Advent: The Promise of Hope (With Communion)
Theme: Jesus, the Light of the World, brings eternal hope.
Introduction
On the first Sunday of Advent, we focus on hope—the first candle we light in this season of expectation.
Advent reminds us that we are people waiting for the fulfilment of God’s promises, just as Israel waited for the Messiah.
Hope is powerful. It keeps us moving forward when we face challenges. It lifts our eyes to what is possible when life feels impossible. The source of true, lasting hope is found in Jesus Christ.
Today we will explore how the Bible unfolds the promise of hope—from the very beginning in Genesis, through the birth of Christ, and into our lives today.
As we conclude, we’ll partake in communion, remembering the ultimate fulfilment of our hope through Jesus' death and resurrection.
1. Hope in the First Promise (Genesis 3:15)
Let’s begin at the beginning—Genesis. The first book of the Bible records God’s perfect creation, humanity’s tragic fall into sin, and, crucially, God’s immediate response to sin.
In Genesis 3:15, God says to the serpent:"And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike His heel."
Here, God is speaking of Jesus. From the very moment sin entered the world, God promised a Saviour. This verse, often called the protoevangelium, or the "first gospel," tells us that one day, a descendant of Eve would crush Satan and the power of sin.
Imagine how Adam and Eve must have felt at that moment—banished from Eden, facing the consequences of their sin. Yet even during judgment, God gave them hope. And that’s what hope does—it shines light in the darkness.
God’s promise in Genesis 3:15 is the foundation of hope for all humanity.
It reminds us that God’s plan was always to restore what was broken and redeem what was lost.
2. Hope in Emmanuel, God with Us (Matthew 1:18-25)
Now let’s fast-forward to the fulfilment of that promise—the birth of Jesus.
In Matthew 1:21-23, an angel appears to Joseph in a dream and says: "And she will have a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."
The angel goes on to explain:
"All of this occurred to fulfil the Lord’s message through His prophet: ‘Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”
Here we see the promised Saviour, the offspring of the woman, come into the world. Jesus was born to save us from our sins, to reconcile us to God, and to remind us that we are not alone.
Think about this: the God who created the universe stepped into His creation as a helpless baby. He didn’t come as a distant observer but as Emmanuel—God with us. This is the foundation of our hope: God didn’t leave us in our brokenness. He came to live among us, to show us the way, and ultimately to die for us so we could have eternal life.
3. Hope in God’s Faithfulness (Hebrews 10:23-25)
Finally, let’s look at how this hope impacts us today. Hebrews 10:23-25 says: "Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near."
This passage calls us to live in hope because God is faithful. The birth of Jesus proves that God keeps His promises. The cross and the empty tomb demonstrate that God’s love for us is unshakable.
When life feels overwhelming, this hope anchors us. It reminds us that our future is secure because of Jesus.
But notice that this passage doesn’t stop with individual hope. It calls us to share hope with others—to motivate one another to love and good works, to gather together, and to encourage one another. Advent is the perfect time to do this. We have a message of hope that the world desperately needs to hear.
4. Application: Living in Hope
When we leave this place today, how can we live out this hope?
1. Trust God’s Promises – No matter what challenges you face, hold tightly to the hope we have in Christ. God is faithful.
2. Share Hope with Others – Look for ways to encourage and serve those around you. Show them the love of Emmanuel, God with us.
3. Look Forward with Expectation – Advent reminds us that Jesus is coming again. Let’s live as people ready for His return.
Closing Thought
Church, as we begin this Advent season, let’s anchor our hearts in the promise of hope. From Genesis to Matthew to today, God has been faithful to keep His promises.
And as we partake in communion today, let’s celebrate the gift of Jesus—the Light of the World, the Saviour of humanity, and the source of our eternal hope.
Communion: Remembering the Source of Our Hope
As we come to our time of communion, let’s remember that the hope of Advent is fulfilled in Jesus’ sacrifice.
Communion reminds us of the cost of our hope.
The bread represents His body, broken for us. The cup represents His blood, shed for our forgiveness.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 11:26: "For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until He comes again."
As we take the bread and the cup, let’s reflect on these truths:
• Jesus is the fulfilment of God’s promise of hope.
• His death and resurrection give us eternal life.
• He is coming again to complete the work of redemption.
