What does it mean to live between the two Advents of Christ? In week two of our Advent series Between the Advents, Pastor Chris Zauner delivers a powerful and deeply honest message titled "The Not Yet Kingdom." This sermon explores the tension of life between Christ’s first coming in humility and His promised return in glory.

Pastor Chris leads us through Romans 8:18–25, revealing how even in the midst of suffering, grief, and unanswered prayers, we are not without hope. We live in the "already but not yet" reality of God's kingdom—where Jesus has inaugurated something new, but the full restoration is still to come.

This message doesn't shy away from the difficult questions many of us carry during the Advent season:

If Christ has already come, why does the world still feel so broken?

Pastor Chris reminds us that this ache, this groaning we feel, is not a failure of faith, but evidence that we were made for more—a longing for the completed kingdom to come.

We are invited to wait honestly, expectantly, and faithfully—grieving honestly, hoping stubbornly, and living differently in light of the promise that Jesus will return. Advent is not merely a season of memory but one of formation. We are shaped by hope, rooted in the past, and propelled toward a glorious future.

If you're navigating a season of pain, loss, or longing, this message is for you. It's a call to bring your full, unfiltered heart to God and to anchor your hope in the promise of restoration, renewal, and resurrection through Jesus.

Join us as we continue to live between the manger and the return of the King—carrying a light into darkness that will not be extinguished.

Scripture Focus:

Romans 8:18–25

Revelation 21

Series: Between the Advents

Message Title: The Not Yet Kingdom

Speaker: Pastor Chris Zauner

Location: Grace City Church