The Season of Advent
Advent means
“arrival” or “coming.” The season of Advent offers us an opportunity to
spiritually prepare for the Christmas season by focusing on the coming of
Christ into the world. To help make your journey to Christmas more meaningful
for your family, we have made available this Advent devotional book, “Call
His Name Jesus.” You may pick up a copy at the Connection Center. Consider
giving copies to friends and inviting them to share in the hope of the
ever-present Jesus this Christmas season.
First Sunday of Advent Scripture Readings:
Isaiah
2:1-5 New International Version (NIV)
The Mountain of the Lord
1 This
is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
2 In the last days
the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.
as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.
3 Many peoples will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of
the Lord,
to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.
to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.
5 Come, descendants of Jacob,
let us walk in the light of the Lord.
let us walk in the light of the Lord.
Matthew 24:36-44 New International Version (NIV)
The Day and Hour Unknown
36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not
even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was
in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were
eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah
entered the ark; 39 and they knew
nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away.
That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two
men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one
will be taken and the other left.
42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not
know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the
owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he
would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man
will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
I look forward to celebrating in worship the reason for the season, our Lord's coming. This is a great time of year to reach out to that friend or family member to invite to worship. Pick up some "Invite" cards at the Connection Center, an easy to use tool to reach out to your friends. And don't forget our biggest event of the season, A Night in Bethlehem, a dramatic walk through experience that will be held on December 21-22 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. each night.
Spread the word, at Carrollwood Baptist Church all are welcomed! Let's see God move in some mighty ways this Christmas season.
Pastor Joe
"I thank my God every time I remember you." Philippians 1:3
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