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.
Light Candles while the interpretation is read
Light candle #1, #2 & 3 only.
Interpretation
Though he lived reached out to them, some did not recognize him.
Though he came to his own, they turned him away.
How tragic, how heartbreaking, how intense the pain must have been for God when those who should have known who Jesus was, just walked on by.
This is a tale of a great tragedy; Yet even in this great tragedy there is great hope. Even in this tragedy there is great joy. For those who do receive him, for those who do believe in his name, they are given a significant right: They are given the right to become children of God.
This right is not biological. This is right not of genetic code. This right is purely of God.
They are by right made spiritual children of God, they are, as Jesus said, “Born Again” when they believe.
While many tragically walk on by, there are those who stop and take a second look, they don’t walk on by. Each of us is given this opportunity to stop…..and take a second look.
This morning we light the first, second, and third candles to show that for those who believe in the light, for those who believe in Jesus Christ, they become children of God.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, how painful it must be for you when we do not recognize you for who you are. We will not walk on by and ignore you, we will take a second look and believe in your name. Empower us by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Fourth Sunday Of Advent - The Voice
Read Scripture: John 1:15-23
John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying,
“This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’” From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.
Now this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Christ.’”
They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No.”
Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us.
What do you say about yourself?”
John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet,
“I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
Light Candles while the interpretation is read
Light candle #1, #2, #3 and #4 only
Interpretation:
John testifies: I am not the Christ, I am not Elijah, I am not the Prophet, I am a voice calling in the desert.
John was a great man, but still, John was only a man, human in all respects, but Jesus Christ, he is another matter entirely. Jesus is much greater than John, because Jesus was before John, even though John was born before Jesus. The religious leaders of Jerusalem were looking for a great man, perhaps this is why they missed God when he showed up.
John is a great example of how we are to live out lives: Everything we do, should point people away from ourselves and point people toward Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the one who will give people grace, Jesus is the one who will give people truth, Jesus is the one people are looking for.
This morning we light the first, second, third and fourth candles to show that Jesus is the one we are to look for, and no other.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, we look to you, and we look only, for you are the one who has brought grace and truth into our lives. We praise you and thank you for your presence in our lives.
Amen.
Christmas Eve Advent Candle Lighting – The Word of Life
Read Scripture 1 John 1:1-5
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,
which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.
The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us.
And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.
But, if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Light ALL the candles while the interpretation is read
Interpretation
This evening we light the fifth candle. This is the candle of Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the light, and in him there is no darkness at all.
John reminds us that the Christmas story, is not just a story, but it is an event that really did happen. John saw Jesus Christ with his own eyes, John touched Jesus Christ with his own hands, John was there with Jesus and he is telling us how real it was.
John had very close and very real fellowship with Jesus Christ, and we here tonight can have a close fellowship with Jesus Christ as well.
This evening we light the all the candles to show that Jesus is the light, and if we walk in the light, we will have fellowship with one another and through Jesus our sin will be purified.
Prayer
Gracious Lord Jesus, we ask that your mighty blessings fall upon all of us this Christmas Eve. May we walk in the light, as you are the light, and live by the truth. We ask this all in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
