Welcome to Ontario Community Church, where we are encouraging, equipping, and engaging lives for Christ.
I'm Pastor Patrick Daly, and you're listening to the beginning of our Advent series for 2025.
Today, we're taking a brief pause from our journey through the seven churches in Revelation to celebrate Advent.
And I'm especially excited about this series because we've created something really special for you this year.
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.
My wife, Amber Daly, who serves as our Children's Ministry Director, has created a comprehensive Advent devotional guide for our church family.
Amber, welcome.
Thanks, Patrick. I'm so glad to be here.
So tell us about these Advent table gatherings you've put together.
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.
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.
And these connect with the sermon series?
Yes. That actually was really intentional.
Each week builds on the passage that Pastor Patrick is preaching from in Revelation.
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.
Wow. I really love that. And you've included activities too?
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.
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.
I want us to just bring it all together.
There's things like writing cards to shut-ins, praying over local places that need God's peace, or blessing families with baby essentials.
And there are kid-friendly activities too, so families can do this together.
We also have it for the kids each week when we do gatherings as a church.
And so where can people find this?
So everything's available for free on our website at ontariocommunitychurch.org in the sermon archive.
You can download the full guide. It's about 48 pages, or you can just print the week that you're working on.
That's awesome. And so here's how this works, friends.
What you're going to hear is the sermon from week one of Advent.
The title of the sermon is All Things New, Awakening to a Hope that Restores.
I'll be preaching from Revelation chapter 21, verses 1 through 5.
And after you listen to the sermon, you can download the week one devotional guide,
which takes the same passage and helps you live with it all week long.
The devotional isn't just information about the passage.
It's an invitation to encounter God throughout it.
I tried to intentionally create it where it can be done in as little as five minutes,
or you can stretch it for your daily prayer and do, you know, 10, 15 minutes.
So it's meant to be really quick, but intentional as making it a part of your day.
Exactly. So think of it this way.
This sermon gives you the theological foundation and the biblical teaching.
The devotion then gives you the space to let that truth sink deep into your daily life.
So you might listen to the sermon today and then tomorrow morning you'll pull out the devotional
and spend 10 minutes with the hopeless exercise, writing down what you're asking God to make new in your life.
Or maybe Wednesday evening you light a candle and sit with the artwork and just wander where God is restoring you.
And it's designed to work together.
The sermon plants the seeds and the devotional helps it take root.
And if you're leading a small group or gathering friends around your table this Advent,
the discussion questions in the devotional will help you go even deeper together.
So go ahead and grab a devotional or download it, print it, and keep it handy this week.
And after the sermon today, Amber and I are going to come back and talk about how to put all of this into practice.
We want this Advent season to be formative, not just informative.
All right, so let's dive in.
Grab your Bible, let's turn to Revelation chapter 21, and let's explore together this incredible promise.
Behold, I am making all things new.
Well, good morning, everyone.
I cannot believe we are already in the Advent season.
It's that time of year where it's just time for us to slow things down.
Amen?
It's incredible how busy things get, how stressed out and even overwhelmed we can get.
And it's important for us to take a moment, to take a deep breath, to rest, to reflect, to rejuvenate,
and to think about the Advent story or the Christmas story, if you're more familiar, one way or another.
We think about our Lord and our God and the hope that exists in him.
That when troubles come our way, we turn to the Lord.
Our hope is in Jesus Christ.
And I always think of this verse, that I look to the hills and where does my hope come from, right?
Our hope comes from the Lord who made the heavens and the earth.
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.
And it's so interesting when we think of Christ and how the word became flesh.
Christ to be born in a manger, showing how that hope would come down from heaven to earth.
Now, no one really knew the day or the time in which Jesus would come the first time,
much like how we don't know when Jesus will come the second time.
And it's important for us to not get so caught up on when, but the importance of why.
That God has this sense of hope for his people.
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.
And I have on here, awakening to a hope that restores.
And I put on here, revelation.
And I want us to turn there because I want you to see something that's very, very interesting.
