WEBVTT

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 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, where we are encouraging, equipping, and engaging lives for Christ.

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 I'm Pastor Patrick Daly, and you're listening to the beginning of our Advent series for 2025.

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 Today, we're taking a brief pause from our journey through the seven churches in Revelation to celebrate Advent.

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 And I'm especially excited about this series because we've created something really special for you this year.

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 Before we dive into today's message, I want to introduce someone who's been working very hard to help us enter this Advent season with intention and depth.

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 My wife, Amber Daly, who serves as our Children's Ministry Director, has created a comprehensive Advent devotional guide for our church family.

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 Amber, welcome.

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 Thanks, Patrick. I'm so glad to be here.

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 So tell us about these Advent table gatherings you've put together.

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 Well, Advent is one of my favorite seasons of the church year because it invites us to slow down in a world that's rushing towards Christmas.

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 These devotions are designed to help individuals, families, and small groups prepare their hearts during the four weeks leading up to Christmas, focusing on hope, peace, joy, and love.

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 And these connect with the sermon series?

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 Yes. That actually was really intentional.

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 Each week builds on the passage that Pastor Patrick is preaching from in Revelation.

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 So if you listen to the sermon on Sunday, you can spend the rest of the week going deeper with daily reflections, art contemplation, poems, hymns, and even some short stories I wrote using the Godly Play Method.

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 Wow. I really love that. And you've included activities too?

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 Right. So each week has what we're calling bridge building activities, which are simple, practical ways to bring hope, peace, joy, and love into our community.

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 When we were talking about building bridges as being our 2025 theme for our church, I really just wanted to include that into the Advent time as we are closing through to the end of the year and looking to our next theme.

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 I want us to just bring it all together.

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 There's things like writing cards to shut-ins, praying over local places that need God's peace, or blessing families with baby essentials.

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 And there are kid-friendly activities too, so families can do this together.

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 We also have it for the kids each week when we do gatherings as a church.

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 And so where can people find this?

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 So everything's available for free on our website at ontariocommunitychurch.org in the sermon archive.

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 You can download the full guide. It's about 48 pages, or you can just print the week that you're working on.

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 That's awesome. And so here's how this works, friends.

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 What you're going to hear is the sermon from week one of Advent.

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 The title of the sermon is All Things New, Awakening to a Hope that Restores.

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 I'll be preaching from Revelation chapter 21, verses 1 through 5.

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 And after you listen to the sermon, you can download the week one devotional guide,

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 which takes the same passage and helps you live with it all week long.

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 The devotional isn't just information about the passage.

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 It's an invitation to encounter God throughout it.

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 I tried to intentionally create it where it can be done in as little as five minutes,

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 or you can stretch it for your daily prayer and do, you know, 10, 15 minutes.

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 So it's meant to be really quick, but intentional as making it a part of your day.

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 Exactly. So think of it this way.

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 This sermon gives you the theological foundation and the biblical teaching.

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 The devotion then gives you the space to let that truth sink deep into your daily life.

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 So you might listen to the sermon today and then tomorrow morning you'll pull out the devotional

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 and spend 10 minutes with the hopeless exercise, writing down what you're asking God to make new in your life.

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 Or maybe Wednesday evening you light a candle and sit with the artwork and just wander where God is restoring you.

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 And it's designed to work together.

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 The sermon plants the seeds and the devotional helps it take root.

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 And if you're leading a small group or gathering friends around your table this Advent,

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 the discussion questions in the devotional will help you go even deeper together.

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 So go ahead and grab a devotional or download it, print it, and keep it handy this week.

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 And after the sermon today, Amber and I are going to come back and talk about how to put all of this into practice.

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 We want this Advent season to be formative, not just informative.

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 All right, so let's dive in.

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 Grab your Bible, let's turn to Revelation chapter 21, and let's explore together this incredible promise.

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 Behold, I am making all things new.

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 Well, good morning, everyone.

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 I cannot believe we are already in the Advent season.

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 It's that time of year where it's just time for us to slow things down.

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 Amen?

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 Amen?

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 It's incredible how busy things get, how stressed out and even overwhelmed we can get.

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 And it's important for us to take a moment, to take a deep breath, to rest, to reflect, to rejuvenate,

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 and to think about the Advent story or the Christmas story, if you're more familiar, one way or another.

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 We think about our Lord and our God and the hope that exists in him.

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 That when troubles come our way, we turn to the Lord.

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 Our hope is in Jesus Christ.

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 And I always think of this verse, that I look to the hills and where does my hope come from, right?

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 Our hope comes from the Lord who made the heavens and the earth.

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 And it's in this season, it's in this time where we think of anticipation, much like how we think about preparation for the first coming of Christ.

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 And it's so interesting when we think of Christ and how the word became flesh.

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 Christ to be born in a manger, showing how that hope would come down from heaven to earth.

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 Now, no one really knew the day or the time in which Jesus would come the first time,

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 much like how we don't know when Jesus will come the second time.

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 And it's important for us to not get so caught up on when, but the importance of why.

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 That God has this sense of hope for his people.

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 And we enter this time where we wait upon the Lord, the maker of heavens and earth, the God who is making all things new.

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 And I have on here, awakening to a hope that restores.

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 And I put on here, revelation.

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 And I want us to turn there because I want you to see something that's very, very interesting.

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 It's important for us to know as we turn our Bibles to Revelation chapter 21, verses 1 through 5.

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 That same kind of anticipation and preparation and waiting for the first coming of Christ

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 is the same type of anticipation that we live out today.

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 Not only do we look at tradition, right?

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 The liturgical calendar and how this is the season when we think about Jesus.

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 But we also, may we not forget about Jesus's second coming and this sense of anticipation.

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 So are we all there, church?

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 Revelation 21, verses 1 through 5.

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 Let's read it together.

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 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.

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 For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

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 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,

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 prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

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 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.

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 That's very important, right?

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 He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will be with them as their God.

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 Doesn't that sound very Old Testament like when you read that?

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 What is that doing in Revelation?

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 It's showing the promises of God.

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 Let's go on verse 4.

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 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more.

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 Neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

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 And he who was seated on the throne said, behold, I am making all things new.

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 And he said, write this down, for the words are trustworthy and true.

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 What a very interesting verse that we're seeing here.

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 Where you have John is talking about the ultimate restoration, right?

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 He's talking about all of creation, the present and the future hope.

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 When we think of the Christmas story, we think of the hope of Christ, the coming of Christ,

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 and how we look back and we remember Christ as the fulfillment of prophecy.

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 All so many prophecies within the Old Testament foretelling of the coming of Christ.

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 And we fast forward to today where we remember that first coming.

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 And in the same way, we think of how Christ continues to fulfill his promises.

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 That's so powerful and it should, it is trustworthy and true as that verse is saying in Revelation.

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 We trust in the living God.

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 We place our faith and our trust in him, knowing that in this present moment,

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 as we look back at the hope of the coming of Christ and that sense of anticipation,

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 we also look forward to the coming of Jesus Christ and the hope that comes from him.

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 It's this consistency.

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 It is this pattern that we see within Scripture that we can trust in the living God

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 and that our hope is in him, not in the things of the world or the culture or the loud voices saying

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 to be afraid or the divisiveness that happens within the world.

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 Think of the firm foundation that exists in Christ.

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 That is so important for us to realize when we think of the Christmas story,

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 like when we look at this decoration here, the fulfillment of prophecy, right?

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 Isn't it interesting, the star that the three wise men were following to get to lead them to Christ,

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 much like how Christ is the morning star and that we are to follow in his direction.

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 It's really remarkable when we start seeing and piecing together these kind of connections here.

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 And so what's happening in these verses is John is seeing a new heaven and new earth, the holy city.

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 What's important is God is dwelling with humanity because God loves all of us.

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 We think of how Christ came down from heaven to be with the people, right?

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 To change the course of history.

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 And we see further in the end how God will be with his people.

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 That is something that we should look forward to.

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 We should anticipate.

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 And I don't know about you.

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 That is something to be hopeful for.

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 We also see that every tear is wiped away.

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 No more death.

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 No more pain.

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 And how God is declaring, I am making all things new.

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 I'm making everything new.

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 What's so important with that is God is the God of hope and restoration.

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 When we think about how God transforms our very lives from the inside out to become more like him.

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 Think of that manger.

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 Think of that child.

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 But also think of the fulfillment of prophecy.

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 Think of the hope that was provided for the people at the time.

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 The people of God.

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 And how Christ is the hope that we look for.

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 There's so many people in this world that have this sense of emptiness.

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 They feel like there's something that is missing in their life.

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 You don't have to raise your hand and I hope you're not one of them.

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 But you may know someone who says there's just something missing in my life.

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 I don't understand.

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 I have all the money that I could ever ask for.

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 Or I have all of the fame and success.

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 Yes, I have all these things, but yet I still feel empty inside.

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 Turn your eyes to the Lord.

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 And look for the hope, the fulfillment that comes from him.

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 It's truly remarkable.

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 And when we think of how God makes all things new.

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 God being the transformer of our lives.

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 The transformer of culture.

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 There's this sense of transformation that happens with each and every one of us.

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 I want to turn to, it's going to be from Isaiah.

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 Chapter 2, verse 4.

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 Where it's saying,

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 He shall judge between the nations.

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 He shall decide disputes for many people.

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 And they shall beat their swords into plowshares.

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 Their spears into pruning hooks.

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 Nations shall not lift up sword against nation.

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 Neither shall they learn war anymore.

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 We think of how, in this sense, the prophecy,

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 talking about how this changing of swords to plowshares,

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 instead of waging war with each other, working together.

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 And what beautiful imagery we can see, right?

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 That nation shall not lift up sword against nation.

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 That's something that we hope for.

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 For there to be this sense of restoration and transformation that exists.

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 It's the imagery of people learning God's ways that are much higher than ours.

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 That is something that I hope for.

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 And I hope that you hope for.

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 Think of life together and how there is a call for us

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 to put our trust in this living hope

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 and to walk in the light of the Lord.

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 And that's a very powerful thing.

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 Let's go to this next verse.

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 This is also, this is from Romans.

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 This was part of the interactive reading where it's talking about.

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 Besides this, you know, the time that the hour has come for you to wake up,

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 to wake from sleep.

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 For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

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 The night is far gone.

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 The day is at hand.

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 So then let us cast the work of darkness and put on the armor of light.

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 We think of the hope of Christ.

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 We've got to wake up.

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 We've got to see that hope is here.

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 We've got to see that God provided a way through his son, Jesus Christ.

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 And that is very powerful, right?

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 We may know many of us who are, we think we see that, we read that.

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 It's talking about most often literally to be asleep,

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 but also to not pay attention.

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 So let us pay attention to that kind of hope that comes from Christ.

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 Salvation being at hand.

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 Christ being the fulfillment of prophecy and Christ keeping all of his promises.

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 Something that really encourages me as a Christian and even as a pastor

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 is the fact that God is consistent.

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 That he doesn't change.

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 That he is everlasting to everlasting.

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 And he is that firm foundation.

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 And how often do we change, though?

