Preaching during Advent 2012

Most ministers observing Advent will follow the lectionary and the lessons of the various lectionaries can be found at www.textweek.com  

Yet if you would like to use something different this year, you are welcome to use a series for Advent from the Revelation Book we developed for Centurion West Presbyterian Church.  Here follows a summery - and the complete sermon outlines can be found at http://www.centurionwest.co.za/sermons.htm and down loaded there in pdf format.

First Advent: "Hope"  Revelation 1:9-20.    "One Like a Son of Man" 

Do not be afraid.   The King that was born is called Jesus:  The LORD saves!

Do not be afraid:  The King that was born reigns forever.

Do not be afraid¨ The King is coming! 

Second Advent: "Peace"  Reading Revelation 5:1-10.    "A Messiah who is worthy to be worshiped and praised."

A Christmastide that contemplates thoughts about the Lion who is a Lamb, does not distract us from the problem of Christmas becoming only an ever entertaining feast of superficial cheer.  

Christmas leaves us with eternal gladness, peace and joy, as all our deepest questions are answered and every fear is driven away. By him who is worthy!   The Lion who is a Lamb, who was born in Bethlehem, to save his people from their sins!

Third advent: "Joy"  Reading:  Revelation 12: 1- 12 . "The Woman and the Dragon"

We look forward to the return of Christ.  To finally end the attack. To finally set us and all of his creation free from oppression by evil.   Lets take courage.  The reason for Satan’s fury is that he knows his time is short.  And he knows he was defeated by the Child - both in Bethlehem and on Calvary and in heaven!  "He is filled with fury because he knows that his time is short" (Rev 12:12). 

And we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus! 

Fourth Advent:  "Love"  Revelation 19:7-8 “The Wedding Supper of the Lamb"

'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'"

What a blessing it is to know the Lord, celebrate his birth and serve him with great joy. What an even bigger blessing it will be to be seated with the Lord at his heavenly banquet table where we will celebrate forever the wedding supper of the Lamb.

We look forward to the Christmas feast, now soon to come.

And we wait upon the Wedding Feast with great anticipation.