the latter days
that the mountain of the house of the LORD
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be lifted up above the hills;
and all the nations shall flow to it,
3 and many peoples shall come, and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.”
For out of Zion shall go the law,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 He shall judge between the nations,
and shall decide disputes for many peoples;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore.

Reflection: Identify one conflict in your life where you habitually “arm” yourself (with harsh words, control, or withdrawal); today, before you act, pause and pray “Lord, I give this to you,” then choose one life-giving response instead of your usual defense—what changes?

Day 3: Rejoice together: the house of the Lord.

There is joy in gathering—being in God's house is cause for gladness and communal celebration; let corporate worship be a weekly habit that roots hope in the community and seasons the Advent longing with shared presence. [19:04]

Psalm 122:1 (ESV)
1 I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the LORD!”

Reflection: Who can you invite to worship with you this Advent season? Send one invitation right now to someone you want to share this joy with and plan to sit together next Sunday.

Day 4: Be expectant—trust God to do the impossible.

Cultivate an expectant posture that looks for God’s movement instead of clinging to self-made expectations; when one expects God to act, eyes open to small and large ways that the Spirit works—through people, providence, and unexpected miracles. [29:49]

Luke 1:45 (ESV)
45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.

Reflection: Name one situation where you long for God to move; beginning this morning, spend three minutes each day for seven days praying expectantly for that situation and record any small signs of God’s activity you notice—start today.

Day 5: Surrender control to God; trust His just judgment.

Yielding control to God diffuses the compulsion to defend, retaliate, or micromanage outcomes; by trusting God as judge and arbiter, a person learns to live without the constant need to hold weapons—literal or figurative—and allows peace to grow in its place. [31:01]

Romans 12:19 (ESV)
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Reflection: Pick one area you tend to control (a relationship, schedule, or outcome). Right now write “I surrender ___ to God” and place it where you’ll see it today; when you feel the urge to seize control, pause and pray Romans 12:19—what difference do you notice?

Sermon Summary

Jesus’ words in Matthew remind me that no one knows the day or the hour. That isn’t meant to spike our anxiety; it invites a posture of wakefulness in the ordinary—fields worked, grain ground, doors locked at night. Advent starts right here, in the mix of joy and ache, celebration and Blue Christmas honesty. I shared how even Michael Bublé learned to embrace being “the Christmas guy” when illness pressed his family into deeper perspective; joy is not escapism but a courageous choice toward kindness, generosity, and memory. And yes, I said “world peace” out loud without irony. Advent dares us to believe the impossible, because God already did the impossible—entering history through a virgin’s womb to dwell with us and for us.

Isaiah wrote into a world that looked a lot like ours—empires rumbling, people bracing for impact. His vision isn’t sentimental; it’s a surprising political imagination: swords to plowshares, spears to pruning hooks. The key insight I wrestled with all week is that God doesn’t bark a command in that scene. God sits as the just judge, and as people entrust conflict to God’s wisdom, they find they simply don’t need their weapons. That’s what obedience looks like: not white-knuckled rule-keeping, but practical trust that retools our impulses for control into instruments for life. I confessed how quickly I take my life back every morning—how easy it is to sleep as a saint and wake as my own sovereign. Isaiah invites me to hand God the gavel again.

Ruth Chou Simons helped me name the move from “expectations” to “expectant.” Expectations set us up to be disappointed by gingerbread houses, tangled lights, or imperfect family dinners. Expectancy trains our eyes for God’s movement—in miracles, in slow growth, in ordinary faithfulness. That expectancy, yoked with obedience, is how we cultivate peace beyond December. Today is the Church’s New Year. What resolution will you keep with Jesus—something small enough to practice daily and sturdy enough to form you into a person who stays awake, trusts God with conflict, and looks for the impossible right where you live?