It's important for us to know as we turn our Bibles to Revelation chapter 21, verses 1 through 5.
That same kind of anticipation and preparation and waiting for the first coming of Christ
is the same type of anticipation that we live out today.
Not only do we look at tradition, right?
The liturgical calendar and how this is the season when we think about Jesus.
But we also, may we not forget about Jesus's second coming and this sense of anticipation.
So are we all there, church?
Revelation 21, verses 1 through 5.
Let's read it together.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.
For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.
That's very important, right?
He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will be with them as their God.
Doesn't that sound very Old Testament like when you read that?
What is that doing in Revelation?
It's showing the promises of God.
Let's go on verse 4.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more.
Neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
And he who was seated on the throne said, behold, I am making all things new.
And he said, write this down, for the words are trustworthy and true.
What a very interesting verse that we're seeing here.
Where you have John is talking about the ultimate restoration, right?
He's talking about all of creation, the present and the future hope.
When we think of the Christmas story, we think of the hope of Christ, the coming of Christ,
and how we look back and we remember Christ as the fulfillment of prophecy.
All so many prophecies within the Old Testament foretelling of the coming of Christ.
And we fast forward to today where we remember that first coming.
And in the same way, we think of how Christ continues to fulfill his promises.
That's so powerful and it should, it is trustworthy and true as that verse is saying in Revelation.
We trust in the living God.
We place our faith and our trust in him, knowing that in this present moment,
as we look back at the hope of the coming of Christ and that sense of anticipation,
we also look forward to the coming of Jesus Christ and the hope that comes from him.
It's this consistency.
It is this pattern that we see within Scripture that we can trust in the living God
and that our hope is in him, not in the things of the world or the culture or the loud voices saying
to be afraid or the divisiveness that happens within the world.
Think of the firm foundation that exists in Christ.
That is so important for us to realize when we think of the Christmas story,
like when we look at this decoration here, the fulfillment of prophecy, right?
Isn't it interesting, the star that the three wise men were following to get to lead them to Christ,
much like how Christ is the morning star and that we are to follow in his direction.
It's really remarkable when we start seeing and piecing together these kind of connections here.
And so what's happening in these verses is John is seeing a new heaven and new earth, the holy city.
What's important is God is dwelling with humanity because God loves all of us.
We think of how Christ came down from heaven to be with the people, right?
To change the course of history.
And we see further in the end how God will be with his people.
That is something that we should look forward to.
We should anticipate.
And I don't know about you.
That is something to be hopeful for.
We also see that every tear is wiped away.
No more death.
No more pain.
And how God is declaring, I am making all things new.
I'm making everything new.
What's so important with that is God is the God of hope and restoration.
When we think about how God transforms our very lives from the inside out to become more like him.
Think of that manger.
Think of that child.
But also think of the fulfillment of prophecy.
Think of the hope that was provided for the people at the time.
The people of God.
And how Christ is the hope that we look for.
There's so many people in this world that have this sense of emptiness.
They feel like there's something that is missing in their life.
You don't have to raise your hand and I hope you're not one of them.
But you may know someone who says there's just something missing in my life.
I don't understand.
I have all the money that I could ever ask for.
Or I have all of the fame and success.
Yes, I have all these things, but yet I still feel empty inside.
Turn your eyes to the Lord.
And look for the hope, the fulfillment that comes from him.
It's truly remarkable.
And when we think of how God makes all things new.
God being the transformer of our lives.
The transformer of culture.
There's this sense of transformation that happens with each and every one of us.
I want to turn to, it's going to be from Isaiah.
Chapter 2, verse 4.
Where it's saying,
He shall judge between the nations.
He shall decide disputes for many people.
And they shall beat their swords into plowshares.
Their spears into pruning hooks.
Nations shall not lift up sword against nation.
Neither shall they learn war anymore.
We think of how, in this sense, the prophecy,
talking about how this changing of swords to plowshares,
instead of waging war with each other, working together.
And what beautiful imagery we can see, right?
That nation shall not lift up sword against nation.
That's something that we hope for.
