Chasing Elephants Podcast

The Season of Advent

Here are some things to know about Advent:

What is Advent? Advent is a four-week season in the Church calendar dedicated to anticipating the arrival, or "advent," of Jesus of Nazareth, the long-awaited Messiah and King. Christians from many backgrounds celebrate this time with reflections on four pillars - hope, peace, love, and joy.The word "advent" means "coming". And while their practices may look different, all focus on the hope-filled arrival of Jesus.

History: The tradition of Advent has been observed by the global Christian church for centuries, with the earliest mentions dating back to 380 AD. 

Why is Advent Important?

Advent can be a simple and fun tradition of counting down to Christmas. But for others—particularly those who believe Jesus to be the incarnation of God and the long-awaited Messiah—Advent is a shared experience of meditation and prayer that celebrates the arrival of Jesus.

Who Celebrates Advent?

People from Protestant, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and other Christian traditions celebrate Advent, though the specific practices may vary from community to community. Additionally, some people celebrate Advent without the focus on Jesus' arrival, seeing the tradition as a fun way to countdown to Christmas.

When it starts: Advent begins on the Sunday closest to November 30, which is about four weekends before Christmas. In 2024, Advent will begin on Sunday, December 1. 

Candles: The four candles of an Advent wreath represent the four Sundays of Advent and symbolize the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love. 

Themes: Each week of Advent has a theme:

1. First week: Hope – The Purple Candle/Prophet's Candle
2. Reflection – We have hope that comes from God's actions and promises for humanity Jesus is the fulfiller of hope. (Romans 15:13)

1. Second week: Peace - The Purple Candle is also known as the Bethlehem Candle.
2. Reflection – Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)

1. Third week: Joy – The Pink Candle/The Shepherd’s Candle
2. Reflection - The joy of the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:10-11)

1. Fourth week: Love – The Purple Candle is also known as the Angel's Candle.
2. Reflection - God's love for us and the reason for Jesus' incarnation (1 John 4:10)

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1 Thessalonians 5:14-18 (CSB)

14 And we exhort you, brothers and sisters: warn those who are idle, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray constantly, 18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Unpacking 3-Princples Concerning An Attitude of Gratitude: 

1. Gratitude is always to be expressed 
2. “Rejoice always” (vs. 16a) commands that we are to have an ongoing attitude of gratitude.
3. “Pray without constantly” (vs. 16b) suggests a mental attitude of prayerfulness, continual personal fellowship with God, and consciousness of being in His presence throughout each day. 
4. “Give thanks” (vs. 18) affirms that followers of Jesus are to be marked by thanksgiving.
5. A grateful person will be a happier person.
6. A grateful person will be a healthier person.

NOTE #1: Gratitude is not an option; it is an obligation. Having an attitude of gratitude is never tied to what we have or who we are, it is a result of who God is and what He has done for us.  

1. Gratitude should never be limited 
2. Paul says to give thanks ''in everything” (vs. 18) (not in most things or in good things.) 
3. Thanksgiving has nothing to do with feelings. 
4. We are not commanded to ''feel grateful.'' 

NOTE #2: Paul had been beaten, whipped, imprisoned, shipwrecked, stoned, and left for dead. Yet he said, ''give thanks in everything'' 

A Practical Outlook on Gratitude:

• Be grateful for the blessings of life- God's greatest blessings are oftentimes found in the smallest things. 

• Be grateful for the burdens of life - 2 Corinthians 4:15-16 says, “Indeed, everything is for your benefit so that, as grace extends through more and more people, it may cause thanksgiving to increase to the glory of God.16 Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.”

• Be grateful for the benefits of life - Psalm 103:2 says, “My soul, bless the Lord,
  and do not forget all his benefits.”

NOTE #3: We should be grateful for the blessings, burdens, AND the benefits!

1. Gratitude is what’s expected of us. 
2. (vs. 8) “Give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
3. Gratitude is a real test of our character.

Why An Attitude of Gratitude is Important:

• It will shield us from cynicism (suspicion/doubt). 
• It will protect us from pessimism (negativity). 
• It will draw us closer to God, and it will draw God closer to us!

1 Timothy 4:4-5 (CSB)

4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 since it is sanctified by the word of God and by prayer.

An Attitude of Gratitude says:

• In the happy moments…I will Praise God
• In the difficult moments…I will Seek God
• In the quiet moments…I will Worship God
• In every moment…I will Thank God

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Romans 13:1 (CSB) A Christian’s Duties to the State:

“Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.”

We are called to submit to higher authorities, which means, who we choose as leaders matters. The leaders we choose has a great impact on rather people prosper or endure extended hardship. Proverbs 29:2 (CSB) says, “When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, people groan.”

As we approach the ballot box on Tuesday, November 5th, as citizens of Heaven with a civic duty to vote, we should consider three things:

1.  We should ask God for discernment.  There is no perfect candidate, and many political issues have a lot of layers to them. But we should be asking for discernment before we approach the ballot box. Not every issue is the same. However, some issues have a clear biblical mandate and will have a bigger impact on the trajectory of our culture, economy, and foreign relationships. Thus, you have to decide how to weigh the importance of each issue.

