The Hope of Advent

Weekly Update – December 16th, 2021

Typically when the month of December comes around, not only do we think of Christmas, family gatherings and friendships, but if you are anything like me, you also tend to reflect on the year that has just gone by.  The common slogan that you will likely hear at some point during this month is something to the degree of, “How did it get to be December already?” or “Can you believe that it is almost 2022?”  Perhaps this month causes you reflect upon a graduation that you attended, a wedding ceremony, or maybe the birth of a child.  But at the same time, maybe this time of year also brings other sorts of memories to mind as well.  Maybe it is the loss of a loved one, a tragedy or some sort, or a horrible experience.  You then expand these personal experiences out and reflect upon the world at large, as you think about the covid, tornados and all the injustices that occurred this past year.  What you then have is a year mixed with joyful personal celebrations as well as suffering, evil and pain.

Last week, Isaiah offered us the promise of help. When the world looks to be against us and we are overwhelmed with the effects of sin, Isaiah says in 40:1-2, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”  To bring this comfort to his people, God promises to reveal his glory (Is. 40:5).  His glory is shown through the coming of Jesus into the world, who is the “glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth”  (John 1:14).  This glorious revealing of God through Jesus coming into the world should be told from the highest mountain and to all the cities, that the good news of help has come (Isaiah 40:9).  This good news tells us that suffering, evil and pain will not have the last word. The question is though, “How is this good news?”

The good news of help from God is ultimately worth proclaiming at Christmas because of the promise of redemption that Isaiah offers us in this final week of Advent.  In Isaiah 43:1, he says, “…Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”  How does Isaiah intend for God to redeem us?  Not just in revealing His glory through Jesus being born as a baby, but ultimately through Jesus living a perfect life, dying a sacrificial death, and rising again, to defeat all of His enemies.  Then, when he returns a second time, all things, whether good or evil, will submit to him.  That is ultimately what Christmas is about, the hope that we can have through redemption in Jesus. 

Though the world may look as though it is crumbling around us, whether in the grand scheme of things, or in our personal lives, Christmas offers us hope.  Of this hope, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote in his song, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, “in despair I bowed my head; ‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said; ‘For hate is strong, and mocks the song, of peace on earth, good-will to men!’  Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: ‘God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; the wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good-will to men.”   In the fullness of time in the midst of the pain and suffering, God sent his son into the world as a baby to redeem all who would come to him by faith.  That is our hope, not for this life only, but for the life to come, to live by faith in the son of God, who came that first Christmas morning.

Serving Him with You,
Pastor Michael Nelson

Written by Pastor
Michael Nelson

Fighter Verse for the Week

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters." - Psalm 23:1-2

Announcements:

Game Night: The Hutchisons are hosting a game night at their house this Friday night, December 17th, beginning at 6:30pm. They will provide the games and snacks. Their address is 16201 Kentucky View Dr., Belton, MO., 64012. If you have any questions, contact David Hutchison at 816-210-5909.

Help Box: In the welcome center there is a new “Help Box” located on the right counter, under the book store. This box is designed to provide you with a form of communication if there is anything physical or practical that you might need help with. The box will be checked on a fairly regular basis and help will be organized as needed. There are communication cards on the side of the box.

First Wednesday Prayer: Join us on the first Wednesday of every month 7:00-8:00pm in the sanctuary for an hour of prayer. On these evenings, we will have a mixture of structured and less structured times of prayer as we seek the Lord to move for our sake, the sake of our church, as well as the sake of our community and world.

Christmas Eve Service: Our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service will be held on December 24th at 6:00pm. On this evening, we will read the Christmas story, sing Christmas Songs together and hear a short Christmas message. Join us in person this year and invite someone to come along with you. This service will also be available via livestream as well.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering: Every year at this time, we raise funds to support missionaries all over the world who are serving with the International Mission Board (IMB). The goal of the IMB is to raise 185 million dollars this year. Our goal at First Baptist Church is to raise $9000. So far we have received $1,984. If you haven’t already, will you consider partnering with us by giving, as we seek to support international missions? You can give on Sunday mornings through one of our offering boxes located in the foyer or the welcome center. Just mark your envelop as “missions” or “Lottie Moon.” Or you can give online HERE. Choose “missions” under the Fund tab. You can find more information about this offering HERE.

Awana

Every Sunday at 5:45pm, children ages 3 years to 6th grade are invited to join us for Awana.

Bible Study

Join us in the Sanctuary at 9:15am on Sunday mornings for a study in the John 1:1-14. A women’s Bible Study meets at the same time at then end of the hall near the nursery.

Join us on Sunday evenings at 6:00pm for a 10 week Study through the devotional titled, Gentle and Lowly. No need to buy the book, because it is available to you for free in the welcome center. We will meet in the sanctuary. You can find an introduction to this study HERE. 

Giving

To Give Online, Go HERE. 

You can also mail your offering to: 1416 Main Street, Grandview, MO. 64030

Prayer

An updated Prayer Guide can be accessed HERE. 

Prepare for Sunday

Guide for Worship can be found HERE.