For there to be this sense of restoration and transformation that exists.
It's the imagery of people learning God's ways that are much higher than ours.
That is something that I hope for.
And I hope that you hope for.
Think of life together and how there is a call for us
to put our trust in this living hope
and to walk in the light of the Lord.
And that's a very powerful thing.
Let's go to this next verse.
This is also, this is from Romans.
This was part of the interactive reading where it's talking about.
Besides this, you know, the time that the hour has come for you to wake up,
to wake from sleep.
For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.
The night is far gone.
The day is at hand.
So then let us cast the work of darkness and put on the armor of light.
We think of the hope of Christ.
We've got to wake up.
We've got to see that hope is here.
We've got to see that God provided a way through his son, Jesus Christ.
And that is very powerful, right?
We may know many of us who are, we think we see that, we read that.
It's talking about most often literally to be asleep,
but also to not pay attention.
So let us pay attention to that kind of hope that comes from Christ.
Salvation being at hand.
Christ being the fulfillment of prophecy and Christ keeping all of his promises.
Something that really encourages me as a Christian and even as a pastor
is the fact that God is consistent.
That he doesn't change.
That he is everlasting to everlasting.
And he is that firm foundation.
And how often do we change, though?
And I'm not just talking about changing our clothes or changing our hairstyle.
How often do we change?
But God remains the same.
He's still providing salvation to all of us to believe in him.
He's still providing hope for the world.
Because this world needs hope more than ever before.
When I put this imagery of darkness into light, right?
Or waking up.
That is a call for all of us, if we haven't already,
to come and see that the Lord is good.
To come out of the darkness into the light.
And many of us, there's a lot of people who are aware that they're in darkness.
And they feel that there's no hope in their life.
They feel that it's hopeless.
But let me tell you.
In knowing Christ, that is the greatest hope.
The only hope that exists in him.
And may we trust in him.
May we go out of that darkness into the light.
Being saved by grace through faith.
Right?
Being transformed.
And knowing.
I don't have to fear the culture.
I don't have to fear man.
I trust in God.
For he is the hope of glory.
I want us to go to that next slide here in Isaiah.
Isn't it interesting?
The Bible is so connected with each other that
you can spend your whole lifetime reading it
and pursuing all of the connections within it.
Interesting how in Isaiah we see the new heavens and the new earth
much like we found and we find in Revelation.
God making all things new.
God providing a way through Christ.
Even if you think of like the story of Noah
that God was providing a way of escape from the flood.
By saying, get on this boat before the flood comes.
That's right.
God always provides a way.
And he provides that way through Jesus.
And much like how we see here
the new heavens and the new earth.
It says,
The former things shall not be remembered or come to mind
but be glad and rejoice forever
in that which I create.
For behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy
and her people to be a gladness.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem
and be glad in my people
and there shall be heard in this
there no more shall be heard
in the sound of weeping
and the cry of distress.
All of these verses
are very, very unique.
Right?
They help us with our understanding
of how there is hope in the Lord.
Very important for us.
And so when we read this future verse
in Revelation, Revelation 21,
the end of Scripture,
it's important for us that we place our hope in him.
We remember the first coming of Christ, right?
We think of all of the scenes from the Christmas story.
We think of all of the holiday spirit
and Christ being the reason for the season.
But let us also remember
that the Lord is with us.
Right?
That God is with us.
We think of that name, Emmanuel.
God with us.
Because God wants to be with his people.
God is the God of restoration,
hope, and transformation.
And we anticipate that.
We wait upon the Lord for his timing.
And so hope is grounded in who God is.
Let's go to that next slide.
We have the interpretation then.
Or you know what?
Let's leave that one on.
To stay awake and to be ready.
This sense of anticipation, right?
Stay awake.
You don't know what day the Lord is coming, right?
We keep seeing this pattern.
The arrival of Christ, right?
When Christ will return in his glory.
And so often in scripture,
it's this sense of patiently waiting on God and his timing.
And how many of us,
you don't have to raise your hand,
but I know I can speak for myself
that I would rather have it on my timing, right?
