Advent Readings 2009

First Sunday Of Advent - The Light And The Darkness

Read Scripture: John 1:1-4

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He was with God in the beginning.

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

Light Candle while the interpretation is read

Light candle #1, only.

Interpretation

There was never a time that the Word did not exist.

The Word always was, The Word always is, and The Word always will be.

The Word not only has always been around; The Word is in fact, the creator of all things

Take a look at the mountains around us: The Word made the mountains. Take a look up at the sky at night: The Word made the moon and the stars and all you can see. Take a look at yourself in the mirror: The Word made you too.

More than all of this, The Word is also life itself. Isn’t that incredible? The Word is life itself!

You see, The Word is the light that allows us as humans to see spiritually. We humans, by nature are in the dark about things spiritually and so we need the light of The Word to see what we cannot naturally see. In other words, if we want to understand how spiritual things work, we need to look to none other than The Word.

Who is then, is The Word?

We find that The Word is God Himself, specifically, The Word is Jesus Christ.

This morning we light this first candle to show that the light of Jesus shines in the darkness, and though the darkness does not understand the light - the light will prevail over all things, for darkness can never overcome the light.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we offer you our worship this morning. You are the giver of life, You have creates all thing and You are the one we turn to understand how spiritual things work. Lord, shine your light upon us with such intensity that we experience no darkness at all. Amen.

Second Sunday Of Advent - The Testimony

Read Scripture: John 1:6-8

There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John.

He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.

He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

Light Candle while the interpretation is read

Light candle #1, #2 only.

Interpretation

John had an acute understanding of who God is. John drew many people out of the darkness and into the light. The Holy Spirit was with him with such great power that many people thought that John might be the light.

But, John was not the light, he was only a witness to the light.

John came for one purpose: To turn others toward the light, he came to turn others toward the true light.

Everything John was about, everything John did, everything that John said was to turn people away from himself, and towards the light. John was all about the light.

The people are living in darkness, but look, there in the distance coming our way is the true light that gives light to everyone.

This morning we light the first and second candles to show that John’s testimony is for us also: We too look to the light and that light is none other than Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, there have been many godly people and there have been many spiritual people, but no one holds a candle to you. You are the light. You are the one who gives us new life. All true witnesses point to you, for you are God incarnate. Jesus, be our light this Advent, show us how to live for you. Amen.

Third Sunday Of Advent – Children of God

Read Scripture: John 1:10-14

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name,

he gave the right to become children of God—

children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father,

full of grace and truth.