12/01/2024 - Advent The Weary World Rejoices- Fear & Fainting On Planet Earth

“‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. “‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line - From Jeremiah 33:14-16 The following sermon preview, which reveals our Advent Focus this year, is a preview of what can be found in the upcoming December issue of The Visitor publication. The Visitor can always be found on our publications page on the church website and is a wonderful way to learn more about the life of the church. It’s nearly impossible to think of a more Christmas-y Christmas hymn than “O Holy Night.” The song is about the night itself, the first Christmas. And yet, the stage from which the triumphant chorus bursts is undeniably “Advent.” The first stanza speaks of the long pining of the world, pining that is, “until he appeared” bringing with him “the thrill of hope.” It is then, “The weary world rejoices.” That is the title of our focus this Advent. Before we can get to the new and glorious morn, we should recognize the world that waits is tired, weary, and in need. When Christ arrives, and this will be true in his second advent (coming) just as it was his first, he does not come to a world full of light, warmly expecting his visit as friends. Christ’s light, life, and freedom come not to a world all accustomed to that reality (and just needing a bit of a refill of it), but a world filled with darkness, death, and bondage – aching in expectation for a long, long time. Read more at fbcmuncie.org/blog.