Embracing the Gift of Love This Advent Season

Devotional

Day 1: Advent as a Season of Expectation

In the season of Advent, we are invited to pause and reflect on the profound gift of love that God has given us through the birth of Jesus Christ. This time is marked by anticipation and expectation, as we prepare our hearts to celebrate the arrival of our Savior. The world around us may be caught up in the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations, but Advent calls us to refocus on the true meaning of Christmas. It is a time to remember that Jesus is the reason for the season, and His birth is a testament to God's immense love for us. As we light the Advent candle, we are reminded of the hope and joy that Christ's birth brings to the world. [01:28:09]

Isaiah 40:3-5 (ESV): "A voice cries: 'In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.'"

Reflection: As you enter this Advent season, what specific steps can you take to prepare your heart and mind to focus on the true meaning of Christmas amidst the distractions of the holiday season?

Day 2: Jesus as the Tangible Gift of Love

The birth of Jesus is a tangible expression of God's unwavering love for humanity. Despite our flaws and mistakes, God's love remains steadfast, offering us a way back to Him through Jesus. This gift of love is a powerful reminder of God's commitment to us, a love so profound that He sent His only Son to dwell among us. In a world that often measures worth by achievements and perfection, Jesus' birth reassures us that we are loved unconditionally. This Advent, let us embrace the gift of love that Jesus represents, allowing it to transform our hearts and guide our actions. [01:30:47]

1 John 4:9-10 (ESV): "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt unworthy of love. How can you allow the truth of God's unconditional love, demonstrated through Jesus, to reshape your understanding of your own worth?

Day 3: The Multifaceted Nature of Jesus

Jesus embodies many roles that reflect His character and the ways in which He supports and guides us through life's challenges. As our Wonderful Counselor, He provides guidance and wisdom in times of uncertainty. As Mighty God, He possesses the power to overcome any challenge or adversity we face. As our Everlasting Father, He offers us a sense of belonging and care, nurturing us through life's trials. Finally, as the Prince of Peace, He grants us serenity amidst chaos, assuring us that we are never alone. Each of these titles reveals a different aspect of Jesus' love and care for us, inviting us to rely on Him in every aspect of our lives. [01:37:44]

Colossians 1:16-17 (ESV): "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

Reflection: Which aspect of Jesus' character do you find yourself needing the most right now—His counsel, strength, fatherly care, or peace? How can you invite Him to meet you in that need today?

Day 4: Laying Down Our Burdens

We are encouraged to lay down our burdens and allow Jesus to carry them for us. His love is powerful enough to bear the weight of our trials and tribulations, providing us with peace and comfort. In a world that often demands self-reliance and independence, Jesus invites us to find rest in Him. By surrendering our burdens to Him, we acknowledge our need for His strength and guidance. This Advent, let us trust in Jesus' ability to carry our burdens, knowing that His love is sufficient for all our needs. [01:46:20]

Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV): "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Reflection: Identify a specific burden you are carrying right now. What would it look like to truly surrender this burden to Jesus and trust Him to carry it for you?

Day 5: Embracing the Gift of Love

This Christmas, we are invited to embrace the gift of love that Jesus offers. Whether it's through accepting Him into our lives for the first time or rededicating ourselves to Him, His love is available to all who seek it. Jesus' birth is a reminder that God's love is not distant or abstract, but personal and accessible. As we celebrate Christmas, let us keep Jesus at the center of our hearts, remembering that His love is the greatest gift of all. May we be inspired to share this love with others, reflecting the light of Christ in our words and actions. [01:54:40]

Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV): "So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Reflection: How can you intentionally embrace and share the love of Jesus with someone in your life this Christmas season? What practical steps can you take to reflect His love in your interactions with others?

Sermon Summary

In this season of Advent, we gather to reflect on the profound gift of love that God has bestowed upon us through the birth of Jesus Christ. As we light the Advent candle, we are reminded of the anticipation and expectation that this season brings. The scripture from Isaiah 9:6 serves as a powerful reminder of the significance of Christ's birth: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders. And you shall call his name Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

This time of year often becomes overshadowed by commercialism, with the focus shifting to gifts, decorations, and festivities. However, it is crucial to remember that Jesus is the true reason for the season. His birth is a testament to God's immense love for us, a love so profound that He sent His only Son to dwell among us. This act of love is a reminder that no matter how flawed or broken we may be, God's love is unwavering and unconditional.