We'd rather have God say, you know,
in a year are you going to return?
And just know exactly when things are going to happen.
But it's important for us to know,
it's not us that decides the timing.
It's not us that decides God's timing for really anything.
When God answers our prayer,
let alone when Christ is going to come or return,
it is us trusting in him
and knowing that God is going to deliver on his promises.
And so you must be ready for the son of man
is coming at an hour you do not expect.
And so how that's even connected with,
in the gospel narrative.
So yeah, let's go to that next slide then.
So what can we learn from this, right?
The first thing is that hope begins with God
making all things new.
God is the creator, right?
He creates the heaven and the earth.
He sends his son as the redeemer.
And we have the Holy Spirit as the sustainer.
And we have the triune God
that takes that which is broken
and restores it and makes it new.
That is our hope.
That is our anticipation, right?
So it begins with God making all things new.
Hope is grounded then on who God is.
The God is holy.
He is strong.
He is righteous.
And he renews.
He rebuilds and he restores.
Ask yourself the question,
where have you seen God restoring you?
Or has God been restoring your life?
That's a question that only you can ask,
but it's something that pray for God
to work in your life,
to build you up, to restore you.
And wait upon him and his timing.
The second thing then is hope awakens us
to live differently today.
And that's very important.
That hope leads us forward
from the darkness into light.
It's this sense of transformation
as we are to wake up
and go towards Christ.
We think of Advent as a time of reflection,
rest,
this time for us to think about God
and how he is showing himself through Christ,
this fulfillment of prophecy.
And it's a time for us to also respond to this hope.
If Christ is making all things new,
may we respond to this hope.
And may we live being that new creation in him.
And so ask yourself,
have you been asleep?
Maybe literally asleep.
Or maybe you haven't been alert.
May you pay attention to God and to his word
and the hope that Christ provides.
The third thing is that hope transforms us
from the inside out.
When I showed you the Isaiah verse,
right,
was talking about swords to plowshares, right?
Instead of waging war,
working together,
going from fear to hope.
There's so many of us
that live in this culture.
I mean,
we all do live in this culture of fear,
this separation, right?
That's one thing I know
that I don't like about technology
is that when you take out your phone,
how easy does it distract you
from the present moment?
You want to talk about a dividing factor?
I understand we use it for work
and we use it for school,
but let's be honest here.
Has this been a distraction in your life?
I will admit it's distracted me,
especially those little ping notifications.
Ooh, what's that?
We have to think of how
the culture that we live in
is one of fear
and one that divides us
and separates us from people,
let alone from God.
and how important it is for us.
Let us turn that fear
by focusing on the hope in Christ.
Just like as I give this imagery
from darkness to light,
nobody wants to be in a dark room
where you can't find a flashlight
or there's no light whatsoever.
We have got to recognize
there is hope that is in Christ
and it's a better way
than what culture,
than what the world has to offer.
Very, very important for us.
And so,
by receiving this hope
comes transformation.
Being on a journey.
For many of us,
I mean, there's,
some of you may know people
who don't know Christ.
And you may hear,
I am a spiritual person, right?
You may have heard that before.
Or I'm on a spiritual journey.
Amen.
May you be on a spiritual journey
to know who Christ is.
Instead of wandering aimlessly.
How many of you have hiked
or you've gone out in the wilderness
and you got lost?
And you had no idea
where you were going.
Did I turn the wrong way
and I veered off the path
or what happened?
This tree looks familiar.
I thought I saw it a mile ago
or whatever it is, right?
When you are journeying,
may you be on that journey
to come to know Christ
and in knowing Christ,
continue on that spiritual journey
with Christ.
There's a lot of people
that are searching
and there's a lot of people
without hope.
And I pray
if you know someone
or you yourself are someone
who is wandering,
may you go on to the path
to Christ
and may you begin
or return
to that path
with Christ.
I think of how
how Christ was walking
with the disciples
on the road to Emmaus.
And it's such a wonderful imagery
of Christ walking
with his people
as they're going from one destination
to the next, right?
