Aligning Expectations with the Truth of Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Prayer as Our First Response

In the midst of life's challenges, it is easy to turn to prayer as a last resort rather than our first response. However, adopting a "prayer first" posture invites us to engage with God actively and consistently. This approach encourages us to seek His guidance and presence in every situation, reminding us that we are not alone in our struggles. By prioritizing prayer, we open ourselves to the peace and wisdom that God offers, allowing Him to work in our lives in ways we might not expect. [23:12]

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one challenge you are currently facing where you can intentionally choose to pray first? How might this change your perspective or approach to the situation?

Day 2: The Power of Expectations

Our expectations can significantly shape our experiences and perceptions of God's work in our lives. The story of John the Baptist illustrates how unmet expectations can lead to doubt, even in the presence of profound spiritual experiences. John, who prepared the way for Jesus and witnessed His divine affirmation, found himself questioning when his expectations were not met. This narrative challenges us to examine our own expectations of God and His work, encouraging us to trust in His greater plan even when it diverges from our own. [46:55]

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." (Isaiah 55:8, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when your expectations of God were not met. How did this affect your faith, and what can you learn from that experience today?

Day 3: Embracing the Upside-Down Kingdom

Jesus' life and ministry redefined traditional notions of power and leadership, introducing an upside-down kingdom characterized by humility, service, and sacrificial love. This redefinition invites us to align our lives with these values, even when they contradict societal norms. By embracing this kingdom, we are called to live out a radical love that challenges the status quo and reflects the heart of Jesus. This transformative perspective encourages us to view leadership and influence through the lens of service and humility. [52:37]

"But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all." (Mark 10:43-44, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you practice humility and service in your daily interactions, especially in situations where it might be challenging to do so?

Day 4: Remembering God's Faithfulness

Our recollections of God's past faithfulness can become clouded by time and unmet expectations. It is crucial to remember and hold onto the truth of God's character and promises, allowing them to guide us through seasons of doubt and uncertainty. By recalling His past works in our lives, we can find strength and encouragement to trust Him in the present and future. This practice of remembrance helps us to remain anchored in faith, even when circumstances seem overwhelming. [57:26]

"Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered." (1 Chronicles 16:12, ESV)

Reflection: Take a moment to recall a specific instance of God's faithfulness in your life. How can this memory encourage you in your current circumstances?

Day 5: The King Has Come

The Advent season reminds us that Jesus, the King, has come to redefine our understanding of love and leadership. His arrival invites us to reflect on our own expectations and align them with the reality of who Jesus is and what He came to accomplish. This season is an opportunity to celebrate the transformative power of His love and to recommit ourselves to living in accordance with His teachings. By embracing the truth of His kingdom, we are called to live lives that reflect His love and leadership in all that we do. [58:46]

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14, ESV)

Reflection: As you prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, how can you align your expectations with the reality of His kingdom in your daily life?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound theme of expectations and recollections, particularly in the context of the Advent season. We began by acknowledging the joy of being able to worship together, despite the challenges that might arise, such as unexpected power outages. This joy is symbolized by the lighting of the joy candle, reminding us of the light that Christ brings into our lives. We also took a moment to reflect on the importance of a "prayer first" posture, emphasizing that prayer should be our initial response, not a last resort.

We delved into the story of John the Baptist, a pivotal figure who prepared the way for Jesus. John's life and ministry were marked by a deep expectation of the coming Messiah. However, even John, who baptized Jesus and witnessed the divine affirmation of His identity, found himself questioning and doubting when his expectations were not met. This narrative serves as a powerful reminder that our expectations can often cloud our understanding of God's work in our lives.

The story of Jesus' baptism and the subsequent events challenge us to reconsider our own expectations of God. Jesus' life and ministry did not align with the traditional messianic expectations of His time. Instead, He introduced an upside-down kingdom, characterized by humility, service, and sacrificial love. This redefinition of power and leadership invites us to align our lives with these values, even when they contradict societal norms.

As we approach the celebration of Jesus' birth, we are reminded that the King has come, not in the way we might have expected, but in a manner that transforms our understanding of love and leadership. This season invites us to reflect on our own expectations and recollections, to ensure they align with the truth of who Jesus is and what He came to accomplish.