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 And I'm not just talking about changing our clothes or changing our hairstyle.

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 How often do we change?

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 But God remains the same.

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 He's still providing salvation to all of us to believe in him.

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 He's still providing hope for the world.

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 Because this world needs hope more than ever before.

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 When I put this imagery of darkness into light, right?

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 Or waking up.

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 That is a call for all of us, if we haven't already,

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 to come and see that the Lord is good.

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 To come out of the darkness into the light.

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 And many of us, there's a lot of people who are aware that they're in darkness.

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 And they feel that there's no hope in their life.

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 They feel that it's hopeless.

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 But let me tell you.

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 In knowing Christ, that is the greatest hope.

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 The only hope that exists in him.

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 And may we trust in him.

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 May we go out of that darkness into the light.

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 Being saved by grace through faith.

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 Right?

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 Being transformed.

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 And knowing.

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 I don't have to fear the culture.

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 I don't have to fear man.

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 I trust in God.

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 For he is the hope of glory.

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 I want us to go to that next slide here in Isaiah.

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 Isn't it interesting?

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 The Bible is so connected with each other that

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 you can spend your whole lifetime reading it

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 and pursuing all of the connections within it.

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 Interesting how in Isaiah we see the new heavens and the new earth

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 much like we found and we find in Revelation.

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 God making all things new.

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 God providing a way through Christ.

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 Even if you think of like the story of Noah

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 that God was providing a way of escape from the flood.

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 By saying, get on this boat before the flood comes.

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 That's right.

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 God always provides a way.

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 And he provides that way through Jesus.

00:18:35.180 --> 00:18:36.759
 And much like how we see here

00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:40.140
 the new heavens and the new earth.

00:18:40.620 --> 00:18:41.120
 It says,

00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:43.920
 The former things shall not be remembered or come to mind

00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:45.800
 but be glad and rejoice forever

00:18:45.800 --> 00:18:47.539
 in that which I create.

00:18:48.180 --> 00:18:50.720
 For behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy

00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:52.460
 and her people to be a gladness.

00:18:52.779 --> 00:18:54.539
 I will rejoice in Jerusalem

00:18:54.539 --> 00:18:56.440
 and be glad in my people

00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:58.779
 and there shall be heard in this

00:18:58.779 --> 00:19:00.799
 there no more shall be heard

00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:02.180
 in the sound of weeping

00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:03.900
 and the cry of distress.

00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:05.400
 All of these verses

00:19:05.400 --> 00:19:08.759
 are very, very unique.

00:19:09.259 --> 00:19:09.900
 Right?

00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:11.900
 They help us with our understanding

00:19:11.900 --> 00:19:15.340
 of how there is hope in the Lord.

00:19:15.860 --> 00:19:17.400
 Very important for us.

00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:22.140
 And so when we read this future verse

00:19:22.140 --> 00:19:25.180
 in Revelation, Revelation 21,

00:19:25.420 --> 00:19:26.660
 the end of Scripture,

00:19:27.120 --> 00:19:30.820
 it's important for us that we place our hope in him.

00:19:31.700 --> 00:19:34.880
 We remember the first coming of Christ, right?

00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:39.680
 We think of all of the scenes from the Christmas story.

00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:44.019
 We think of all of the holiday spirit

00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:46.480
 and Christ being the reason for the season.

00:19:47.600 --> 00:19:49.160
 But let us also remember

00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:51.680
 that the Lord is with us.

00:19:52.120 --> 00:19:52.600
 Right?

00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:54.380
 That God is with us.

00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:56.240
 We think of that name, Emmanuel.

00:19:57.019 --> 00:19:58.360
 God with us.

00:19:59.539 --> 00:20:02.120
 Because God wants to be with his people.

00:20:02.320 --> 00:20:04.200
 God is the God of restoration,

00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:05.759
 hope, and transformation.

00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:08.640
 And we anticipate that.

00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:11.960
 We wait upon the Lord for his timing.

00:20:13.420 --> 00:20:17.300
 And so hope is grounded in who God is.

00:20:17.640 --> 00:20:19.040
 Let's go to that next slide.

00:20:19.140 --> 00:20:20.920
 We have the interpretation then.

00:20:21.300 --> 00:20:21.860
 Or you know what?

00:20:22.020 --> 00:20:23.060
 Let's leave that one on.

00:20:24.020 --> 00:20:26.620
 To stay awake and to be ready.

00:20:27.320 --> 00:20:29.660
 This sense of anticipation, right?

00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:30.759
 Stay awake.

00:20:30.860 --> 00:20:33.800
 You don't know what day the Lord is coming, right?

00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:35.740
 We keep seeing this pattern.

00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:37.560
 The arrival of Christ, right?

00:20:37.559 --> 00:20:40.799
 When Christ will return in his glory.

00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:42.579
 And so often in scripture,

00:20:42.579 --> 00:20:46.799
 it's this sense of patiently waiting on God and his timing.

00:20:47.419 --> 00:20:48.579
 And how many of us,

00:20:49.659 --> 00:20:51.139
 you don't have to raise your hand,

00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:54.460
 but I know I can speak for myself

00:20:54.460 --> 00:20:57.379
 that I would rather have it on my timing, right?

00:20:57.380 --> 00:21:00.000
 We'd rather have God say, you know,

00:21:00.120 --> 00:21:01.660
 in a year are you going to return?

00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:04.320
 And just know exactly when things are going to happen.

00:21:05.400 --> 00:21:07.020
 But it's important for us to know,

00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:09.780
 it's not us that decides the timing.

00:21:10.420 --> 00:21:14.600
 It's not us that decides God's timing for really anything.

00:21:14.760 --> 00:21:16.420
 When God answers our prayer,

00:21:16.520 --> 00:21:19.360
 let alone when Christ is going to come or return,

00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:21.939
 it is us trusting in him

00:21:21.939 --> 00:21:25.699
 and knowing that God is going to deliver on his promises.

00:21:26.919 --> 00:21:28.719
 And so you must be ready for the son of man

00:21:28.719 --> 00:21:31.000
 is coming at an hour you do not expect.

00:21:31.179 --> 00:21:34.059
 And so how that's even connected with,

00:21:34.599 --> 00:21:36.719
 in the gospel narrative.

00:21:37.099 --> 00:21:38.819
 So yeah, let's go to that next slide then.

00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:42.259
 So what can we learn from this, right?

00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:45.879
 The first thing is that hope begins with God

00:21:45.879 --> 00:21:48.059
 making all things new.

00:21:48.539 --> 00:21:51.640
 God is the creator, right?

00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:53.500
 He creates the heaven and the earth.

00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:56.579
 He sends his son as the redeemer.

00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:59.960
 And we have the Holy Spirit as the sustainer.

00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:01.859
 And we have the triune God

00:22:01.859 --> 00:22:04.539
 that takes that which is broken

00:22:04.539 --> 00:22:07.379
 and restores it and makes it new.

00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:09.680
 That is our hope.

00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:13.039
 That is our anticipation, right?

00:22:13.180 --> 00:22:15.840
 So it begins with God making all things new.

00:22:17.400 --> 00:22:20.340
 Hope is grounded then on who God is.

00:22:21.140 --> 00:22:22.019
 The God is holy.

00:22:22.180 --> 00:22:22.920
 He is strong.

00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:23.700
 He is righteous.

00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:25.680
 And he renews.

00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:28.580
 He rebuilds and he restores.

00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:31.160
 Ask yourself the question,

00:22:32.180 --> 00:22:34.920
 where have you seen God restoring you?

00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:38.080
 Or has God been restoring your life?

00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:41.159
 That's a question that only you can ask,

00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:44.079
 but it's something that pray for God

00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:45.399
 to work in your life,

00:22:45.639 --> 00:22:48.059
 to build you up, to restore you.

00:22:48.939 --> 00:22:52.059
 And wait upon him and his timing.

00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:56.000
 The second thing then is hope awakens us

00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:57.480
 to live differently today.

00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:58.659
 And that's very important.

00:22:59.659 --> 00:23:01.500
 That hope leads us forward

00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:04.339
 from the darkness into light.

00:23:04.339 --> 00:23:06.179
 It's this sense of transformation

00:23:06.179 --> 00:23:08.459
 as we are to wake up

00:23:08.459 --> 00:23:11.240
 and go towards Christ.

00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:16.259
 We think of Advent as a time of reflection,

00:23:17.439 --> 00:23:18.019
 rest,

00:23:18.500 --> 00:23:21.399
 this time for us to think about God

00:23:21.399 --> 00:23:26.419
 and how he is showing himself through Christ,

00:23:27.159 --> 00:23:29.099
 this fulfillment of prophecy.

00:23:29.099 --> 00:23:34.000
 And it's a time for us to also respond to this hope.

00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:37.099
 If Christ is making all things new,

00:23:37.399 --> 00:23:40.459
 may we respond to this hope.

00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:45.519
 And may we live being that new creation in him.

00:23:47.059 --> 00:23:48.219
 And so ask yourself,

00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:49.539
 have you been asleep?

00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:52.019
 Maybe literally asleep.

00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:54.679
 Or maybe you haven't been alert.

00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:58.940
 May you pay attention to God and to his word

00:23:58.940 --> 00:24:01.019
 and the hope that Christ provides.

00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:05.500
 The third thing is that hope transforms us

00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:06.820
 from the inside out.

00:24:07.140 --> 00:24:09.600
 When I showed you the Isaiah verse,

00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:09.840
 right,

00:24:09.880 --> 00:24:12.660
 was talking about swords to plowshares, right?

00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:14.259
 Instead of waging war,

00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:15.640
 working together,

00:24:16.080 --> 00:24:18.400
 going from fear to hope.

00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:21.680
 There's so many of us

00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:23.820
 that live in this culture.

00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:24.000
 I mean,

00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:26.220
 we all do live in this culture of fear,

00:24:27.019 --> 00:24:28.879
 this separation, right?

00:24:29.159 --> 00:24:30.480
 That's one thing I know

00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:32.819
 that I don't like about technology

00:24:32.819 --> 00:24:35.079
 is that when you take out your phone,

00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:36.939
 how easy does it distract you

00:24:36.939 --> 00:24:38.119
 from the present moment?

00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:43.240
 You want to talk about a dividing factor?

00:24:43.359 --> 00:24:44.939
 I understand we use it for work

00:24:44.939 --> 00:24:45.980
 and we use it for school,

00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:47.819
 but let's be honest here.

00:24:48.740 --> 00:24:50.819
 Has this been a distraction in your life?

00:24:50.819 --> 00:24:53.819
 I will admit it's distracted me,

00:24:54.119 --> 00:24:56.220
 especially those little ping notifications.

00:24:56.859 --> 00:24:57.679
 Ooh, what's that?

00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:01.220
 We have to think of how

00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:03.740
 the culture that we live in

00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:05.460
 is one of fear

00:25:05.460 --> 00:25:07.960
 and one that divides us

00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:10.759
 and separates us from people,

00:25:11.159 --> 00:25:13.079
 let alone from God.

00:25:13.079 --> 00:25:15.859
 and how important it is for us.