And that's a very beautiful imagery
of how Christ walks with us
to where we need to go.
And so,
transformation.
We think of this.
Advent is an opportunity
for us to reflect
and for us to see
that there is hope in God
and we are to respond to that
because God is not only
restoring the world
and making things new,
he makes us new
by making us more like him.
And in this then,
these are the things
that we can learn
and we now go into the
how should we live?
How do we respond?
What can we do upon this?
Live as people
of the new creation.
In other words,
respond to the hope in Christ.
Perhaps when you get up
in the morning
or before you go to bed
at night,
ask the Lord
to make me new.
make yourself new.
God,
may you transform me
today.
God,
may you work
in and through me.
Or may your hope,
God,
radiate through me
to other people.
Think about that.
Look for one area
in your life
for how God
is working
in and through you
where God
is restoring you.
and think of how
you can live this life
as a response
to the hope
of Christ.
The second thing
is to wake up
to the hope of Christ.
Pay attention.
Right?
Live this life
accordingly.
Think of one area
where you might be
spiritually asleep.
We all have those areas
and it's okay.
But just think
for a moment
in this Advent season,
are you awake
or asleep
to Christ's hope
for your life?
Replace slumber
or sleeping
with intentionality
and living for God
and having him
transform you.
Consider
reading scripture,
prayer,
and this sense
of Christian community.
And I know
my wife's not here
but that little booklet
that you saw,
if any of you have it,
can I borrow one of yours?
You know,
many of you
have been noticing
that I've been having
the sermon-based
Bible studies
and I think
the Lord
has been working
through my wife
to write something
like this.
I didn't ask her
to do it.
She just did it.
And I worked with her
on it,
make sure,
you know.
But it just goes
to show you
the sense
of God
working in
and through people.
Not to
brag too much
on my wife
but she's
a fantastic writer
and I hope
you all enjoy
with that.
I say all of this
because
think of your
spiritual practices,
your prayer life,
your sense
of Christian community,
being with the body
of Christ
and think of
how can you have
spiritual practices
in your own life.
Now,
we're not saved
by these spiritual practices
but it's still good
for us
as we are growing
in Christ.
For us to have
a prayer life,
for us to have
time in the word
or,
you know,
recently
I was talking
with someone
and
I was having
this conversation
with someone
who told me
how she connects
with God
by being in nature
and just taking
some moments
whether it's
by a lake
or a river
or maybe not
the highest mountain
but being up there
and looking
at all of creation
and taking it all in
and thinking
God,
you made this.
You made this
for us
and that's just
a mountain.
That's just
a river
but it's showing
how God
loves us
and how he's
provided hope
for us.
Look at all
of the things
that God
has made.
he's pointing
us
to have
a different
way
to follow
in his
footsteps,
right?
The footsteps
of Christ
to come
to him
and so
think of
how you
can connect
with God,
how you
can respond
to the hope
that is in
Christ
and think
of your
spiritual
practices,
meditating
on the word.
I know
a lot of
people have
such a hard
time with
the word
meditation.
It's filling
your mind
with the
word of
God,
by golly.
It's like
when people
say,
oh,
I'm going
to meditate
and they
empty out
their mind.
Okay,
that's fine.
What are you
going to
fill it up
with?
Right?
And hopefully
you fill it
up with
the things
of God.
Right?
If it's
okay to
empty
things out,
we want
it.
We probably
need to
empty out
our minds
of all the
nasty things
that are
going on,
but may
it be
filled with
the things
of God.
that's
very
important.
And so
wake up to
the hope
of Christ
and share
the hope
of Christ
with others.
Think of
how very
often I
showed you
this verse
from Isaiah.
Can we go
to that Isaiah
verse?
I want to
turn there
for a second,
right?
They shall
beat their
swords into
plowshares and
their spears
into pruning
hooks.
And I just
think that's
such
remarkable
language,
right?
Many of
us,
we have
gifts and
abilities.
How many
of us use
those gifts
and abilities
against people?