Key Takeaways

1. Wakefulness in ordinary, unexpected hours Jesus’ return interrupts regular life—fields, mills, night watches—not a curated religious moment. Readiness looks like trust expressed in the mundane: reconciled relationships, honest work, prayer that keeps the porch light on. Fear guesses at dates; faith cultivates habits. Stay awake by tending what’s yours to tend today. [18:36]
2. Dare to believe the impossible Advent is God’s precedent for impossibility made flesh. If the Incarnation happened in real history, then peace is not naïve—it’s downstream of God’s character. Faith imagines alternatives power cannot see and prepares room for them. Let hope be practical: plan as if God will act. [24:07]
3. Move from expectations to expectant hope Expectations fixate on outcomes we script; expectancy looks for God’s presence and surprises. One posture collapses under imperfect days; the other becomes a lens for noticing grace. Train your attention: name three signs of God’s quiet work each evening. Over time, expectancy builds a steadier joy. [29:49]
4. Trade weapons for tools of life Isaiah doesn’t picture God shouting orders; he shows peoples trusting God enough to repurpose their defenses. When God arbitrates our conflicts, our reflex to control loosens, and creativity replaces suspicion. Ask: where am I swinging an axe when I could be planting? Obedience becomes agriculture for the soul. [27:34]
5. Surrender control as daily obedience Control promises safety but breeds exhaustion and conflict. Handing God the gavel is not passivity; it’s entrusting outcomes while acting with integrity, patience, and courage. Begin small: a prayer of relinquishment, a pause before reacting, an apology offered promptly. Peace grows where control yields to trust. [31:23]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[18:16] - Days of Noah and watchfulness
[18:36] - Be ready: thief in the night
[19:28] - Advent begins in the happiest season
[20:46] - Michael Bublé’s hospital epiphany
[21:28] - Christmas joy and Blue Christmas
[22:17] - Hope and the question of peace
[22:54] - Miss Congeniality and easy answers
[24:07] - Advent believes the impossible
[24:33] - Longing for Christ’s return
[26:09] - Isaiah’s violent world and empire
[27:34] - Swords into plowshares vision
[28:23] - From expectation to expectant hope
[31:01] - Let God arbitrate our conflicts
[33:05] - New Church Year resolutions

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 24:36–44 — 36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. 42 Therefore stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master 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.

Observation Questions

What ordinary activities does Matthew use to describe life at the coming of the Son of Man? How does that shape your picture of “readiness”? (text-based)
The preacher says Advent invites a posture of wakefulness in ordinary life—fields worked, grain ground, doors locked at night. Where in your daily routine did that image connect with you? [18:36]
What distinction did the speaker make between “expectations” and being “expectant”? What concrete examples did she give of expectations failing us? [28:23]
The sermon centers on Isaiah’s vision of turning swords into plowshares. How does the preacher summarize what it looks like when people actually trust God enough to put their weapons down? [27:34]

Interpretation Questions

How does Jesus’ use of ordinary life scenes in Matthew 24 shift the group’s understanding of what “being ready” means, compared with preparing for a spectacular religious event? [18:36]
The preacher reads Isaiah as saying God doesn’t shout orders to remake weapons; God sits as judge and people stop needing weapons. What theological claim about God and human agency is the preacher making here? [31:01]
Moving from “expectations” to “expectant” is presented as a change of attention. How would the group describe the difference in daily practice between those two postures? What might be a short-term sign that “expectant” is growing? [29:49]
The preacher confesses she “takes her life back every morning.” What does that confession reveal about common habits of control, and how might that habit shape how people respond to conflict or fear? [31:23]

Application Questions

Choose one ordinary part of your week (work, commute, household chore, parenting time). What is one small, concrete practice you will do there this week to “stay awake” spiritually (a two-minute prayer, a thankful note, a brief reconciliation step)? Commit to when you’ll do it. [18:36]
The sermon challenged people to trade expectations for expectant hope. Try this for one week: each night name three small signs that God was at work that day. What will you use to remember to do this? When will you start? [29:49]
Where do you habitually “take the gavel” and try to control an outcome (family conflict, work decision, reputation, safety)? Pick one specific situation and name one tiny step you will take this week to relinquish control (a five-second pause before answering, a short prayer, letting someone else decide). Report back next time. [31:23]
Identify a “weapon” you carry (an attitude, a quick defensive response, a recurring complaint) that could be repurposed into a “tool of life” (patience, listening, service). What is the first practical thing you will do this month to begin that repurposing? [27:34]
Advent can be joyful and painful (Blue Christmas). Who in your circle might need an intentional, practical gesture this season (a meal, a call, an invitation to worship)? Name the person and the specific thing you will do and when you will do it. [21:28]
The preacher urged making a New Year’s resolution for the church year: something small and daily that forms you. What one small spiritual habit will you try for the next 30 days to become more expectant and obedient (daily Scripture for five minutes, a nightly “relinquish” prayer, a weekly apology practice)? How will you measure whether it’s helping you hand God the gavel? [33:05]

