1 Thessalonians 5:1-11: Prepare (A Better Story)

Welcome to the 2nd sermon in our series on a better Christmas story. (2 of 4)

We are entering into the first liturgical season of the Church - Advent, which is Latin for coming. Just as in the season of Lent, we enter into the suffering of Jesus before we celebrate his resurrection, the season of Advent is a season of waiting and longing that ends with the celebration of the incarnation, the birth of Jesus. . .Christmas! The celebration also points us forward to the Advent yet to come, Christ's return!

Culturally, this is known as the "holiday season," where it has become an extended time of shopping and parties and light shows and nostalgia. It seems like Christmas Day is when we finally collapse after all of the busyness, only to recoup just enough energy to celebrate the new year! . . but this year, let's try to recover just a bit of what the meaning of Advent was designed to be.

Our Advent series will tell "a better story" about the history and the future of the world. A story that enters into the longing, but also awaits with glorious anticipation the fulfillment of all time! We will look at the story each week as we Wait, Prepare, Rejoice, and Love. I promise you, this story holds more hope and joy than you could possibly imagine and will fulfill the longings far beyond what nostalgia can only dream about. This is hope. This is advent. This is a better story.