• Ask God for wisdom. James 1:5 (CSB) “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly and it will be given to him.” 
• In order to discern what is the good and pleasing and perfect will of God, we must renew our minds. (Romans 12:2)

2.  We should vote based on biblical truth. As Christian, we should vote based on the truth of God’s Word and what it says about the issues of today. This is why reading God’s Word daily is vital. So, when we study the positions of candidates, we can properly connect the dots on whether their views and positions aligned with our biblical worldview…not what is cultural acceptable.

3.  We should vote for a collective good. This speaks to the way we are called to love our neighbors. Galatians 5:14 (CSB) says, “For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.” 

If we are to love our neighbors, we should vote for people and policies that will promote the communal welfare of the American people. *****In some cases, that might require us to vote against some of your own personal interests or preferences, if it is in the best interests of everyone else. 

Philippians 2:3-4 (CSB) says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility, considering others as more important than yourself. Everyone should look, not to his own interest, but rather to the interest of others.” 

A collective good is desiring that every city, state, and our country is mutually beneficial for everyone. Jeremiah 29:7 (CSB) says, “Pursue the well-being of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the Lord on its behalf, for when it thrives, you will thrive.”

Last:

We should pray for our leaders, even if the outcome this election is not what we voted for. 

1 Timothy 2:1-2 CSB says, “First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessors, and thanksgiving be made for everyone, for the kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life and all godliness and dignity.”

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These interviews provide an in-depth discussion on the devastation that so many in Florida and North Carolina are still experiencing. For this interview, we talked to Todd Taylor, who is the manager of U.S. Disaster Relief for Samaritan’s Purse. He has spent time at both the North Carolina and Florida sites. Whenever a national disaster hits, Todd is the one who leads the mobilization efforts for Samaritan’s Purse.

If you are interested in getting involved with the disaster relief efforts in Florida or North Carolina, please visit the following website: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/disaster/hurricane-helene

This two-part series consist of interviews with some of our disaster relief friends and partners, who are boots on the ground and being the hands of feet of Jesus. These interviews provide an in-depth discussion on the devastation that so many in Florida and North Carolina are still experiencing. For this interview, we talked to Nathan Schneider ([email protected]), who is the Lead Catalyst for Next Generation Ministries at the Florida Baptist Convention.

If you are interested in getting involved with disaster relief efforts in Florida, please visit the following website: https://flbaptist.org/dr-volunteer/

PART TWO:

6. Believers suffer as a testament of faith to others (Hebrews 11 – Living by Faith: “Now without faith, it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him”).

7. God allows people to suffer so they will turn to Him in repentance and not perish for eternity (Luke 13:1-4 – Two Options…Repent or Perish: Jesus said in verses 3 & 5 – “I tell you, unless you repent, you will perish as well”).

8. Christians suffer so they can be conformed more closely to the character of Christ (Romans 8:28-30, James 1:2-4 – “Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing”).

9. Believers suffer so they can know Christ more fully (Philippians 3:10 – “My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead”).

10. To prepare followers of Christ for the glory of Heaven (2 Corinthians 4:17 – “For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory”).

INTRO: Romans 8:18-22 (CSB)

Common Questions: “Why does bad things happen to good people?” Some become agnostics or atheists because they cannot come up with satisfactory answers to the question: “How is it that a loving, all-powerful God can allow the terrible suffering that is in the world?” And thus, since none of us are exempt from suffering and death, it’s important that we understand what the Bible teaches us on this difficult subject matter.

Many philosophers, theologians, and pastors have written books about suffering. Some of these books are helpful, while others can be a bit unorthodox and unconventional. However, in Romans 8:18-22, Paul provides us with the biblical perspective that we need to endure through the suffering that we will surely encounter. This is not comprehensive, but it is both helpful and practical. Paul is saying: To persevere in present sufferings with hope is to keep our eyes on the future glory that God has promised us.

In Romans 8, Paul articulates two certainties: First, the present time is marked by sufferings because of man’s fall into sin. Second, the future will be marked by glory (or victory) for believers, as God fulfills all His promises to us.

If we keep our eyes more on the future promised glory, then we can better endure the present sufferings with perseverance and hope.

Ref: John 16:33 (CSB): Jesus said, “33 I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

1. Suffering is the result of mankind’s sin and rebellion against God (Genesis 3). Mankind chose to reject God’s one command, the world became corrupted by sin, and humans have suffered ever since.

2. God’s chosen people (the Hebrews) suffered when they disobeyed the Mosaic Covenant (Blessing of Obedience - Deuteronomy 28:1-14) (Curses of Disobedience – Deuteronomy 28:15-68: If the Israelites failed to respect God’s law, God told them their cities, fields, fertility, and livestock would be cursed.)

3. People sometimes suffer from the wrong choices of other human beings, even though God uses the resulting suffering for good (Genesis 50:20 – “You planned evil against me [Joseph said]; God planned it for good to bring about the present result – the survival of many people”).

4. Suffering brings faithful believers into deeper understanding and relationship with Him (Job 1:20-22 – “Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, saying: naked, I came from my mother’s room, and naked I will leave from this life. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Bless be the name of the Lord. Throughout all of this, Jacob did not send or blame God for anything.”).

5. Believers suffer because of the jealousy and hatred of certain people who reject the Christian faith (Acts 7:54-60 [The First Christian Marty…Stephen being stoned]– (vv. 59-60 - “While they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!’ He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ After saying this, he fell asleep”).