The Gateway Church

All that Christianity is about and everything the Bible has been pointing toward is found in the angelic announcement in Luke 2, “Fear not: for, behold, the gospel of joy!”

Luke is the only place in the Bible where you have an account of Jesus as a boy. It is unique, it is fascinating, and it is confusing. From it we learn that Jesus Christ is confusing, but we’re supposed to trust him anyway.

All that Christianity is about and everything the Bible has been pointing toward is found in the angelic announcement in Luke 2, “Fear not: for, behold, the gospel of joy!”

Mary's Magnificat is the very first Christmas Carol. In this sermon we explored what led her to sing this incredible song and what she sings about.

Mary's Magnificat is the very first Christmas Carol. In this sermon we explored what led her to sing this incredible song and what she sings about.

Advent is a time when we Prepare the Way in our hearts for the arrival of the Messiah. It is alive with a sense of restoration and stirring with the hope of redemption. It is heavy with the longing for God to rescue us and bring us back to himself. In our culture, the Christmas season is often associated with a fast paced sense of hurry. The holiday rush, they call it. Inevitably, we will feel the tension of impatient shoppers and hectic schedules. But the Christian embrace of Advent is a counter-cultural act of intentional patience. We wait. We hope. Resisting the urge to rush ahead to the manger, we enter into the story of Israel and share their longing for a Savior.

Advent is a time when we Prepare the Way in our hearts for the arrival of the Messiah. It is alive with a sense of restoration and stirring with the hope of redemption. It is heavy with the longing for God to rescue us and bring us back to himself. In our culture, the Christmas season is often associated with a fast paced sense of hurry. The holiday rush, they call it. Inevitably, we will feel the tension of impatient shoppers and hectic schedules. But the Christian embrace of Advent is a counter-cultural act of intentional patience. We wait. We hope. Resisting the urge to rush ahead to the manger, we enter into the story of Israel and share their longing for a Savior.

The King is coming! Jesus Christ has come and will come again. This is the hope of the Church and the eager expectation and desire of His people. Advent is the joyful celebration of Jesus’ first arrival in humility and the anxious awaiting of His second in glory. It is season for remembering and rejoicing, watching and waiting.

The King is coming! Jesus Christ has come and will come again. This is the hope of the Church and the eager expectation and desire of His people. Advent is the joyful celebration of Jesus’ first arrival in humility and the anxious awaiting of His second in glory. It is season for remembering and rejoicing, watching and waiting.

Advent: Week One