The Light of the Gospel

Watch the sermon here.

Advent is a reminder that Jesus came to dwell among us, and that He is coming again to be with us forever. The season of Advent stirs our hearts and minds in hope as we remember the promises of God, endure longing that stems from our sin and suffering, and wait with eager anticipation for Jesus to appear again in order to make all things new.

In the second week of our advent series we focused on the awesome truth that Jesus came to us as the light of the world. Some of the truths we saw in God’s word this week were:

Jesus came into the world to redeem condemned sinners.

The darkness of our sin blinds our minds from seeing the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus.

Jesus came to expose the darkness of our sin and unbelief with the light of His presence.

The gospel consistently draws us to Jesus and produces the fruit of repentance in our lives.

We asked the question: In light of our sin and unbelief, how do we receive Jesus and believe in His name? God’s word clearly pointed us to the glorious reality that God places the Holy Spirit in us to empower ongoing faith in Jesus based on the authority of His finished work on the cross and His resurrection. We saw that we receive the Spirit of adoption by being born of God and that only Jesus has the right to declare us sons and daughters of God.

Discussion Questions:

• As you read the passage and listen to the sermon, what do you sense God saying to you? To our church?
• What things encouraged you? What things challenged you?
• What are the promises of God that I need to remember?
• What am I longing for God to do with the circumstances that stem from my sin and suffering?
• What eager anticipation is building within me as I wait for Jesus to return and make all things new?
• Who, among those which I live, work, and play, is Jesus leading me to share my gospel story with this week?