00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:18.539
 Let us turn that fear

00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:21.839
 by focusing on the hope in Christ.

00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:24.259
 Just like as I give this imagery

00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:25.679
 from darkness to light,

00:25:25.899 --> 00:25:28.559
 nobody wants to be in a dark room

00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:29.960
 where you can't find a flashlight

00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:32.500
 or there's no light whatsoever.

00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:36.019
 We have got to recognize

00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:38.759
 there is hope that is in Christ

00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:40.400
 and it's a better way

00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:42.480
 than what culture,

00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:44.640
 than what the world has to offer.

00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:47.779
 Very, very important for us.

00:25:48.859 --> 00:25:49.319
 And so,

00:25:50.099 --> 00:25:52.160
 by receiving this hope

00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:53.880
 comes transformation.

00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:56.500
 Being on a journey.

00:25:57.460 --> 00:25:58.420
 For many of us,

00:25:58.519 --> 00:25:59.019
 I mean, there's,

00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:01.099
 some of you may know people

00:26:01.099 --> 00:26:02.439
 who don't know Christ.

00:26:03.119 --> 00:26:03.879
 And you may hear,

00:26:04.059 --> 00:26:06.219
 I am a spiritual person, right?

00:26:06.839 --> 00:26:08.240
 You may have heard that before.

00:26:08.599 --> 00:26:10.439
 Or I'm on a spiritual journey.

00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:11.759
 Amen.

00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:14.559
 May you be on a spiritual journey

00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:16.079
 to know who Christ is.

00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:19.319
 Instead of wandering aimlessly.

00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:21.579
 How many of you have hiked

00:26:21.579 --> 00:26:24.459
 or you've gone out in the wilderness

00:26:24.459 --> 00:26:25.879
 and you got lost?

00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:29.199
 And you had no idea

00:26:29.199 --> 00:26:30.119
 where you were going.

00:26:30.119 --> 00:26:32.859
 Did I turn the wrong way

00:26:32.859 --> 00:26:34.639
 and I veered off the path

00:26:34.639 --> 00:26:35.779
 or what happened?

00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:37.799
 This tree looks familiar.

00:26:37.979 --> 00:26:39.539
 I thought I saw it a mile ago

00:26:39.539 --> 00:26:40.899
 or whatever it is, right?

00:26:44.119 --> 00:26:45.699
 When you are journeying,

00:26:46.039 --> 00:26:48.119
 may you be on that journey

00:26:48.119 --> 00:26:49.359
 to come to know Christ

00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:50.679
 and in knowing Christ,

00:26:51.399 --> 00:26:53.379
 continue on that spiritual journey

00:26:53.379 --> 00:26:54.699
 with Christ.

00:26:55.659 --> 00:26:56.699
 There's a lot of people

00:26:56.699 --> 00:26:57.419
 that are searching

00:26:57.420 --> 00:26:59.019
 and there's a lot of people

00:26:59.019 --> 00:26:59.759
 without hope.

00:27:00.539 --> 00:27:01.460
 And I pray

00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:03.320
 if you know someone

00:27:03.320 --> 00:27:05.160
 or you yourself are someone

00:27:05.160 --> 00:27:07.140
 who is wandering,

00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:09.320
 may you go on to the path

00:27:09.320 --> 00:27:10.580
 to Christ

00:27:10.580 --> 00:27:12.880
 and may you begin

00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:13.740
 or return

00:27:13.740 --> 00:27:15.200
 to that path

00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:16.380
 with Christ.

00:27:16.380 --> 00:27:17.740
 I think of how

00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:20.660
 how Christ was walking

00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:22.100
 with the disciples

00:27:22.100 --> 00:27:23.840
 on the road to Emmaus.

00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:25.980
 And it's such a wonderful imagery

00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:27.980
 of Christ walking

00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:30.080
 with his people

00:27:30.080 --> 00:27:32.780
 as they're going from one destination

00:27:32.780 --> 00:27:33.800
 to the next, right?

00:27:34.120 --> 00:27:35.920
 And that's a very beautiful imagery

00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:38.300
 of how Christ walks with us

00:27:38.300 --> 00:27:40.000
 to where we need to go.

00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:41.700
 And so,

00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:43.380
 transformation.

00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:45.279
 We think of this.

00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:48.099
 Advent is an opportunity

00:27:48.099 --> 00:27:49.200
 for us to reflect

00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:51.140
 and for us to see

00:27:51.140 --> 00:27:52.779
 that there is hope in God

00:27:52.779 --> 00:27:54.359
 and we are to respond to that

00:27:54.359 --> 00:27:56.599
 because God is not only

00:27:56.599 --> 00:27:57.700
 restoring the world

00:27:57.700 --> 00:27:59.000
 and making things new,

00:27:59.099 --> 00:28:00.380
 he makes us new

00:28:00.380 --> 00:28:02.900
 by making us more like him.

00:28:04.279 --> 00:28:05.380
 And in this then,

00:28:06.119 --> 00:28:06.960
 these are the things

00:28:06.960 --> 00:28:07.819
 that we can learn

00:28:07.819 --> 00:28:10.200
 and we now go into the

00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:12.220
 how should we live?

00:28:13.179 --> 00:28:14.599
 How do we respond?

00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:16.740
 What can we do upon this?

00:28:17.679 --> 00:28:19.359
 Live as people

00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:21.099
 of the new creation.

00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:22.259
 In other words,

00:28:22.899 --> 00:28:25.259
 respond to the hope in Christ.

00:28:27.399 --> 00:28:29.179
 Perhaps when you get up

00:28:29.179 --> 00:28:29.720
 in the morning

00:28:29.720 --> 00:28:32.299
 or before you go to bed

00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:32.819
 at night,

00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:35.039
 ask the Lord

00:28:35.039 --> 00:28:36.579
 to make me new.

00:28:36.579 --> 00:28:38.500
 make yourself new.

00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:40.259
 God,

00:28:40.339 --> 00:28:41.559
 may you transform me

00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:42.439
 today.

00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:43.639
 God,

00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:44.259
 may you work

00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:45.159
 in and through me.

00:28:45.579 --> 00:28:46.819
 Or may your hope,

00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:47.199
 God,

00:28:47.559 --> 00:28:48.579
 radiate through me

00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:49.559
 to other people.

00:28:50.599 --> 00:28:51.699
 Think about that.

00:28:53.059 --> 00:28:54.559
 Look for one area

00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:55.439
 in your life

00:28:55.439 --> 00:28:57.119
 for how God

00:28:57.119 --> 00:28:57.879
 is working

00:28:57.879 --> 00:28:59.000
 in and through you

00:28:59.000 --> 00:28:59.919
 where God

00:28:59.919 --> 00:29:01.179
 is restoring you.

00:29:01.180 --> 00:29:04.680
 and think of how

00:29:04.680 --> 00:29:07.340
 you can live this life

00:29:07.340 --> 00:29:09.060
 as a response

00:29:09.060 --> 00:29:09.700
 to the hope

00:29:09.700 --> 00:29:11.220
 of Christ.

00:29:12.960 --> 00:29:14.019
 The second thing

00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:15.320
 is to wake up

00:29:15.320 --> 00:29:16.700
 to the hope of Christ.

00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:18.360
 Pay attention.

00:29:19.500 --> 00:29:19.580
 Right?

00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:20.640
 Live this life

00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:21.220
 accordingly.

00:29:22.080 --> 00:29:23.340
 Think of one area

00:29:23.340 --> 00:29:25.240
 where you might be

00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:26.779
 spiritually asleep.

00:29:27.340 --> 00:29:28.759
 We all have those areas

00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:29.819
 and it's okay.

00:29:30.879 --> 00:29:32.119
 But just think

00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:32.660
 for a moment

00:29:32.660 --> 00:29:33.980
 in this Advent season,

00:29:33.980 --> 00:29:34.879
 are you awake

00:29:34.879 --> 00:29:35.559
 or asleep

00:29:35.559 --> 00:29:36.519
 to Christ's hope

00:29:36.519 --> 00:29:37.240
 for your life?

00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:39.579
 Replace slumber

00:29:39.579 --> 00:29:41.359
 or sleeping

00:29:41.359 --> 00:29:42.599
 with intentionality

00:29:42.599 --> 00:29:44.460
 and living for God

00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:45.960
 and having him

00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:46.940
 transform you.

00:29:48.299 --> 00:29:48.980
 Consider

00:29:48.980 --> 00:29:52.480
 reading scripture,

00:29:53.420 --> 00:29:53.799
 prayer,

00:29:53.799 --> 00:29:54.839
 and this sense

00:29:54.839 --> 00:29:56.299
 of Christian community.

00:29:57.279 --> 00:29:57.859
 And I know

00:29:57.859 --> 00:29:59.059
 my wife's not here

00:29:59.059 --> 00:30:01.180
 but that little booklet

00:30:01.180 --> 00:30:01.960
 that you saw,

00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:04.720
 if any of you have it,

00:30:05.099 --> 00:30:06.059
 can I borrow one of yours?

00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:10.220
 You know,

00:30:10.720 --> 00:30:11.539
 many of you

00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:12.059
 have been noticing

00:30:12.059 --> 00:30:12.940
 that I've been having

00:30:12.940 --> 00:30:14.460
 the sermon-based

00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:15.180
 Bible studies

00:30:15.180 --> 00:30:16.419
 and I think

00:30:16.419 --> 00:30:17.519
 the Lord

00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:18.240
 has been working

00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:19.059
 through my wife

00:30:19.059 --> 00:30:20.460
 to write something

00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:21.139
 like this.

00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:22.319
 I didn't ask her

00:30:22.319 --> 00:30:22.819
 to do it.

00:30:22.819 --> 00:30:24.220
 She just did it.

00:30:24.919 --> 00:30:25.859
 And I worked with her

00:30:25.859 --> 00:30:26.200
 on it,

00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:26.659
 make sure,

00:30:26.759 --> 00:30:26.980
 you know.

00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:29.379
 But it just goes

00:30:29.379 --> 00:30:30.119
 to show you

00:30:30.119 --> 00:30:32.299
 the sense

00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:33.519
 of God

00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:34.179
 working in

00:30:34.179 --> 00:30:34.960
 and through people.

00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:37.960
 Not to

00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:39.500
 brag too much

00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:40.460
 on my wife

00:30:40.460 --> 00:30:41.279
 but she's

00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:42.220
 a fantastic writer

00:30:42.220 --> 00:30:43.859
 and I hope

00:30:43.859 --> 00:30:44.599
 you all enjoy

00:30:44.599 --> 00:30:45.059
 with that.

00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:48.980
 I say all of this

00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:49.439
 because

00:30:49.439 --> 00:30:51.539
 think of your

00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:53.379
 spiritual practices,

00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:55.000
 your prayer life,

00:30:55.639 --> 00:30:56.559
 your sense

00:30:56.559 --> 00:30:57.839
 of Christian community,

00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:59.119
 being with the body

00:30:59.119 --> 00:30:59.799
 of Christ

00:30:59.799 --> 00:31:02.200
 and think of

00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:03.879
 how can you have

00:31:03.879 --> 00:31:05.379
 spiritual practices

00:31:05.379 --> 00:31:06.480
 in your own life.

