Tag Archives: Advent

Advent: Jesus Gives Us Joy

First Baptist Church Scott City, MO · Advent: Jesus Gives Us Joy In the TV show Mad Men, advertising executive Don Draper said the secret to advertising is happiness. While I have never watched an episode of this show, I believe he’s on to something. Advertisers know that we want happiness, but what is happiness?Continue reading “Advent: Jesus Gives Us Joy”

Advent: Jesus Gives Us Peace

First Baptist Church Scott City, MO · Advent: Jesus Gives Us Peace Fear, worry, and anxiety are signs of spiritual depression. Martyn Lloyd-Jones described spiritual depression as “a heaviness of the soul, an unhappiness that touches the deepest parts of one’s soul.” It is how the Psalmist wrote: “Why are you in despair, O myContinue reading “Advent: Jesus Gives Us Peace”

Advent: Jesus Gives Us Hope

First Baptist Church Scott City, MO · Advent: Jesus Gives Us Hope 2020 has been a very trying year. These are just a few things we have witnessed this year: Australian wildfires. President Trump is impeached and acquitted. Prince Harry quit the Royal Family. Assassination of Qassem Soleimani. Covid-19. Black Lives Matter protests and riots.Continue reading “Advent: Jesus Gives Us Hope”

The Second Sunday of Advent: The Son of the Most High! (Luke 1:26-45)

It is the Second Sunday of Advent and today we shall remember when “the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth to a virgin [whose] name was Mary” (Luke 1:26-27). The angel told her good news! His Name is Jesus Have you ever wondered why the angel told MaryContinue reading “The Second Sunday of Advent: The Son of the Most High! (Luke 1:26-45)”

The First Sunday of Advent: Stay Awake! (Mark 13:33-37)

The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, which means arrival/coming. Even though it starts near the end of our calendar year, it is the start of the Christian calendar year. When we observe Advent, we celebrate the birth (arrival) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is a time to retell theContinue reading “The First Sunday of Advent: Stay Awake! (Mark 13:33-37)”

Advent: The Shepherds (Luke 2:8-20)

Written within a year of his conversion, Charles Wesley penned my favorite Christmas Hymn “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”. The song begins with the story of the angels proclaiming Christ’s birth to the shepherds in Luke 2, then Wesley filled the song with the reasons the angels sang out in joy. One of my favoriteContinue reading “Advent: The Shepherds (Luke 2:8-20)”

Advent: The Announcement (Matt 1 & Luke 1)

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year “with those kids jingle-belling and everyone telling you be of good cheer”. Its music is joyful and triumphant! It’s a time for adding events to your calendar and for checking your Christmas gift list. As you are preparing your calendar and wallet/purse for Christmas, make sureContinue reading “Advent: The Announcement (Matt 1 & Luke 1)”

Advent: God is Love (1 John 4:8)

In April of 1975, the #1 song in America was Minnie Riperton’s “Loving You”. It began with this line: “Loving you is easy because you’re beautiful.” Not because you are nice, not because you are kind, but because you are beautiful. This is actually a consistent theme in modern music. Turn on “Top 40” radioContinue reading “Advent: God is Love (1 John 4:8)”