The Gifts of Advent: 2 Corinthians 5:17-19

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

You’ve experienced it before yourself. If you have children, you now have the joy of seeing it through their eyes. I’m talking about the delight of Christmas morning. The glad anticipation of what waits under the tree builds and builds until everyone finally rushes in there for the great moment of discovery. Yet what is it that most thrills us in that moment? It is the gift of something new. We delight in new things. The season of Advent is a celebration of something new coming into our lives. Let’s talk this morning about the gift of new and just how it transforms us.

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The Gifts of Advent: Luke 2:10-12

“But the angel said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.'” (CSB – Read the chapter)

When was the last time you were truly and completely happy? Depending on your circumstances, that could have been quite some time ago. Maybe you can’t even remember the last time that happened. For you, every day is a slog. Work is a drudgery. Family is just frustration. Friends are fleeting. And social media sucks most of the rest of the life out of you. The thought of being happy is a nice one, but not something you see very often. Well, our next gift of Advent is not happiness. But it can lead to it in some most unexpected places. Let’s talk today about the gift of joy.

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