The gift of love that Jesus represents is multifaceted. He is our Wonderful Counselor, providing guidance and wisdom in times of uncertainty. As Mighty God, He possesses the power to overcome any challenge or adversity we face. As our Everlasting Father, He offers us a sense of belonging and care, nurturing us through life's trials. Finally, as the Prince of Peace, He grants us serenity amidst chaos, assuring us that we are never alone.

This Advent season, let us embrace the gift of love that Jesus embodies. Let us lay down our burdens and allow Him to carry them for us. Let us seek His counsel, rely on His strength, and find comfort in His everlasting presence. As we celebrate Christmas, may we keep Jesus at the center of our hearts, remembering that His love is the greatest gift of all.

Key Takeaways

1. The True Meaning of Advent: Advent is a season of expectation and anticipation, reminding us of the profound gift of love that God has given us through Jesus Christ. It is a time to refocus on the true meaning of Christmas, which is the birth of our Savior. [88:09]
2. Jesus as the Gift of Love: Jesus' birth is a tangible expression of God's love for us. Despite our flaws and mistakes, God's love remains steadfast, offering us a way back to Him through Jesus. This gift of love is a reminder of God's unwavering commitment to us. [90:47]
3. The Multifaceted Nature of Jesus: Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Each of these titles reflects a different aspect of His character and the ways in which He supports and guides us through life's challenges. [97:44]
4. Laying Down Our Burdens: We are encouraged to lay down our burdens and allow Jesus to carry them for us. His love is powerful enough to bear the weight of our trials and tribulations, providing us with peace and comfort. [106:20]
5. Embracing the Gift of Love: This Christmas, we are invited to embrace the gift of love that Jesus offers. Whether it's through accepting Him into our lives for the first time or rededicating ourselves to Him, His love is available to all who seek it. [01:54:40]
** [114:40]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - Advent Season Reflection
[00:42] - Worship and Arts Ministry
[88:09] - Scripture Reading: Isaiah 9:6
[90:47] - The Gift of Love
[97:44] - Jesus: Wonderful Counselor
[106:20] - Jesus: Mighty God
[109:57] - Jesus: Everlasting Father
[110:30] - Jesus: Prince of Peace
[112:07] - Invitation to Receive the Gift of Love
[114:40] - Prayer and Altar Call
[122:53] - Announcements and Closing Remarks
[126:35] - Benediction and Dismissal

Sermon Clips

"For to us, a child is born. To us, a son is given. And the government shall be upon his shoulders. And you shall call his name Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace." [01:27:42] (23 seconds)

"Jesus is the real reason for the season and he should always be the focus of this season. Now don't get me wrong I love to give gifts and see the joy on people's faces when they receive them because I know and I remember to keep Jesus as the reason for the season for me this is for me it's not Xmas it's not happy holidays it's Merry Christmas because Jesus is the focus of the season for me it is the time of the year that we celebrate his birth his miraculous birth is what we should focus on on a night when the stars were shining bright in the sky God decided to send his only begotten son wrapped in human flesh to dwell on this earth for sinners like you and I that is more than enough reason to rejoice because even the angels rejoice at the birth of Jesus Christ and we should rejoice even more his birth hear me his birth was God's biggest tangible sign that no matter how messed up we are or how messed up we were he loves us John 3 16 reminds us that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son when God wanted to show that he loved us he sent us his very best our text today reminds us of the gift of love that we have in Jesus Christ Isaiah Isaiah chapter 9 prophesies that a child is born to us a son is given to us hear the words of Isaiah this child is born to us a son is given to us Isaiah makes it clear that Jesus's birth was for us it was a gift of love for us that came directly from God the father to us because God knew that we wouldn't mess up we wouldn't be messed up and we would continue to mess up and we needed a way to help us fix our mess ups and because our sin separates us from God he needed to make sure that we had a way back to him because he loves us so much he sent Jesus to be the one to lead us back to the father and love us through our mess ups the gift of love the text says that the government would be on his shoulders in other words he would carry the weight of our trials and our tribulations and our burdens on his shoulders so we would not have to try to carry this weight all by ourselves so many times we're carrying things that we shouldn't have to carry because we have the gift of love that carries our burdens for us that so many times we allow the things that we go through the weight of what we go through and we let it weigh us down but we have to carry it with us remember that we have the gift of love that will carry our burdens for us that's why I love the saints of old because they would remind themselves that I feel better so much better since I've laid my burdens down and because of the gift of love that he can carry the weight for us because we have this gift of love he'll carry all the weight of our stuff but this is gift of love the text reminds us has a name and I want you to know his name is here in couples it's not wonderful comma counselor no his name is wonderful counselor they they go together they" [01:30:47] (0 seconds)

