Welcome

In the movie industry sequels are common practice - think, Harry Potter Parts 1-7, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings Parts 1-3, and many more. Sequels keep fans coming back for the rest of the story. Then someone came up with the idea of a prequel. That’s a movie that fills in the background of what happened before Part 1. Having just completed a five part sermon series called The Jesus Adventure, the season of Advent gives us the opportunity to look at the prequel. It’s called The Advent-ure Begins. Over the next six weeks we will zoom out and look at the entire span of human history and discover the backstory behind Jesus’ call to follow him: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

As We Gather - Christmas is on the horizon. You can almost see it from here. Why oh why are we talking about the end of the world?! Stephen Covey coined the phrase: “Begin with the End in Mind” in his best selling book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. The season of Advent does exactly that—it begins with THE END in mind. To be highly effective followers of Jesus requires that we know and understand Jesus’ teaching about the end of the world. It can be summed up in two simple phrases: “No one knows the day and hour” (Matthew 24:36) and “therefore be ready” (Matthew 24:44).

Gentleness as a fruit of the Spirit is the same word Jesus uses in the Beatitudes when he says, “Blessed are the meek.” Far from being weak, meekness or gentleness, is the strength to suffer insult and injury in this life and not retaliate in anger, not become vengeful and bitter. Such strength is only possible to one who knows who they are, where they are going, and what their purpose is. Who are we? Dearly loved and forgiven sons and daughters of God. Where are we going? We are following Jesus as he seeks to make things right in this world through faith in him. Until he comes again when we will enter the perfectly restored New Heaven and New Earth. What is our purpose? We are sent to be lights shining in the darkness of this present age, beckoning and guiding all to come follow Jesus.

Goodness and faithfulness are very closely linked to one another. Goodness is consistency. Faithfulness is dependability. Both are characteristics of a life of honesty and integrity. God alone is the source of all truth and our struggle to live with integrity, to be consistent and dependable in all circumstances, is born out of our inability to fear, love, and trust in Him above all things. On the Jesus Adventure we learn again and again to be honest with ourselves and remember that God’s love for us in Christ is the one consistent, dependable truth that heals our lives and makes us whole again.

Goodness and faithfulness are very closely linked to one another. Goodness is consistency. Faithfulness is dependability. Both are characteristics of a life of honesty and integrity. God alone is the source of all truth and our struggle to live with integrity, to be consistent and dependable in all circumstances, is born out of our inability to fear, love, and trust in Him above all things. On the Jesus Adventure we learn again and again to be honest with ourselves and remember that God’s love for us in Christ is the one consistent, dependable truth that heals our lives and makes us whole again.

On the Jesus Adventure we are equipped by the Holy Spirit to follow Jesus in every facet of our lives. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22). Right in the middle is kindness. Kindness is practical generosity, not just the feelings of love, but putting your time and talent and money where your heart is. Kindness in the Bible is an attitude that sees every human being as unrepeatable miracle of God and invests in his or her wellbeing. Kindness is meeting a person’s real needs through your deeds.

On the Jesus Adventure we are equipped by the Holy Spirit to follow Jesus in every facet of our lives. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22). Right in the middle is kindness. Kindness is practical generosity, not just the feelings of love, but putting your time and talent and money where your heart is. Kindness in the Bible is an attitude that sees every human being as unrepeatable miracle of God and invests in his or her wellbeing. Kindness is meeting a person’s real needs through your deeds.

On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther nailed the Ninety-Five Thesis to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. That set off what has come to be known as the Reformation of the Christian Church. Today we celebrate that momentous event by continuing our study of the fruit of the Spirit with a look at patience. Patience is the ability to remain poised, even when life is not going the way you want and expect it to go. It is not simple stoicism, which is only a human determination to turn off one’s emotions and not allow anything to bother you. The one who is patient feels frustration and anger but has learned that God’s ways are not our ways, neither are his thoughts, our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8).

On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther nailed the Ninety-Five Thesis to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. That set off what has come to be known as the Reformation of the Christian Church. Today we celebrate that momentous event by continuing our study of the fruit of the Spirit with a look at patience. Patience is the ability to remain poised, even when life is not going the way you want and expect it to go. It is not simple stoicism, which is only a human determination to turn off one’s emotions and not allow anything to bother you. The one who is patient feels frustration and anger but has learned that God’s ways are not our ways, neither are his thoughts, our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8).

“The peace of God that passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting.” These are the words often spoken at the end of a sermon as a blessing on the message that has been delivered. Peace with God is the mighty work of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection that is proclaimed in our preaching. The peace of God is the frame of heart and mind that let’s us approach the Jesus Adventure with humble, bold confidence. The peace of God comes as you believe more and more that “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32 ESV).