Preparing for the Lord's Day
Advent: Love
What is your favorite part of Christmas? There are so many things to love about the Christmas season. There are the decorations, the parties, and the special worship services. There are presents and plays and concerts. I enjoy the food and the music and the anticipation. However, the best part of Christmas is the story of Christmas. The story of the Son of God born that man no more may die. Christmas is a story. It is not a fairy tale or a make-believe story. It is a true story. And since it is a true story, it is the greatest story ever.
Stories play a special role in our lives. They help us to understand and orient ourselves within this world. Stories help us to understand why certain things happen, how to interpret the events of life, and how to understand where we are going. The story of Christmas tells us that in the story of humanity God is the main character and that he has come to save his people. The story of Christmas tells us that the conflicts of our lives find their resolution in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The story of Christmas tells us that no matter how dark the world may become, a light has shone into the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. The story of Christmas tells us that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.
In our passage for this Sunday, we come to a concise explanation of the meaning of Christmas. And in these verses, we will find that the true love story of Christmas begins with God and ends with God and man together. To come prepared for worship take time this week to read and meditate upon 1 John 4:7-12, John 3:35; 15:12-17, Romans 3:9-20; 8:7, Ephesians 2:1-2, and Westminster Confession of Faith 8.
As we gather this fourth Sunday of Advent, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Hymn of Praise “What Child is This?”, the Acclamation of Praise “Silent Night,” and the Hymn of Response “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear.” Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear God’s Word, to receive it in faith, to love and treasure it in our hearts, and to practice it in our lives so that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him!
Sermon Information:
Text: 1 John 4:10
Title: The True Love Story
Outline:
- The True Love Story Does Not Begin With Man
- The True Love Story Begins With God
- The True Love Story Ends With God and Man