00:31:06.920 --> 00:31:07.119
 Now,

00:31:07.139 --> 00:31:07.740
 we're not saved

00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:09.000
 by these spiritual practices

00:31:09.000 --> 00:31:10.759
 but it's still good

00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.299
 for us

00:31:11.299 --> 00:31:12.440
 as we are growing

00:31:12.440 --> 00:31:13.180
 in Christ.

00:31:13.700 --> 00:31:14.980
 For us to have

00:31:14.980 --> 00:31:16.200
 a prayer life,

00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:17.700
 for us to have

00:31:17.700 --> 00:31:18.980
 time in the word

00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:20.180
 or,

00:31:20.440 --> 00:31:21.400
 you know,

00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:21.880
 recently

00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:23.819
 I was talking

00:31:23.819 --> 00:31:24.400
 with someone

00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:24.779
 and

00:31:24.779 --> 00:31:28.860
 I was having

00:31:28.860 --> 00:31:29.700
 this conversation

00:31:29.700 --> 00:31:30.259
 with someone

00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:31.559
 who told me

00:31:31.559 --> 00:31:34.579
 how she connects

00:31:34.579 --> 00:31:35.620
 with God

00:31:35.620 --> 00:31:37.120
 by being in nature

00:31:37.120 --> 00:31:39.960
 and just taking

00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:40.759
 some moments

00:31:40.759 --> 00:31:41.680
 whether it's

00:31:41.680 --> 00:31:42.779
 by a lake

00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:44.279
 or a river

00:31:44.279 --> 00:31:46.099
 or maybe not

00:31:46.099 --> 00:31:46.980
 the highest mountain

00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:48.819
 but being up there

00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:50.120
 and looking

00:31:50.120 --> 00:31:51.160
 at all of creation

00:31:51.160 --> 00:31:52.559
 and taking it all in

00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:53.039
 and thinking

00:31:53.039 --> 00:31:55.220
 God,

00:31:55.339 --> 00:31:56.099
 you made this.

00:31:57.059 --> 00:31:58.180
 You made this

00:31:58.180 --> 00:31:59.079
 for us

00:31:59.079 --> 00:32:02.180
 and that's just

00:32:02.180 --> 00:32:02.599
 a mountain.

00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:04.079
 That's just

00:32:04.079 --> 00:32:04.519
 a river

00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:06.660
 but it's showing

00:32:06.660 --> 00:32:08.059
 how God

00:32:08.059 --> 00:32:09.559
 loves us

00:32:09.559 --> 00:32:10.539
 and how he's

00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:11.259
 provided hope

00:32:11.259 --> 00:32:11.740
 for us.

00:32:12.299 --> 00:32:12.920
 Look at all

00:32:12.920 --> 00:32:13.579
 of the things

00:32:13.579 --> 00:32:14.099
 that God

00:32:14.099 --> 00:32:14.960
 has made.

00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:16.940
 he's pointing

00:32:16.940 --> 00:32:17.340
 us

00:32:17.340 --> 00:32:18.380
 to have

00:32:18.380 --> 00:32:18.740
 a different

00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:19.059
 way

00:32:19.059 --> 00:32:20.620
 to follow

00:32:20.620 --> 00:32:21.940
 in his

00:32:21.940 --> 00:32:22.440
 footsteps,

00:32:22.640 --> 00:32:22.759
 right?

00:32:22.819 --> 00:32:23.319
 The footsteps

00:32:23.319 --> 00:32:24.120
 of Christ

00:32:24.120 --> 00:32:25.340
 to come

00:32:25.340 --> 00:32:25.819
 to him

00:32:25.819 --> 00:32:27.640
 and so

00:32:27.640 --> 00:32:28.160
 think of

00:32:28.160 --> 00:32:28.620
 how you

00:32:28.620 --> 00:32:29.180
 can connect

00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:29.759
 with God,

00:32:30.360 --> 00:32:30.880
 how you

00:32:30.880 --> 00:32:31.720
 can respond

00:32:31.720 --> 00:32:32.920
 to the hope

00:32:32.920 --> 00:32:33.500
 that is in

00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:33.960
 Christ

00:32:33.960 --> 00:32:36.600
 and think

00:32:36.600 --> 00:32:37.100
 of your

00:32:37.100 --> 00:32:38.319
 spiritual

00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:39.059
 practices,

00:32:40.660 --> 00:32:41.019
 meditating

00:32:41.019 --> 00:32:41.880
 on the word.

00:32:41.980 --> 00:32:42.180
 I know

00:32:42.180 --> 00:32:42.640
 a lot of

00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:43.039
 people have

00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:43.980
 such a hard

00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:44.339
 time with

00:32:44.339 --> 00:32:44.579
 the word

00:32:44.579 --> 00:32:45.159
 meditation.

00:32:45.460 --> 00:32:45.960
 It's filling

00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:46.420
 your mind

00:32:46.420 --> 00:32:46.759
 with the

00:32:46.759 --> 00:32:47.059
 word of

00:32:47.059 --> 00:32:47.319
 God,

00:32:47.379 --> 00:32:47.819
 by golly.

00:32:48.559 --> 00:32:48.960
 It's like

00:32:48.960 --> 00:32:49.279
 when people

00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:49.559
 say,

00:32:49.659 --> 00:32:49.700
 oh,

00:32:49.720 --> 00:32:49.920
 I'm going

00:32:49.920 --> 00:32:50.319
 to meditate

00:32:50.319 --> 00:32:50.659
 and they

00:32:50.659 --> 00:32:51.099
 empty out

00:32:51.099 --> 00:32:51.579
 their mind.

00:32:51.659 --> 00:32:51.920
 Okay,

00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:52.539
 that's fine.

00:32:52.599 --> 00:32:52.799
 What are you

00:32:52.799 --> 00:32:52.980
 going to

00:32:52.980 --> 00:32:53.379
 fill it up

00:32:53.379 --> 00:32:53.599
 with?

00:32:54.339 --> 00:32:54.700
 Right?

00:32:55.579 --> 00:32:56.259
 And hopefully

00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:56.759
 you fill it

00:32:56.759 --> 00:32:57.099
 up with

00:32:57.099 --> 00:32:57.579
 the things

00:32:57.579 --> 00:32:58.200
 of God.

00:32:59.079 --> 00:32:59.440
 Right?

00:32:59.519 --> 00:32:59.859
 If it's

00:32:59.859 --> 00:33:00.279
 okay to

00:33:00.279 --> 00:33:00.579
 empty

00:33:00.579 --> 00:33:01.339
 things out,

00:33:01.440 --> 00:33:03.379
 we want

00:33:03.379 --> 00:33:03.500
 it.

00:33:03.539 --> 00:33:04.139
 We probably

00:33:04.139 --> 00:33:04.500
 need to

00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:04.920
 empty out

00:33:04.920 --> 00:33:05.339
 our minds

00:33:05.339 --> 00:33:05.759
 of all the

00:33:05.759 --> 00:33:06.460
 nasty things

00:33:06.460 --> 00:33:06.659
 that are

00:33:06.659 --> 00:33:07.139
 going on,

00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:07.440
 but may

00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:07.680
 it be

00:33:07.680 --> 00:33:08.039
 filled with

00:33:08.039 --> 00:33:08.379
 the things

00:33:08.379 --> 00:33:08.819
 of God.

00:33:08.819 --> 00:33:10.019
 that's

00:33:10.019 --> 00:33:10.240
 very

00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:10.659
 important.

00:33:13.139 --> 00:33:13.960
 And so

00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:14.700
 wake up to

00:33:14.700 --> 00:33:15.059
 the hope

00:33:15.059 --> 00:33:15.539
 of Christ

00:33:15.539 --> 00:33:16.500
 and share

00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:17.599
 the hope

00:33:17.599 --> 00:33:18.079
 of Christ

00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:18.679
 with others.

00:33:19.700 --> 00:33:20.179
 Think of

00:33:20.179 --> 00:33:21.779
 how very

00:33:21.779 --> 00:33:22.500
 often I

00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:23.439
 showed you

00:33:23.439 --> 00:33:24.019
 this verse

00:33:24.019 --> 00:33:24.679
 from Isaiah.

00:33:24.779 --> 00:33:25.220
 Can we go

00:33:25.220 --> 00:33:25.839
 to that Isaiah

00:33:25.839 --> 00:33:26.259
 verse?

00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:29.019
 I want to

00:33:29.019 --> 00:33:29.419
 turn there

00:33:29.419 --> 00:33:30.019
 for a second,

00:33:30.119 --> 00:33:30.339
 right?

00:33:32.200 --> 00:33:32.779
 They shall

00:33:32.779 --> 00:33:33.339
 beat their

00:33:33.339 --> 00:33:34.059
 swords into

00:33:34.059 --> 00:33:35.079
 plowshares and

00:33:35.079 --> 00:33:35.899
 their spears

00:33:35.899 --> 00:33:36.839
 into pruning

00:33:36.839 --> 00:33:37.159
 hooks.

00:33:37.220 --> 00:33:37.559
 And I just

00:33:37.559 --> 00:33:38.000
 think that's

00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:38.299
 such

00:33:38.299 --> 00:33:39.559
 remarkable

00:33:39.559 --> 00:33:40.159
 language,

00:33:40.259 --> 00:33:40.480
 right?

00:33:42.399 --> 00:33:43.159
 Many of

00:33:43.159 --> 00:33:43.460
 us,

00:33:43.639 --> 00:33:44.740
 we have

00:33:44.740 --> 00:33:45.319
 gifts and

00:33:45.319 --> 00:33:45.839
 abilities.

00:33:46.659 --> 00:33:47.319
 How many

00:33:47.319 --> 00:33:48.099
 of us use

00:33:48.099 --> 00:33:48.599
 those gifts

00:33:48.599 --> 00:33:49.180
 and abilities

00:33:49.180 --> 00:33:50.460
 against people?

00:33:51.659 --> 00:33:51.960
 Right?

00:33:52.500 --> 00:33:52.899
 Let's be

00:33:52.899 --> 00:33:53.500
 honest here.

00:33:55.940 --> 00:33:56.519
 Instead,

00:33:56.879 --> 00:33:57.519
 let us

00:33:57.519 --> 00:33:57.980
 think of

00:33:57.980 --> 00:33:58.419
 how we

00:33:58.419 --> 00:33:59.019
 can use

00:33:59.019 --> 00:33:59.559
 our gifts,

00:33:59.720 --> 00:34:00.279
 our talents,

00:34:00.399 --> 00:34:01.000
 our abilities,

00:34:01.539 --> 00:34:02.759
 our story

00:34:02.759 --> 00:34:03.940
 into

00:34:03.940 --> 00:34:05.139
 plowshares.

00:34:05.819 --> 00:34:06.419
 In other

00:34:06.419 --> 00:34:06.720
 words,

00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:07.639
 how can

00:34:07.640 --> 00:34:08.119
 we use

00:34:08.119 --> 00:34:08.539
 what God

00:34:08.539 --> 00:34:08.980
 has given

00:34:08.980 --> 00:34:09.480
 to us?

