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Worship Series: Come Away

November 30 (Hope candle) | "Lay Down Your Weapons"

Isaiah 2:1-5; James 3:13-End

We have in mind that when it comes to weapons and warfare it has to do with swords, spears, guns, missiles, and tanks. But what about the damage we do with our words? Perhaps it's time to lay down the weapons that we use against each other, weapons like shame, insults, gossiping, and like Isaiah talks about turning our swords into plowshares turning our words into encouragement, building up, and love.

December 7 (Peace candle) | "The Wolf and the Lamb"

Isaiah 11:1-10; Romans 15:4-13

Isaiah’s use of antagonistic animals is intended to show us just how dramatic the Messiah’s coming is going to change things. We live in a tension today because these promises given about the coming Messiah show us that yes, he has come, but no, world wide peace has not yet arrived. It reminds us that Advent is about waiting, that the Kingdom of God is both present now, and also not yet here. Thus, we wait.

December 14 (Joy candle) | "While We're Waiting"

Isaiah 35:1-10; James 5:7-10

 As we've already talked about, Advent is about waiting. Isaiah tells us in our passage that the coming Kingdom will be a kingdom of joy, a future filled with joy. James, though, acknowledges our current struggles and encourages us to be patient and to strengthen our hearts by pulling closer to God while we wait. The Now of God’s Kingdom is the joy that takes root in our hearts when God changes our hearts, when we turn our eyes towards him. It is a joy that doesn’t depend on things going right. 

December 21 (Love candle) | "While We're Waiting...Do This!"

Isaiah 9:2-7; 1 John 4:9-21

Isaiah tells us of a time coming when the very necessities of war will instead be used to keep our homes warm and to keep our ovens hot to cook food. He also tells us that the child being given will be born FOR us, a ton given TO us. In other words, what God is going to do isn't going to be for God. God is doing it for us. This new Kingdom that God inaugurates with the coming of Jesus is not one of self supremacy, but self sacrificial love. As God has called us, we are called to love each other. This is how the Prince of Peace establishes his kingdom. And this is how we follow him, by loving one another while we wait.