Sermon Clips

And so I think it's really intriguing that we have this most wonderful time of the year. And I don't want to disregard that for some people this could be a very sad time. It's why we have a Blue Christmas service every single year. We want to recognize that as well. But there's also just this special Christmas spirit in the air, right? It just feels different. And yet, as I'm feeling this Christmas spirit, I get Isaiah talking about war and violence. And that's what I get to preach on this morning to you, is the possibility of world peace. [00:21:28] (33 seconds) #ChristmasHopeForPeace

And yet, we are Christians. Our whole point is to believe in the impossible. As we walk into Advent, we are journeying towards Bethlehem where the impossible happened. God came down into a virgin's womb and was born as a vulnerable infant child for us, to live amongst us, to die for us. Impossible. And yet, it happened in history. God came into history and did the impossible. [00:23:37] (34 seconds) #BelieveTheImpossible

And so, can we possibly believe that world peace could happen? Or is it just going to be a comedic joke? Here's my take. I think there's a couple ways that we could possibly get to world peace. Because it feels like, especially when we do prayers with people, you want to hear world peace. You want it to be in the prayers every single time because we need it every single time. And yet, it feels like it's just never going to happen. [00:24:11] (29 seconds) #PrayForWorldPeace

And so, I think there is this longing that we have. And that's a big part of Advent is waiting and longing for something that we can't have. And it's not just the journey to Bethlehem and the baby in the manger, but it's also, in Advent, we recognize this longing that we have for a perfect world, the second coming of Christ, that he will descend from the clouds, as our hymn says, and that he will make all things perfect and will fulfill all the prophecies that he couldn't get to during his short few years with us here on earth. [00:24:40] (34 seconds) #AdventLonging

That instead of chopping down branches of a family tree and causing destruction, they instead put work into fields and food to help feed new mothers and to help build onto the family tree. What would that look like? It feels impossible, and yet Isaiah is prophesying that and saying it will happen. It will happen. And not in some future, millennia, later time. Isaiah's writing says, in a day to come. Meaning, I want to see it come to fruition now. [00:27:19] (39 seconds) #CultivatePeaceNow

And so he has this longing for a different story, and we should too. We have this Christmas time, and we have our traditions. I loved hearing about the Advent wreath because I also do Advent wreath at home. I also have an Advent devotional that I go to every year. It came out about three years ago, so it hasn't been a long time. But this is the third year that I'm going to pick it up tomorrow. And I keep picking it up because of the very first entry in this Advent devotional. [00:27:58] (30 seconds) #KeepAdventAlive

``And to stop putting expectations on the daily, everyday life, but instead look to our God who can do the impossible and will do the impossible and will continue to work in this world. And so if you are expecting God to do miracles, you will find them. If you expect God to work in the world, you will find those movements happening. Maybe it's through you. Maybe it's through others. Maybe it's pure miracles and you have no idea how they happen. [00:29:34] (26 seconds) #ExpectMiracles

But if you're expectant of our God and the promises that we have been given in our scriptures that tell us of who God is and what God can do, then you will never be disappointed. You will be expectant of it. And you'll see the fruits of that hope and expectation. Now, there's also something to be said in this Isaiah passage about obedience. And so these are the two things that I think could actually bring about a Christmas spirit all year round is to be expectant of the impossible and moving of the spirit and to be obedient. [00:30:00] (38 seconds) #FaithfulExpectancy

Isaiah's passage is intriguing. The more I sat with it this week, the more I realized that God was never telling them to turn their swords into plowshares or turn their spears into pruning hooks or to stop learning war. Instead, God just sat as judge and arbiter of our conflicts and said, of course, you're going to have conflicts. Of course, you're going to have strife in this world. But if you come to me and you just give it all to me, you won't need those weapons. Right? You're going to trust that your judge is just and equitable and fair. [00:30:39] (37 seconds) #GiveItToGod

But how will you continue to grow as a disciple of Jesus to grow closer to God in this new church year? What will you take with you through this Advent time into the cold bitterness of January and February, into the summer where it's really easy to forget about God and to just have fun? How are you going to set a New Year church resolution to grow in your spiritual life, to grow closer to God? That is my challenge to you. [00:33:23] (33 seconds) #GrowCloserToGod

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What distinguishes expectant hope from set expectations?

How does Isaiah envision weapons becoming life-giving tools?

How can obedience contribute to world peace?