00:34:09.599 --> 00:34:10.240
 Instead of

00:34:10.240 --> 00:34:10.840
 waging war

00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:11.619
 against people,

00:34:11.780 --> 00:34:12.280
 how can

00:34:12.280 --> 00:34:12.740
 we use

00:34:12.740 --> 00:34:13.240
 it to

00:34:13.240 --> 00:34:13.760
 lead people

00:34:13.760 --> 00:34:14.300
 to Christ?

00:34:14.460 --> 00:34:14.920
 How can

00:34:14.920 --> 00:34:15.920
 we use

00:34:15.920 --> 00:34:16.640
 these things,

00:34:16.940 --> 00:34:17.860
 these resources,

00:34:18.320 --> 00:34:19.099
 as a way

00:34:19.099 --> 00:34:19.880
 in sharing

00:34:19.880 --> 00:34:20.480
 the hope

00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:21.079
 of Jesus

00:34:21.079 --> 00:34:21.680
 Christ?

00:34:22.820 --> 00:34:23.559
 Because for

00:34:23.559 --> 00:34:24.079
 many of us,

00:34:24.079 --> 00:34:24.640
 we have the

00:34:24.640 --> 00:34:25.240
 potential to

00:34:25.240 --> 00:34:26.480
 do pretty

00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:27.559
 bad and

00:34:27.559 --> 00:34:28.280
 evil stuff,

00:34:28.360 --> 00:34:28.579
 right?

00:34:29.180 --> 00:34:29.880
 But in the

00:34:29.880 --> 00:34:30.599
 same way,

00:34:31.079 --> 00:34:32.079
 we can use

00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:33.420
 those resources

00:34:33.420 --> 00:34:34.119
 for the glory

00:34:34.119 --> 00:34:34.619
 of God.

00:34:35.059 --> 00:34:35.539
 And it

00:34:35.539 --> 00:34:35.960
 is my

00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:37.199
 prayer that

00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:37.819
 you use

00:34:37.819 --> 00:34:38.279
 what God

00:34:38.279 --> 00:34:38.739
 has given

00:34:38.739 --> 00:34:39.219
 to you

00:34:39.219 --> 00:34:40.039
 to honor

00:34:40.039 --> 00:34:40.380
 him,

00:34:40.900 --> 00:34:41.759
 to glorify

00:34:41.759 --> 00:34:42.119
 him,

00:34:42.299 --> 00:34:43.139
 but also

00:34:43.139 --> 00:34:45.059
 how you

00:34:45.059 --> 00:34:45.519
 share it

00:34:45.519 --> 00:34:45.900
 with your

00:34:45.900 --> 00:34:46.359
 friends and

00:34:46.359 --> 00:34:46.920
 your family.

00:34:47.880 --> 00:34:48.599
 Not to

00:34:48.599 --> 00:34:49.139
 do evil,

00:34:49.259 --> 00:34:49.639
 but to

00:34:49.639 --> 00:34:50.380
 do good.

00:34:51.719 --> 00:34:52.099
 May you

00:34:52.099 --> 00:34:52.619
 respond

00:34:52.619 --> 00:34:53.259
 accordingly

00:34:53.259 --> 00:34:54.159
 to the

00:34:54.159 --> 00:34:54.559
 hope of

00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:54.960
 Christ.

00:34:55.539 --> 00:34:55.980
 And so,

00:34:56.539 --> 00:34:58.099
 I can't

00:34:58.099 --> 00:34:58.799
 emphasize this

00:34:58.799 --> 00:34:59.099
 enough,

00:34:59.259 --> 00:35:00.219
 instead of

00:35:00.219 --> 00:35:01.079
 waging war,

00:35:01.799 --> 00:35:02.719
 share in

00:35:02.719 --> 00:35:03.039
 the hope

00:35:03.039 --> 00:35:03.579
 of Christ.

00:35:04.659 --> 00:35:05.159
 And I

00:35:05.159 --> 00:35:05.599
 want you to

00:35:05.599 --> 00:35:06.059
 think of

00:35:06.059 --> 00:35:06.919
 one relationship

00:35:06.919 --> 00:35:08.079
 that you

00:35:08.079 --> 00:35:08.879
 can work

00:35:08.879 --> 00:35:09.199
 on,

00:35:09.480 --> 00:35:09.679
 right?

00:35:09.679 --> 00:35:09.959
 You think

00:35:09.959 --> 00:35:10.279
 of a

00:35:10.279 --> 00:35:10.919
 plowshare,

00:35:11.039 --> 00:35:11.139
 right?

00:35:11.159 --> 00:35:11.480
 You think

00:35:11.480 --> 00:35:12.259
 of a

00:35:12.259 --> 00:35:12.619
 pruning

00:35:12.619 --> 00:35:12.919
 hook,

00:35:13.019 --> 00:35:13.139
 right?

00:35:13.179 --> 00:35:13.819
 These tools

00:35:13.819 --> 00:35:14.079
 that are

00:35:14.079 --> 00:35:14.599
 used to

00:35:14.599 --> 00:35:15.539
 essentially,

00:35:15.699 --> 00:35:16.039
 you're not

00:35:16.039 --> 00:35:16.159
 going to

00:35:16.159 --> 00:35:16.419
 use a

00:35:16.419 --> 00:35:16.639
 pruning

00:35:16.639 --> 00:35:17.039
 hook on

00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:17.339
 somebody,

00:35:17.419 --> 00:35:17.599
 at least

00:35:17.599 --> 00:35:17.919
 I hope

00:35:17.919 --> 00:35:18.239
 to God

00:35:18.239 --> 00:35:18.579
 you're not

00:35:18.579 --> 00:35:19.039
 going to,

00:35:19.139 --> 00:35:19.319
 right?

00:35:21.099 --> 00:35:21.559
 In this,

00:35:21.659 --> 00:35:22.059
 it's this

00:35:22.059 --> 00:35:22.699
 sense of

00:35:22.699 --> 00:35:23.219
 using it

00:35:23.219 --> 00:35:24.039
 to help

00:35:24.039 --> 00:35:25.159
 build people

00:35:25.159 --> 00:35:25.439
 up,

00:35:25.539 --> 00:35:26.159
 to encourage

00:35:26.159 --> 00:35:26.579
 people,

00:35:26.739 --> 00:35:27.779
 to share

00:35:27.779 --> 00:35:28.739
 in the

00:35:28.739 --> 00:35:29.139
 hope of

00:35:29.139 --> 00:35:29.739
 Christ with

00:35:29.739 --> 00:35:30.119
 others.

00:35:31.439 --> 00:35:31.659
 So,

00:35:31.779 --> 00:35:32.299
 choose one

00:35:32.300 --> 00:35:32.860
 relationship

00:35:32.860 --> 00:35:33.260
 that you

00:35:33.260 --> 00:35:33.900
 can cultivate,

00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:35.600
 one relationship

00:35:35.600 --> 00:35:36.120
 that you

00:35:36.120 --> 00:35:36.580
 can work

00:35:36.580 --> 00:35:37.120
 on this

00:35:37.120 --> 00:35:37.440
 week.

00:35:38.019 --> 00:35:38.840
 This is a

00:35:38.840 --> 00:35:39.280
 time,

00:35:40.360 --> 00:35:41.600
 especially in

00:35:41.600 --> 00:35:42.640
 this Advent

00:35:42.640 --> 00:35:43.180
 season,

00:35:43.320 --> 00:35:43.940
 this Christmas

00:35:43.940 --> 00:35:44.400
 season,

00:35:44.400 --> 00:35:45.380
 we think of

00:35:45.380 --> 00:35:47.580
 how things

00:35:47.580 --> 00:35:48.400
 slow down.

00:35:49.560 --> 00:35:50.039
 And I tend

00:35:50.039 --> 00:35:51.060
 to think the

00:35:51.060 --> 00:35:51.960
 God who made

00:35:51.960 --> 00:35:52.680
 the four

00:35:52.680 --> 00:35:53.200
 seasons,

00:35:54.140 --> 00:35:54.380
 right?

00:35:54.440 --> 00:35:54.900
 When things

00:35:54.900 --> 00:35:55.660
 are hot and

00:35:55.660 --> 00:35:56.100
 things are

00:35:56.100 --> 00:35:56.380
 summer,

00:35:56.500 --> 00:35:57.200
 everybody's

00:35:57.200 --> 00:35:57.800
 running around.

00:35:59.060 --> 00:35:59.740
 Everybody's

00:35:59.740 --> 00:36:00.640
 doing tons

00:36:00.639 --> 00:36:01.039
 of stuff,

00:36:01.099 --> 00:36:01.519
 including

00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:02.159
 staying out

00:36:02.159 --> 00:36:02.339
 of the

00:36:02.339 --> 00:36:02.500
 heat,

00:36:02.539 --> 00:36:02.839
 I get

00:36:02.839 --> 00:36:03.059
 it.

00:36:04.299 --> 00:36:04.619
 But when

00:36:04.619 --> 00:36:05.099
 it comes

00:36:05.099 --> 00:36:06.319
 to the

00:36:06.319 --> 00:36:06.960
 fall and

00:36:06.960 --> 00:36:07.379
 the winter,

00:36:07.539 --> 00:36:08.059
 the colder

00:36:08.059 --> 00:36:08.539
 months,

00:36:09.099 --> 00:36:09.679
 it's a

00:36:09.679 --> 00:36:10.400
 time where

00:36:10.400 --> 00:36:12.659
 calm down

00:36:12.659 --> 00:36:13.079
 a bit.

00:36:14.359 --> 00:36:15.079
 What a

00:36:15.079 --> 00:36:15.420
 wonderful

00:36:15.420 --> 00:36:16.159
 opportunity

00:36:16.159 --> 00:36:17.599
 for us to

00:36:17.599 --> 00:36:18.119
 share in the

00:36:18.119 --> 00:36:18.500
 hope of

00:36:18.500 --> 00:36:19.099
 Christ with

00:36:19.099 --> 00:36:19.480
 others.

00:36:20.879 --> 00:36:21.759
 Because now

00:36:21.759 --> 00:36:22.339
 people are

00:36:22.339 --> 00:36:22.960
 slowing down,

00:36:23.019 --> 00:36:23.339
 or at least

00:36:23.339 --> 00:36:24.139
 I hope they

00:36:24.139 --> 00:36:24.440
 are.

00:36:24.440 --> 00:36:26.619
 what an

00:36:26.619 --> 00:36:27.300
 important time

00:36:27.300 --> 00:36:27.840
 for us.

00:36:28.800 --> 00:36:29.400
 A special

00:36:29.400 --> 00:36:31.139
 time to

00:36:31.139 --> 00:36:31.840
 share Christ

00:36:31.840 --> 00:36:32.460
 with others.

00:36:32.940 --> 00:36:33.519
 How God

00:36:33.519 --> 00:36:34.059
 has worked

00:36:34.059 --> 00:36:34.500
 in your

00:36:34.500 --> 00:36:34.900
 life.