Right?
Let's be
honest here.
Instead,
let us
think of
how we
can use
our gifts,
our talents,
our abilities,
our story
into
plowshares.
In other
words,
how can
we use
what God
has given
to us?
Instead of
waging war
against people,
how can
we use
it to
lead people
to Christ?
How can
we use
these things,
these resources,
as a way
in sharing
the hope
of Jesus
Christ?
Because for
many of us,
we have the
potential to
do pretty
bad and
evil stuff,
right?
But in the
same way,
we can use
those resources
for the glory
of God.
And it
is my
prayer that
you use
what God
has given
to you
to honor
him,
to glorify
him,
but also
how you
share it
with your
friends and
your family.
Not to
do evil,
but to
do good.
May you
respond
accordingly
to the
hope of
Christ.
And so,
I can't
emphasize this
enough,
instead of
waging war,
share in
the hope
of Christ.
And I
want you to
think of
one relationship
that you
can work
on,
right?
You think
of a
plowshare,
right?
You think
of a
pruning
hook,
right?
These tools
that are
used to
essentially,
you're not
going to
use a
pruning
hook on
somebody,
at least
I hope
to God
you're not
going to,
right?
In this,
it's this
sense of
using it
to help
build people
up,
to encourage
people,
to share
in the
hope of
Christ with
others.
So,
choose one
relationship
that you
can cultivate,
one relationship
that you
can work
on this
week.
This is a
time,
especially in
this Advent
season,
this Christmas
season,
we think of
how things
slow down.
And I tend
to think the
God who made
the four
seasons,
right?
When things
are hot and
things are
summer,
everybody's
running around.
Everybody's
doing tons
of stuff,
including
staying out
of the
heat,
I get
it.
But when
it comes
to the
fall and
the winter,
the colder
months,
it's a
time where
calm down
a bit.
What a
wonderful
opportunity
for us to
share in the
hope of
Christ with
others.
Because now
people are
slowing down,
or at least
I hope they
are.
what an
important time
for us.
A special
time to
share Christ
with others.
How God
has worked
in your
life.
That they
don't have
to be
afraid,
but rather
that hope
is in
him.
And so
when we
think of
hope in
closing,
it is not
just wishful
thinking.
It is
anticipation.
It is
participation.
And let
us know
that God
makes all
things new.
Advent
invites us
to wake
up,
to respond
to the
hope of
Christ,
and to
live by
sharing in
the hope
of Christ
with others.
Let's pray
together.
And Father
God, we
thank you
for this
opportunity
for us to
go and
take a
pause on
the
seven
churches
in
Revelation,
and to
slow down
a bit
and to
focus on
the Advent
season.
And even
though we
have read
from Revelation,
we've also
read from
Isaiah and
the Gospel
of Matthew,
may we
realize
our hope
is in
you and
in you
alone.
May we
respond to
your hope
and see
that we
live in a
world that
is full of
darkness and
fear and
division,
but you,
God, have
provided a
better way.
May we
recognize that
in this
Christmas season,
we look back
to the
promises and
the fulfillment
of prophecy
by you
sending your
son,
the word
becoming flesh
to be born
in that
manger,
and to
change the
course of
history by
providing
salvation as
the free gift
to all who
respond by
believing in
your son,
Jesus.
Also,
may we
recognize how
in the same
way we
anticipate and
we wait upon
the first
coming of
Christ, we
also do the
same with
the second
coming of
Christ.
What a
great
mystery,
what a
great timing.
May we
trust in
your timing,
and although
we may not
understand
everything and
all the
complexities of
who you are,
let alone your
word, may
we faithfully
be devoted
to you.
We love
you so much
and we
just thank
you for
our church,
for our
congregation,
and we're
grateful for
all of those
that are
online,
whether they're
watching on
TikTok or
Facebook or
wherever,
or even
those that
will listen
in the
future.
May they
all come
to know
the Lord,
grow in
him,
and respond
by doing
good in
his holy
name.
It is in
the name
of Jesus
Christ,
the morning
star,
that we
pray,
and we
all say
together,
amen?
