MID -WEEK CONVO: Advent Series Roundtable Discussion, Week 1 - "It's Time to Remember the Future"

In the wisdom of the church throughout Christian history, Advent has been set aside as the first season of the Christian liturgical calendar.  Derived from the Latin word "adventus" and the Greek word "parousia," it means "coming" and refers to the coming of Christ.  Christians recognize the four weeks of Advent as a time to anticipate the birth of the Christ child and the second coming of Christ, as well. This Advent season, as we anticipate the coming of God made flesh in Christ Jesus, we dare to relinquish control of our planned timelines, over-scheduled calendars and daily trappings and habits of life.  We accept the invitation to ponder, behold, listen, dwell, abide, trust, wait and watch as God's life-altering activity of the redemption of the world takes place again in real time and space. Each week, Pastors Ray, Theresa, Luis, Kelly and Andy will unpack these themes in a roundtable discussion format.  These are supplemental to the sermon series, “Watching and Waiting” and will run for the four weeks prior to Christmas Day. Week 1 - Scripture Anchor: James 5:7-11 Synopsis: "Be patient until the Lord's coming."  Advent is a time we set aside to cultivate patience, as we await the coming of our Lord.  The analogy of a farmer waiting on the yield of a crop is employed by James, who is Jesus half-brother.  Israel waited 400 years in silence as there was no new prophet sent to them after Malachi.  And so, they waited for a voice from heaven.  John the Baptist and Jesus would appear to them after much waiting and suffering.  Jesus half-brother, James, instructs the church to be patient "until the Lord's coming."  The first Advent of the Lord points to the second Advent--a hope and a future of the return of Jesus requires us to be steadfast in watching and waiting.  We live between the Advents, but our hope is that Jesus will return for His people and set all things right.