00:36:36.500 --> 00:36:37.260
 That they

00:36:37.260 --> 00:36:37.700
 don't have

00:36:37.700 --> 00:36:38.000
 to be

00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:38.440
 afraid,

00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:39.760
 but rather

00:36:39.760 --> 00:36:40.780
 that hope

00:36:40.780 --> 00:36:41.400
 is in

00:36:41.400 --> 00:36:41.639
 him.

00:36:42.800 --> 00:36:43.260
 And so

00:36:43.260 --> 00:36:45.480
 when we

00:36:45.480 --> 00:36:45.800
 think of

00:36:45.800 --> 00:36:46.220
 hope in

00:36:46.220 --> 00:36:46.619
 closing,

00:36:47.079 --> 00:36:47.900
 it is not

00:36:47.900 --> 00:36:49.200
 just wishful

00:36:49.200 --> 00:36:49.679
 thinking.

00:36:50.480 --> 00:36:51.260
 It is

00:36:51.260 --> 00:36:51.860
 anticipation.

00:36:52.700 --> 00:36:53.460
 It is

00:36:53.460 --> 00:36:54.599
 participation.

00:36:55.960 --> 00:36:56.199
 And let

00:36:56.199 --> 00:36:56.619
 us know

00:36:56.619 --> 00:36:57.199
 that God

00:36:57.199 --> 00:36:58.019
 makes all

00:36:58.019 --> 00:36:58.780
 things new.

00:37:00.720 --> 00:37:01.119
 Advent

00:37:01.119 --> 00:37:02.920
 invites us

00:37:02.920 --> 00:37:03.400
 to wake

00:37:03.400 --> 00:37:03.679
 up,

00:37:04.220 --> 00:37:05.440
 to respond

00:37:05.440 --> 00:37:05.900
 to the

00:37:05.900 --> 00:37:06.300
 hope of

00:37:06.300 --> 00:37:06.699
 Christ,

00:37:07.240 --> 00:37:08.000
 and to

00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:09.059
 live by

00:37:09.059 --> 00:37:10.119
 sharing in

00:37:10.119 --> 00:37:10.460
 the hope

00:37:10.460 --> 00:37:10.960
 of Christ

00:37:10.960 --> 00:37:11.599
 with others.

00:37:12.159 --> 00:37:12.840
 Let's pray

00:37:12.840 --> 00:37:13.199
 together.

00:37:14.599 --> 00:37:15.400
 And Father

00:37:15.400 --> 00:37:15.940
 God, we

00:37:15.940 --> 00:37:16.679
 thank you

00:37:16.679 --> 00:37:18.159
 for this

00:37:18.159 --> 00:37:18.780
 opportunity

00:37:18.780 --> 00:37:19.400
 for us to

00:37:19.400 --> 00:37:20.159
 go and

00:37:20.159 --> 00:37:20.940
 take a

00:37:20.940 --> 00:37:21.820
 pause on

00:37:21.820 --> 00:37:22.860
 the

00:37:22.860 --> 00:37:23.900
 seven

00:37:23.900 --> 00:37:24.360
 churches

00:37:24.360 --> 00:37:24.680
 in

00:37:24.680 --> 00:37:25.200
 Revelation,

00:37:25.200 --> 00:37:26.360
 and to

00:37:26.360 --> 00:37:27.039
 slow down

00:37:27.039 --> 00:37:27.340
 a bit

00:37:27.340 --> 00:37:27.720
 and to

00:37:27.720 --> 00:37:28.680
 focus on

00:37:28.680 --> 00:37:30.000
 the Advent

00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:30.579
 season.

00:37:31.500 --> 00:37:31.960
 And even

00:37:31.960 --> 00:37:32.360
 though we

00:37:32.360 --> 00:37:32.840
 have read

00:37:32.840 --> 00:37:33.800
 from Revelation,

00:37:34.039 --> 00:37:34.519
 we've also

00:37:34.519 --> 00:37:35.000
 read from

00:37:35.000 --> 00:37:35.780
 Isaiah and

00:37:35.780 --> 00:37:36.280
 the Gospel

00:37:36.280 --> 00:37:36.920
 of Matthew,

00:37:37.940 --> 00:37:38.340
 may we

00:37:38.340 --> 00:37:38.980
 realize

00:37:38.980 --> 00:37:41.840
 our hope

00:37:41.840 --> 00:37:42.660
 is in

00:37:42.660 --> 00:37:43.539
 you and

00:37:43.539 --> 00:37:43.880
 in you

00:37:43.880 --> 00:37:44.220
 alone.

00:37:45.440 --> 00:37:46.140
 May we

00:37:46.140 --> 00:37:46.920
 respond to

00:37:46.920 --> 00:37:47.380
 your hope

00:37:47.380 --> 00:37:47.880
 and see

00:37:47.880 --> 00:37:49.519
 that we

00:37:49.519 --> 00:37:49.980
 live in a

00:37:49.980 --> 00:37:50.440
 world that

00:37:50.440 --> 00:37:51.019
 is full of

00:37:51.019 --> 00:37:51.780
 darkness and

00:37:51.780 --> 00:37:52.760
 fear and

00:37:52.760 --> 00:37:53.180
 division,

00:37:53.840 --> 00:37:54.900
 but you,

00:37:55.080 --> 00:37:55.480
 God, have

00:37:55.480 --> 00:37:56.140
 provided a

00:37:56.140 --> 00:37:56.700
 better way.

00:37:57.860 --> 00:37:58.280
 May we

00:37:58.280 --> 00:37:59.040
 recognize that

00:37:59.040 --> 00:37:59.480
 in this

00:37:59.480 --> 00:38:00.420
 Christmas season,

00:38:01.060 --> 00:38:02.240
 we look back

00:38:02.240 --> 00:38:03.300
 to the

00:38:03.300 --> 00:38:04.519
 promises and

00:38:04.519 --> 00:38:05.080
 the fulfillment

00:38:05.080 --> 00:38:05.800
 of prophecy

00:38:05.800 --> 00:38:07.200
 by you

00:38:07.200 --> 00:38:07.900
 sending your

00:38:07.900 --> 00:38:08.240
 son,

00:38:09.740 --> 00:38:10.280
 the word

00:38:10.280 --> 00:38:11.140
 becoming flesh

00:38:11.140 --> 00:38:11.920
 to be born

00:38:11.920 --> 00:38:13.000
 in that

00:38:13.000 --> 00:38:13.400
 manger,

00:38:13.740 --> 00:38:14.300
 and to

00:38:14.300 --> 00:38:14.940
 change the

00:38:14.940 --> 00:38:15.460
 course of

00:38:15.460 --> 00:38:16.340
 history by

00:38:16.340 --> 00:38:16.860
 providing

00:38:16.860 --> 00:38:18.120
 salvation as

00:38:18.120 --> 00:38:18.900
 the free gift

00:38:18.900 --> 00:38:19.720
 to all who

00:38:19.720 --> 00:38:21.000
 respond by

00:38:21.000 --> 00:38:21.659
 believing in

00:38:21.659 --> 00:38:22.119
 your son,

00:38:22.300 --> 00:38:22.579
 Jesus.

00:38:24.280 --> 00:38:24.840
 Also,

00:38:25.559 --> 00:38:25.940
 may we

00:38:25.940 --> 00:38:26.800
 recognize how

00:38:26.800 --> 00:38:27.360
 in the same

00:38:27.360 --> 00:38:27.860
 way we

00:38:27.860 --> 00:38:28.840
 anticipate and

00:38:28.840 --> 00:38:30.199
 we wait upon

00:38:30.199 --> 00:38:31.219
 the first

00:38:31.219 --> 00:38:31.719
 coming of

00:38:31.719 --> 00:38:32.260
 Christ, we

00:38:32.260 --> 00:38:32.940
 also do the

00:38:32.940 --> 00:38:33.719
 same with

00:38:33.719 --> 00:38:34.099
 the second

00:38:34.099 --> 00:38:34.619
 coming of

00:38:34.619 --> 00:38:35.019
 Christ.

00:38:37.480 --> 00:38:38.139
 What a

00:38:38.139 --> 00:38:38.480
 great

00:38:38.480 --> 00:38:39.659
 mystery,

00:38:40.539 --> 00:38:41.119
 what a

00:38:41.119 --> 00:38:41.800
 great timing.

00:38:42.980 --> 00:38:43.360
 May we

00:38:43.360 --> 00:38:43.960
 trust in

00:38:43.960 --> 00:38:44.480
 your timing,

00:38:45.179 --> 00:38:45.840
 and although

00:38:45.840 --> 00:38:46.380
 we may not

00:38:46.380 --> 00:38:46.900
 understand

00:38:46.900 --> 00:38:47.619
 everything and

00:38:47.619 --> 00:38:47.900
 all the

00:38:47.900 --> 00:38:48.880
 complexities of

00:38:48.880 --> 00:38:49.559
 who you are,

00:38:49.659 --> 00:38:50.239
 let alone your

00:38:50.239 --> 00:38:51.599
 word, may

00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:52.399
 we faithfully

00:38:52.399 --> 00:38:53.379
 be devoted

00:38:53.379 --> 00:38:53.899
 to you.

00:38:54.859 --> 00:38:55.500
 We love

00:38:55.500 --> 00:38:56.299
 you so much

00:38:56.299 --> 00:38:57.159
 and we

00:38:57.159 --> 00:38:57.759
 just thank

00:38:57.759 --> 00:38:58.459
 you for

00:38:58.459 --> 00:38:59.979
 our church,

00:39:00.559 --> 00:39:00.979
 for our

00:39:00.979 --> 00:39:01.419
 congregation,

00:39:01.419 --> 00:39:02.079
 and we're

00:39:02.079 --> 00:39:02.679
 grateful for

00:39:02.679 --> 00:39:03.259
 all of those

00:39:03.259 --> 00:39:03.699
 that are

00:39:03.699 --> 00:39:04.799
 online,

00:39:04.919 --> 00:39:05.299
 whether they're

00:39:05.299 --> 00:39:06.019
 watching on

00:39:06.019 --> 00:39:06.819
 TikTok or

00:39:06.819 --> 00:39:07.539
 Facebook or

00:39:07.539 --> 00:39:07.919
 wherever,

00:39:08.259 --> 00:39:08.819
 or even

00:39:08.819 --> 00:39:09.359
 those that

00:39:09.359 --> 00:39:09.859
 will listen

00:39:09.859 --> 00:39:10.219
 in the

00:39:10.219 --> 00:39:10.579
 future.

00:39:12.579 --> 00:39:13.339
 May they

00:39:13.339 --> 00:39:13.919
 all come

00:39:13.919 --> 00:39:14.399
 to know

00:39:14.399 --> 00:39:15.039
 the Lord,

00:39:15.759 --> 00:39:16.239
 grow in

00:39:16.239 --> 00:39:16.500
 him,

00:39:17.099 --> 00:39:17.919
 and respond

00:39:17.920 --> 00:39:19.059
 by doing

00:39:19.059 --> 00:39:19.539
 good in

00:39:19.539 --> 00:39:20.019
 his holy

00:39:20.019 --> 00:39:20.360
 name.