Amen.
Well,
thank you for
listening to
today's message
here at
Ontario Community
Church.
I hope that
this message
encouraged you
as we begin
this Advent
season together.
Alright,
so Amber and
I are back
and I want
to talk
through how
this week's
devotional
helps you
take what
we just
explored in
Revelation 21
and actually
live with it
over the next
seven days.
Amber,
do you want
to jump
in here?
Yeah,
so now that
you've heard
the sermon
about God
making all
things new,
let's talk
about how
this devotional
will help
you experience
that personally.
So walk
us through it.
We just spent
40 minutes
approximately
in Revelation 21
talking about
restoration,
hope,
and God's
promise to
make all
things new.
How does
the devotional
take someone
deeper into
that?
I think
one of the
most powerful
parts of
week one
is that we
don't shy
away from
the brokenness.
The devotional
talks about
honesty,
about broken
relationships,
health struggles,
fear about
the future,
things our
church family
are actually
experiencing.
But then it
invites people
to see that
God's restoration
isn't just a
future hope,
it's actually
happening now.
That's great,
and I noticed
that you used
kintsugi
imagery.
It's this
Japanese art
of repairing
broken pottery
with gold.
Why that
image?
Well,
kintsugi is
this beautiful
practice where
the broken
pieces become
the most
beautiful parts.
The cracks
aren't hidden,
they're highlighted
with gold,
and that felt
like such a
picture of
what God
does with
us.
He doesn't
throw away
what's been
broken,
he restores
it and makes
it even more
beautiful.
That is our
story as a
church as well.
And it's a
wonderful,
it's a powerful
story as well.
And you
created these
daily practices
for each
day of the
week.
Can you give
us a taste
of what
people can
expect?
Sure.
Day one is
the main
devotional that
goes deep
into the
theme.
Then we
have things
like a
hopeless where
you write
down what
you're asking
God to make
new in your
life.
Then we've
got an art
contemplation with
reflective
questions.
We have
some classic
poems and
hymns to
sit with
slowly,
a godly
play style
story that
invites
wandering,
and a
contemplative
prayer using
questions and
a prayer time.
Right.
And I love
that.
And there's
also a
bridge building
activity this
week.
Yes.
So we are
encouraging
people to
write cards
to shut-ins,
people who
might be
experiencing
loneliness or
feeling forgotten.
Maybe you
have someone in
your family that
you'd like to
just write a
letter to or
a note to.
It's a simple
way to help
give people
hope in our
community.
So if
someone's
listening and
thinking to
themselves,
I want to
do this,
what's the
first step?
So you
just go to
the website,
download week
one of the
devotional and
start with
day one,
which is
today,
November
30th,
the first
Sunday of
Advent.
Even if you
just spend
ten minutes
with it,
you'll find
something
meaningful.
And if
you want
to gather
with friends
or family
around the
table,
you can do
this.
That's even
better.
And we'll
do this for
all four weeks
of Advent?
That's right.
So week two
will focus on
peace,
week three
on joy,
week four
on love.
Each week
builds on the
passages you're
preaching from
in Revelation,
so they'll work
really well
together.
Well, I just
want to thank
you, Amber,
for putting
your heart
into this.
I know our
church family
is going to
be blessed
by it,
as well as
those that
are listening
to this
podcast,
and they
have this
ability to
just follow
along as
well.
Thanks for
having me.
I'm excited
to see how
God uses this
season to draw
us all closer
to Him.
All of our
resources from
today, the
sermon, the
Bible study, the
congregational notes,
slides, and
Amber's Advent
devotional guide are
all available for
free on our
website at
OntarioCommunityChurch.org.
Thank you for
being a part of
this journey with
us.
May the God of
hope fill you
with all joy and
peace as you
believe.
May you wake
up to His work
of restoration,
and may you
walk in the
light this Advent
season.
God bless you.
We'll see you
next week as we
continue our
Advent series,
Grace and Peace
to you in
Christ.
do you
Thank you.