MID -WEEK CONVO: Advent Series Roundtable Discussion, Week 4 - "It's Time to Re-See the Signs"

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 4 - Scripture Anchor: Isaiah 7:10-14   Synopsis: The word "behold" is one that we do not utilize much in our culture.  If we are honest, it seems archaic and our culture moves to fast to behold anything.  To "behold" is to take a long, lasting gaze at something until it changes us somehow.  We behold until we embrace it.  And so, we watch and wait for the signs sent to us: "a virgin will conceive and give birth to a son named Immanuel." In the New Testament, the sign of a newly-appearing star was given for all to see that marks out where Immanuel was born among us.  There were many who saw the star, few who perceived it and many who missed it.  For those who investigated the star and the sign, they would behold the God/child of Jesus.