00:39:21.099 --> 00:39:21.639
 It is in

00:39:21.639 --> 00:39:22.099
 the name

00:39:22.099 --> 00:39:23.400
 of Jesus

00:39:23.400 --> 00:39:23.980
 Christ,

00:39:24.480 --> 00:39:24.960
 the morning

00:39:24.960 --> 00:39:25.400
 star,

00:39:25.940 --> 00:39:26.320
 that we

00:39:26.320 --> 00:39:26.639
 pray,

00:39:27.200 --> 00:39:27.500
 and we

00:39:27.500 --> 00:39:27.880
 all say

00:39:27.880 --> 00:39:28.260
 together,

00:39:28.340 --> 00:39:28.539
 amen?

00:39:28.920 --> 00:39:29.280
 Amen.

00:39:30.280 --> 00:39:30.740
 Well,

00:39:30.820 --> 00:39:31.260
 thank you for

00:39:31.260 --> 00:39:31.760
 listening to

00:39:31.760 --> 00:39:32.599
 today's message

00:39:32.599 --> 00:39:33.039
 here at

00:39:33.039 --> 00:39:33.920
 Ontario Community

00:39:33.920 --> 00:39:34.320
 Church.

00:39:34.480 --> 00:39:35.360
 I hope that

00:39:35.360 --> 00:39:36.200
 this message

00:39:36.200 --> 00:39:37.059
 encouraged you

00:39:37.059 --> 00:39:37.900
 as we begin

00:39:37.900 --> 00:39:38.639
 this Advent

00:39:38.639 --> 00:39:39.480
 season together.

00:39:39.860 --> 00:39:40.139
 Alright,

00:39:40.360 --> 00:39:40.840
 so Amber and

00:39:40.840 --> 00:39:41.400
 I are back

00:39:41.400 --> 00:39:41.900
 and I want

00:39:41.900 --> 00:39:42.519
 to talk

00:39:42.519 --> 00:39:43.079
 through how

00:39:43.079 --> 00:39:43.720
 this week's

00:39:43.720 --> 00:39:44.280
 devotional

00:39:44.280 --> 00:39:45.159
 helps you

00:39:45.159 --> 00:39:45.780
 take what

00:39:45.780 --> 00:39:46.220
 we just

00:39:46.219 --> 00:39:46.919
 explored in

00:39:46.919 --> 00:39:47.799
 Revelation 21

00:39:47.799 --> 00:39:49.019
 and actually

00:39:49.019 --> 00:39:49.879
 live with it

00:39:49.879 --> 00:39:50.639
 over the next

00:39:50.639 --> 00:39:51.279
 seven days.

00:39:51.679 --> 00:39:51.879
 Amber,

00:39:51.980 --> 00:39:52.319
 do you want

00:39:52.319 --> 00:39:52.739
 to jump

00:39:52.739 --> 00:39:53.139
 in here?

00:39:53.559 --> 00:39:53.779
 Yeah,

00:39:53.899 --> 00:39:54.739
 so now that

00:39:54.739 --> 00:39:55.099
 you've heard

00:39:55.099 --> 00:39:55.519
 the sermon

00:39:55.519 --> 00:39:56.059
 about God

00:39:56.059 --> 00:39:56.639
 making all

00:39:56.639 --> 00:39:57.239
 things new,

00:39:57.359 --> 00:39:57.799
 let's talk

00:39:57.799 --> 00:39:58.259
 about how

00:39:58.259 --> 00:39:59.019
 this devotional

00:39:59.019 --> 00:39:59.500
 will help

00:39:59.500 --> 00:40:00.199
 you experience

00:40:00.199 --> 00:40:01.500
 that personally.

00:40:01.859 --> 00:40:02.459
 So walk

00:40:02.459 --> 00:40:02.919
 us through it.

00:40:02.980 --> 00:40:03.459
 We just spent

00:40:03.459 --> 00:40:04.339
 40 minutes

00:40:04.339 --> 00:40:05.259
 approximately

00:40:05.259 --> 00:40:06.619
 in Revelation 21

00:40:06.619 --> 00:40:07.619
 talking about

00:40:07.619 --> 00:40:08.119
 restoration,

00:40:08.639 --> 00:40:08.879
 hope,

00:40:09.019 --> 00:40:09.579
 and God's

00:40:09.579 --> 00:40:10.199
 promise to

00:40:10.199 --> 00:40:10.759
 make all

00:40:10.759 --> 00:40:11.399
 things new.

00:40:11.739 --> 00:40:12.239
 How does

00:40:12.239 --> 00:40:13.139
 the devotional

00:40:13.139 --> 00:40:13.980
 take someone

00:40:13.980 --> 00:40:14.879
 deeper into

00:40:14.879 --> 00:40:15.239
 that?

00:40:15.239 --> 00:40:16.019
 I think

00:40:16.019 --> 00:40:16.379
 one of the

00:40:16.379 --> 00:40:16.939
 most powerful

00:40:16.939 --> 00:40:17.799
 parts of

00:40:17.799 --> 00:40:18.219
 week one

00:40:18.219 --> 00:40:18.719
 is that we

00:40:18.719 --> 00:40:19.359
 don't shy

00:40:19.359 --> 00:40:20.000
 away from

00:40:20.000 --> 00:40:20.779
 the brokenness.

00:40:20.899 --> 00:40:21.419
 The devotional

00:40:21.419 --> 00:40:21.959
 talks about

00:40:21.959 --> 00:40:22.479
 honesty,

00:40:23.059 --> 00:40:23.619
 about broken

00:40:23.619 --> 00:40:24.379
 relationships,

00:40:24.679 --> 00:40:25.559
 health struggles,

00:40:25.979 --> 00:40:26.919
 fear about

00:40:26.919 --> 00:40:27.479
 the future,

00:40:27.639 --> 00:40:28.099
 things our

00:40:28.099 --> 00:40:28.679
 church family

00:40:28.679 --> 00:40:29.899
 are actually

00:40:29.899 --> 00:40:30.639
 experiencing.

00:40:31.099 --> 00:40:31.579
 But then it

00:40:31.579 --> 00:40:32.179
 invites people

00:40:32.179 --> 00:40:32.879
 to see that

00:40:32.879 --> 00:40:33.639
 God's restoration

00:40:33.639 --> 00:40:35.119
 isn't just a

00:40:35.119 --> 00:40:35.779
 future hope,

00:40:35.879 --> 00:40:36.479
 it's actually

00:40:36.479 --> 00:40:37.339
 happening now.

00:40:37.679 --> 00:40:38.519
 That's great,

00:40:38.579 --> 00:40:39.099
 and I noticed

00:40:39.099 --> 00:40:39.959
 that you used

00:40:39.959 --> 00:40:40.899
 kintsugi

00:40:40.899 --> 00:40:41.439
 imagery.

00:40:41.739 --> 00:40:42.059
 It's this

00:40:42.059 --> 00:40:43.299
 Japanese art

00:40:43.300 --> 00:40:44.180
 of repairing

00:40:44.180 --> 00:40:45.420
 broken pottery

00:40:45.420 --> 00:40:46.300
 with gold.

00:40:46.760 --> 00:40:47.320
 Why that

00:40:47.320 --> 00:40:47.640
 image?

00:40:48.060 --> 00:40:48.240
 Well,

00:40:48.340 --> 00:40:49.140
 kintsugi is

00:40:49.140 --> 00:40:49.740
 this beautiful

00:40:49.740 --> 00:40:50.440
 practice where

00:40:50.440 --> 00:40:50.860
 the broken

00:40:50.860 --> 00:40:51.700
 pieces become

00:40:51.700 --> 00:40:52.080
 the most

00:40:52.080 --> 00:40:52.900
 beautiful parts.

00:40:53.019 --> 00:40:53.400
 The cracks

00:40:53.400 --> 00:40:54.120
 aren't hidden,

00:40:54.560 --> 00:40:55.280
 they're highlighted

00:40:55.280 --> 00:40:55.880
 with gold,

00:40:56.019 --> 00:40:56.539
 and that felt

00:40:56.539 --> 00:40:57.120
 like such a

00:40:57.120 --> 00:40:58.180
 picture of

00:40:58.180 --> 00:40:58.560
 what God

00:40:58.560 --> 00:40:58.980
 does with

00:40:58.980 --> 00:40:59.220
 us.

00:40:59.519 --> 00:40:59.980
 He doesn't

00:40:59.980 --> 00:41:00.560
 throw away

00:41:00.560 --> 00:41:01.080
 what's been

00:41:01.080 --> 00:41:01.380
 broken,

00:41:01.580 --> 00:41:02.220
 he restores

00:41:02.220 --> 00:41:02.840
 it and makes

00:41:02.840 --> 00:41:03.340
 it even more

00:41:03.340 --> 00:41:03.740
 beautiful.

00:41:04.180 --> 00:41:04.880
 That is our

00:41:04.880 --> 00:41:05.640
 story as a

00:41:05.640 --> 00:41:06.300
 church as well.

00:41:06.660 --> 00:41:07.260
 And it's a

00:41:07.260 --> 00:41:07.620
 wonderful,

00:41:07.820 --> 00:41:08.660
 it's a powerful

00:41:08.660 --> 00:41:09.900
 story as well.

00:41:09.900 --> 00:41:10.960
 And you

00:41:10.960 --> 00:41:11.980
 created these

00:41:11.980 --> 00:41:12.980
 daily practices

00:41:12.980 --> 00:41:13.780
 for each

00:41:13.780 --> 00:41:14.280
 day of the

00:41:14.280 --> 00:41:14.539
 week.

00:41:14.700 --> 00:41:15.340
 Can you give

00:41:15.340 --> 00:41:16.039
 us a taste

00:41:16.039 --> 00:41:16.619
 of what

00:41:16.619 --> 00:41:17.160
 people can

00:41:17.160 --> 00:41:17.619
 expect?

00:41:18.039 --> 00:41:18.340
 Sure.

00:41:18.519 --> 00:41:19.139
 Day one is

00:41:19.139 --> 00:41:19.500
 the main

00:41:19.500 --> 00:41:20.200
 devotional that

00:41:20.200 --> 00:41:20.700
 goes deep

00:41:20.700 --> 00:41:21.099
 into the

00:41:21.099 --> 00:41:21.380
 theme.

00:41:21.519 --> 00:41:21.800
 Then we

00:41:21.800 --> 00:41:22.340
 have things

00:41:22.340 --> 00:41:23.160
 like a

00:41:23.160 --> 00:41:23.780
 hopeless where

00:41:23.780 --> 00:41:24.139
 you write

00:41:24.139 --> 00:41:24.559
 down what

00:41:24.559 --> 00:41:25.220
 you're asking

00:41:25.220 --> 00:41:25.820
 God to make

00:41:25.820 --> 00:41:26.300
 new in your

00:41:26.300 --> 00:41:26.660
 life.

00:41:27.180 --> 00:41:27.880
 Then we've

00:41:27.880 --> 00:41:28.400
 got an art

00:41:28.400 --> 00:41:29.340
 contemplation with

00:41:29.340 --> 00:41:29.820
 reflective

00:41:29.820 --> 00:41:30.400
 questions.