Key Takeaways

1. Prayer as a First Response: Emphasizing a "prayer first" posture reminds us that prayer should be our initial response to life's challenges, not a last resort. This approach invites us to engage with God actively and consistently, seeking His guidance and presence in every situation. [23:12]
2. The Power of Expectations: Our lives are significantly shaped by what we expect and remember. The story of John the Baptist illustrates how unmet expectations can lead to doubt, even in the presence of profound spiritual experiences. This challenges us to examine our own expectations of God and His work in our lives. [46:55]
3. The Upside-Down Kingdom: Jesus' life and ministry redefined traditional notions of power and leadership. His kingdom is characterized by humility, service, and sacrificial love, challenging us to align our lives with these values, even when they contradict societal norms. [52:37]
4. Recollection and Faith: Our recollections of God's past faithfulness can become clouded by time and unmet expectations. It's crucial to remember and hold onto the truth of God's character and promises, allowing them to guide us through seasons of doubt and uncertainty. [57:26]
5. The King Has Come: The Advent season reminds us that Jesus, the King, has come to redefine our understanding of love and leadership. This truth invites us to reflect on our own expectations and align them with the reality of who Jesus is and what He came to accomplish. [58:46]
** [58:46]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[17:19] - Offering and Prayer
[21:42] - Announcements and Communion
[23:12] - Prayer First Posture
[24:12] - Introduction and Personal Reflections
[25:56] - Unexpected Changes and Gratitude
[27:31] - Staffing Updates and New Roles
[29:37] - Spanish-Speaking Congregation
[31:22] - New Ideas and Staffing Decisions
[32:17] - Welcoming Ed Burns
[34:21] - Expectations and Recollections
[40:07] - John the Baptist's Ministry
[45:53] - John's Doubts and Questions
[51:09] - Jesus' Response to John
[54:21] - The Upside-Down Kingdom
[57:26] - Remembering God's Faithfulness
[59:27] - Communion and Reflection
[68:34] - Closing Benediction and Dismissal

Sermon Clips

Prayer should not be a last resort. Or if you've heard the phrase, there's nothing left to do but pray. That should not be where we end up. That should be our first response. And that's what we desire, is to have a prayer first posture at this church. So, we invite you to engage with that during your week. [00:23:19] (18 seconds)

Expectations are a powerful thing. It's a significant component of what shapes our life. The other is recollection. Our lives are shaped by what we expect and what we remember. And this is particularly true around this time of year, there's so many memories, so many traditions, so many expectations. [00:33:41] (31 seconds)

The one thing that remains unchanged, despite our traditions or our recollections or our expectations. You know, this issue of adjusting our expectations and our recollections getting a bit skewed, it's not new. It's not new to present day us. This even took place in the Bible during the few years of Jesus' ministry, and that's what we're going to look at today. [00:39:46] (37 seconds)

John was baptizing people but pointing them toward the Messiah. And this confused people. And the book of John, a different John, book of John, different, a disciple John. There's a lot of Johns today. The book of John in chapter 1. We see people. We see people asking him, who exactly are you? John 1 .23 answers. [00:41:56] (23 seconds)

John, this is John the Baptist, replied, I am a voice crying out in the wilderness. Make the Lord's path straight, just as the prophet Isaiah said. So basically, he's just quoting the prophet Isaiah about himself. And then back in Matthew 3, if we bounce back there again, we read John the Baptist say, I baptize. [00:42:38] (22 seconds)

Theologian Frederick Bruner wrote on this, and I thought it was a great quote. It'll be on the screen. In John's eyes, Jesus was from the very first a little baffling, a little strange, less messianic than he had expected and less cataclysmic than he had preached. By this time, Jesus had healed some people. [00:47:52] (22 seconds)

So with this twofold answer, Jesus reassures... He reassures John and his followers and then challenges the crowds with the radical nature in which the kingdom of God will be known. The least will be the greatest. The greatest will be the least. Humility. Serving. Sacrifice. Love will prevail. [00:53:13] (34 seconds)

Jesus' birth and the circumstances around it, his rejection of political and military forms of power completely redefined what it meant to be a ruler and a king. Our series for Advent is called The King Has Come. Jesus came to earth, born of a virgin, without any social status or privilege, lived a perfect life, and died as a perfect sacrifice for us. [00:54:37] (36 seconds)

He offers us reconciliation with God, forgiveness for our sins, peace in our hearts, and purpose in our lives, and eternal life and hope. The story may not have happened or looked the way our nativity sets look. It certainly didn't happen or look the way the people in Jesus' day expected. Even John the Baptist had moments of, are you really him? [00:55:11] (37 seconds)

Jesus came to redefine the way humanity sees the world and each other. He came to redefine the way humanity sees the world and each of us sees the world. And the world may call it upside down or backwards, but that's okay. Because Jesus calls us to live in a way that doesn't align with the world. [00:56:14] (22 seconds)

Jesus calls us to prioritize love, prioritize humility, prioritize serving and loving our neighbor, prioritizing sacrifice. Jesus did not match. He didn't match the expectations people had for him. Why do we fall into the trap of thinking? He will meet us and answer us in ways that match. He will match our expectations. [00:58:18] (40 seconds)

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