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Wide-Eyed Wonder: Opening the Gift of the Gospel - Part 1 John 3:16
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Why do you think the Church has marked
the Advent season for the past 2,000 years?
Celebrate. Anticipate. Participate. Celebrating a truth about God—the
revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. That is a process in which we now participate, and the consummation of which we anticipate.
A Unique View of Human History
Between the Advents “Holy Living” thru Kingdom ethics, faithful stewardship
PresentPast
First Advent
Future
Second Advent
Participatory Participles
Past Future
First Advent Second Advent
anticipating
Present
Past Future
First Advent Second Advent
expecting
Present
Participatory Participles
Past Future
First Advent Second Advent
preparing
Present
Participatory Participles
Past Future
First Advent Second Advent
longing
Present
Participatory Participles
Past Future
First Advent Second Advent
yearning
Present
Participatory Participles
Past Future
First Advent Second Advent
leaning
Present
Participatory Participles
Past Future
First Advent Second Advent
hopingPresent
Participatory Participles
“Advent isn’t a holiday party. It doesn’t pressure us to
conjure up a hopeful face, ring bells, and dismiss the
foulest realities we face.” —Christena Cleveland
“Advent isn’t about our best world, it’s about our
worst world.”
Before there was light, there was only darkness.
The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was
hovering over the surface of the waters. Genesis 1:12
Nothing but darkness
Sin damaged God’s unspoiled creation.
Hunger
Apathy
Fear
Ferguson
Prejudice
Violence
Systemic injustice
Fatherlessness
Oppression of Indigenous People
Abuse and misuse of creation
ISIS
Political polarization
Human trafficking
Stigmatizing mental illness
Inequality of Ebola treatment
Self-righteous bigotry
But God chose to save this sin-darkened world.“But God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
“Jesus entered a world plagued not only by darkness of individual
pain and sin, but also by the darkness of systemic oppression.”
—Christena Cleveland
For the majority of the Hebrews then living in their “Promised Land,” the darkness of long-
standing oppression had all but extinguished any hope for
justice, for relief, or for liberation.
“It was into this ‘worst world’ that the Light-in-which-We-see-Light was born,
liberating the people from the terror of darkness.”
—Christena Cleveland
God so loved this world…Seeking justice
HealingGrace
Hope
Mercy
Giving worthEmpathetic
No strings attached
Identify with overlooked and ignored
Forgiving
Willing to be uncomfortable
Building bridges of hope
Sacrificial
Willing to suffer
God so loved this world…Ferguson
HungerApathy
Fear
Prejudice
ViolenceFatherlessness
Oppression of Indigenous People
Abuse and misuse of creation
Human trafficking
Stigmatizing mental illness
Inequality of Ebola treatment
Self-righteous bigotry
Systemic injustice
The light of true hope shines brightest in the midst of true darkness.
Participate: speak out for the voiceless, stand up for the powerless, seek justice and peace for all.
Wide-eyed Wonder Opening the Gift of the Gospel
HOP E