00:41:30.700 --> 00:41:30.880
 We have

00:41:30.880 --> 00:41:31.579
 some classic

00:41:31.579 --> 00:41:32.300
 poems and

00:41:32.300 --> 00:41:32.820
 hymns to

00:41:32.820 --> 00:41:33.280
 sit with

00:41:33.280 --> 00:41:33.980
 slowly,

00:41:34.680 --> 00:41:35.240
 a godly

00:41:35.240 --> 00:41:36.160
 play style

00:41:36.160 --> 00:41:36.960
 story that

00:41:36.960 --> 00:41:37.400
 invites

00:41:37.400 --> 00:41:37.880
 wandering,

00:41:38.559 --> 00:41:38.940
 and a

00:41:38.940 --> 00:41:40.200
 contemplative

00:41:40.200 --> 00:41:41.400
 prayer using

00:41:41.400 --> 00:41:43.559
 questions and

00:41:43.559 --> 00:41:44.380
 a prayer time.

00:41:44.679 --> 00:41:44.800
 Right.

00:41:45.260 --> 00:41:46.119
 And I love

00:41:46.119 --> 00:41:46.320
 that.

00:41:46.539 --> 00:41:47.119
 And there's

00:41:47.119 --> 00:41:47.599
 also a

00:41:47.599 --> 00:41:48.119
 bridge building

00:41:48.119 --> 00:41:48.920
 activity this

00:41:48.920 --> 00:41:49.179
 week.

00:41:49.659 --> 00:41:50.019
 Yes.

00:41:50.119 --> 00:41:50.599
 So we are

00:41:50.599 --> 00:41:51.019
 encouraging

00:41:51.019 --> 00:41:51.500
 people to

00:41:51.500 --> 00:41:52.380
 write cards

00:41:52.380 --> 00:41:52.960
 to shut-ins,

00:41:53.079 --> 00:41:53.519
 people who

00:41:53.519 --> 00:41:53.920
 might be

00:41:53.920 --> 00:41:54.500
 experiencing

00:41:54.500 --> 00:41:55.440
 loneliness or

00:41:55.440 --> 00:41:56.200
 feeling forgotten.

00:41:56.619 --> 00:41:57.079
 Maybe you

00:41:57.079 --> 00:41:57.840
 have someone in

00:41:57.840 --> 00:41:58.780
 your family that

00:41:58.780 --> 00:41:59.639
 you'd like to

00:41:59.639 --> 00:42:00.480
 just write a

00:42:00.480 --> 00:42:01.920
 letter to or

00:42:01.920 --> 00:42:02.619
 a note to.

00:42:02.780 --> 00:42:03.500
 It's a simple

00:42:03.500 --> 00:42:04.539
 way to help

00:42:04.539 --> 00:42:05.679
 give people

00:42:05.679 --> 00:42:06.539
 hope in our

00:42:06.539 --> 00:42:07.039
 community.

00:42:07.039 --> 00:42:09.079
 So if

00:42:09.079 --> 00:42:09.539
 someone's

00:42:09.539 --> 00:42:10.360
 listening and

00:42:10.360 --> 00:42:11.000
 thinking to

00:42:11.000 --> 00:42:11.400
 themselves,

00:42:11.800 --> 00:42:12.900
 I want to

00:42:12.900 --> 00:42:13.320
 do this,

00:42:13.440 --> 00:42:13.960
 what's the

00:42:13.960 --> 00:42:14.480
 first step?

00:42:14.639 --> 00:42:15.259
 So you

00:42:15.259 --> 00:42:15.719
 just go to

00:42:15.719 --> 00:42:16.179
 the website,

00:42:16.400 --> 00:42:17.139
 download week

00:42:17.139 --> 00:42:17.659
 one of the

00:42:17.659 --> 00:42:18.300
 devotional and

00:42:18.300 --> 00:42:18.699
 start with

00:42:18.699 --> 00:42:19.139
 day one,

00:42:19.519 --> 00:42:20.000
 which is

00:42:20.000 --> 00:42:20.340
 today,

00:42:20.519 --> 00:42:20.840
 November

00:42:20.840 --> 00:42:21.440
 30th,

00:42:21.440 --> 00:42:21.880
 the first

00:42:21.880 --> 00:42:22.340
 Sunday of

00:42:22.340 --> 00:42:22.639
 Advent.

00:42:23.159 --> 00:42:23.699
 Even if you

00:42:23.699 --> 00:42:24.099
 just spend

00:42:24.099 --> 00:42:24.659
 ten minutes

00:42:24.659 --> 00:42:25.059
 with it,

00:42:25.099 --> 00:42:25.480
 you'll find

00:42:25.480 --> 00:42:25.820
 something

00:42:25.820 --> 00:42:26.360
 meaningful.

00:42:26.619 --> 00:42:26.880
 And if

00:42:26.880 --> 00:42:27.179
 you want

00:42:27.179 --> 00:42:27.519
 to gather

00:42:27.519 --> 00:42:28.119
 with friends

00:42:28.119 --> 00:42:28.579
 or family

00:42:28.579 --> 00:42:29.059
 around the

00:42:29.059 --> 00:42:29.360
 table,

00:42:29.880 --> 00:42:30.679
 you can do

00:42:30.679 --> 00:42:30.920
 this.

00:42:31.019 --> 00:42:31.420
 That's even

00:42:31.420 --> 00:42:31.739
 better.

00:42:32.659 --> 00:42:33.320
 And we'll

00:42:33.320 --> 00:42:33.920
 do this for

00:42:33.920 --> 00:42:34.800
 all four weeks

00:42:34.800 --> 00:42:35.279
 of Advent?

00:42:35.659 --> 00:42:36.119
 That's right.

00:42:36.119 --> 00:42:36.920
 So week two

00:42:36.920 --> 00:42:37.619
 will focus on

00:42:37.619 --> 00:42:38.019
 peace,

00:42:38.319 --> 00:42:38.799
 week three

00:42:38.799 --> 00:42:39.460
 on joy,

00:42:40.079 --> 00:42:40.579
 week four

00:42:40.579 --> 00:42:41.239
 on love.

00:42:41.380 --> 00:42:41.880
 Each week

00:42:41.880 --> 00:42:42.440
 builds on the

00:42:42.440 --> 00:42:43.219
 passages you're

00:42:43.219 --> 00:42:43.799
 preaching from

00:42:43.799 --> 00:42:44.380
 in Revelation,

00:42:44.619 --> 00:42:45.480
 so they'll work

00:42:45.480 --> 00:42:46.000
 really well

00:42:46.000 --> 00:42:46.400
 together.

00:42:46.880 --> 00:42:47.819
 Well, I just

00:42:47.819 --> 00:42:48.420
 want to thank

00:42:48.420 --> 00:42:48.819
 you, Amber,

00:42:48.900 --> 00:42:49.559
 for putting

00:42:49.559 --> 00:42:50.119
 your heart

00:42:50.119 --> 00:42:50.659
 into this.

00:42:50.779 --> 00:42:51.460
 I know our

00:42:51.460 --> 00:42:51.940
 church family

00:42:51.940 --> 00:42:53.019
 is going to

00:42:53.019 --> 00:42:53.400
 be blessed

00:42:53.400 --> 00:42:53.799
 by it,

00:42:53.819 --> 00:42:54.319
 as well as

00:42:54.319 --> 00:42:54.739
 those that

00:42:54.739 --> 00:42:55.759
 are listening

00:42:55.759 --> 00:42:56.159
 to this

00:42:56.159 --> 00:42:56.559
 podcast,

00:42:56.880 --> 00:42:57.119
 and they

00:42:57.119 --> 00:42:57.579
 have this

00:42:57.579 --> 00:42:58.219
 ability to

00:42:58.219 --> 00:42:58.819
 just follow

00:42:58.819 --> 00:42:59.639
 along as

00:42:59.639 --> 00:42:59.900
 well.

00:43:00.339 --> 00:43:00.940
 Thanks for

00:43:00.940 --> 00:43:01.319
 having me.

00:43:01.400 --> 00:43:02.119
 I'm excited

00:43:02.119 --> 00:43:02.699
 to see how

00:43:02.699 --> 00:43:03.539
 God uses this

00:43:03.539 --> 00:43:04.440
 season to draw

00:43:04.440 --> 00:43:05.339
 us all closer

00:43:05.339 --> 00:43:05.839
 to Him.

00:43:06.119 --> 00:43:06.599
 All of our

00:43:06.599 --> 00:43:07.319
 resources from

00:43:07.319 --> 00:43:08.019
 today, the

00:43:08.019 --> 00:43:08.699
 sermon, the

00:43:08.699 --> 00:43:09.500
 Bible study, the

00:43:09.500 --> 00:43:10.539
 congregational notes,

00:43:10.940 --> 00:43:11.819
 slides, and

00:43:11.819 --> 00:43:12.659
 Amber's Advent

00:43:12.659 --> 00:43:13.940
 devotional guide are

00:43:13.940 --> 00:43:15.019
 all available for

00:43:15.019 --> 00:43:15.539
 free on our

00:43:15.539 --> 00:43:16.460
 website at

00:43:16.460 --> 00:43:18.199
 OntarioCommunityChurch.org.

00:43:18.339 --> 00:43:19.079
 Thank you for

00:43:19.079 --> 00:43:20.039
 being a part of

00:43:20.039 --> 00:43:20.859
 this journey with

00:43:20.859 --> 00:43:21.139
 us.

00:43:21.519 --> 00:43:22.239
 May the God of

00:43:22.239 --> 00:43:23.299
 hope fill you

00:43:23.299 --> 00:43:24.500
 with all joy and

00:43:24.500 --> 00:43:25.440
 peace as you

00:43:25.440 --> 00:43:25.819
 believe.

00:43:26.239 --> 00:43:26.880
 May you wake

00:43:26.880 --> 00:43:27.639
 up to His work

00:43:27.639 --> 00:43:28.319
 of restoration,

00:43:28.819 --> 00:43:29.500
 and may you

00:43:29.500 --> 00:43:30.199
 walk in the

00:43:30.199 --> 00:43:31.380
 light this Advent

00:43:31.380 --> 00:43:31.799
 season.

00:43:32.339 --> 00:43:33.079
 God bless you.

00:43:33.079 --> 00:43:33.819
 We'll see you

00:43:33.819 --> 00:43:34.679
 next week as we

00:43:34.679 --> 00:43:35.460
 continue our

00:43:35.460 --> 00:43:36.360
 Advent series,

00:43:36.759 --> 00:43:37.579
 Grace and Peace

00:43:37.579 --> 00:43:38.219
 to you in

00:43:38.219 --> 00:43:38.579
 Christ.

00:43:38.579 --> 00:44:04.519
 do you

00:44:04.519 --> 00:44:04.519


00:44:04.519 --> 00:44:04.519


00:44:04.519 --> 00:44:04.519


00:44:04.519 --> 00:44:04.519


00:44:04.519 --> 00:44:34.500
 Thank you.