Advent - Week 3: LOVE

Advent = Arrival

Advent is a season of 4 weeks in our church calendar that refers to the 4 weeks leading up to Christmas. And each week we celebrate the advent, or arrival, of something significant:

Week 1: HOPE

Week 2: PEACE

Week 3: LOVE

Week 4: JOY

Christmas Day: CHRIST HIMSELF

Part of this tradition involves lighting candles, one for each week representing the advent of that divine attribute (Hope, Peace, Love, Joy). Today, we begin week 3 by lighting the second candle, representing LOVE.

The HOPE candle is also known as the ANGEL’S candle.

Luke 2:8-16 NLT

8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
    and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.

What does the angel’s announcement have to do with love?

1 John 4:9

“God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him.”—

Luke 15:4-7

4“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. 

Ephesians 5:1-2

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

John 13:35

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

:::RESPONSE:::

What does it look like for you to put on Jesus’ love? How will people see his love as the distinguishing mark on your life this week?

-          Loving someone who doesn’t deserve it.

-          Sacrificing our comfort to meet a need.

-          Helping someone discover salvation and relationship with God