"They go together because he is a wonderful counselor that he's so wonderful that he leads and guides us and gives us the wise counsel that we need to make it through the things that we face in our lives. I don't know about anybody else, but I'm grateful for the gift of love that gives me wise counsel and leads and guides me through the difficulties of life. And when I don't know what to do, when I don't know how I'm going to make it, I don't get fearful and I don't fret because I understand that I have a wonderful counselor that is omniscient and he knows everything. And he knows not just my today, but he knows tomorrow. And because of his omniscient nature, he leads and guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name's" [01:37:44] (51 seconds)

"Not only is this gift of love a wonderful counselor, but he's also mighty God. Meaning that there is nothing that he can't handle. That he is so mighty and powerful that there's no trick or scheme that the enemy can try to come against me that the mighty God that I serve cannot handle. I'm so glad that I serve today a mighty God that he's mighty enough to defeat any plan that the enemy" [01:46:20] (34 seconds)

"not only is this gift of love a wonderful counsel not only is he a mighty God but he's a mighty God this may be my favorite part he is an everlasting father that I like that I like that I like that because he will father me and take care of me no matter what I'm going through and see you don't understand what it means to have an everlasting father that a real father and I think what's wrong with our community is we need more fathers in our community because when the father is around everybody acts like they got some sense when the father is around things seem to be in order and the problem is we don't think we need a father" [01:49:57] (48 seconds)

"right we 15 minutes late to start such a school program let me finish my little meditation here it is the gift of love it's not only wonderful counsel not only mighty God not only an everlasting father but he is the prince of peace oh he'll give you peace in the time of your storms he'll give you peace when you're going through your trials and tribulations in your life and I don't know about anybody else but I know for me that no matter what I'm going through in my life I can have peace I know I can get through it I only get nervous when I don't have peace I only" [01:50:30] (45 seconds)

"offer somebody this morning this gift of love. It's not in Macy's. You can't find it online. It is free, but it's the most valuable thing you'll ever have. I want to offer somebody the gift of love. So this morning, maybe you've never given your life to Christ. And on this Christmas, you want a change in life. Well, I offer you a gift of love. He'll love you through it all. He'll love you through it all. He'll love you. He'll be with you through it all." [01:52:07] (42 seconds)

"Because he loves you that much. Is there one that would come and give their life to Christ? And then this morning, there may be one who says, pastor. I know I need to rededicate my life. He's been loving me through my mess, and I know I'm messed up. And I want to rededicate. I want to recommit my life to him. That's you. You can come. Give me your hand, but give your heart back to God." [01:54:40] (25 seconds)

"Then lastly, this morning, the doors of God's church are open. There may be one this morning that says, I want to join this church. I like this church. God is speaking to me and saying, I need to come become a member of this church. We'd love to have you here. We'd love to have you here at Greater Centennial. If you fit one of those categories, you can come now. You can come. King deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, very deeply stained with ring, sinking to rise no more." [01:55:06] (37 seconds)

"Father, we thank you this morning for the gift of love thank you for loving us god individually we know how messed up we are and we know how many times we mess up and we know how many times you forgive us over and over again god thank you for loving us thank you for caring about us thank you for looking out for us thank you for covering us thank you for blessing us god thank you for everything that you've done in our lives for our тогда for our" [01:58:57] (39 seconds)

"We thank you because you are mighty God. We thank you because you are everlasting father and you are prince of peace. And God, in the name of Jesus, I'm asking you to come around this altar this morning because God, what we found out about this gift of love, you're everything that we need. So somebody needs you to be a wonderful counselor, but somebody else needs you to be a mighty God. God, somebody else needs you to be an everlasting father. Somebody else needs you to be a prince of peace. Somebody else needs you to be a healer. Somebody else needs you to be a way maker. Somebody else needs you to be a deliverer. Somebody else needs you to be a friend that sticks closer than any brother. Somebody else just needs you to wrap your arms around them and tell them that everything" [01:59:36] (47 seconds)

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?