“Advent allows for a slowed reflection upon the Christian’s reason for celebration on Christmas. In the midst of chaotic cultural practices, observing Advent promotes reflection on God’s past actions and building anticipation for the fulfillment of God’s future promises in the return of Christ.”
Pastor Matt Butler
God’s Word
- Romans 15:4
“If we resist the Bible, our only remaining basis for truth is our feelings and/or poplar opinion. That’s a dangerous place to be.”
Scott Sauls
God’s Church
- Romans 15:5-6
- Hebrews 10:24-25
“This is the body of Jesus. This is my church. My family. My home. It is composed of people who need God’s grace, just like me. It will be friendly if I am. It will do great work if I join in the work. It will make generous gifts to many causes if I am generous. It will bring others into the family if I bring them. The seats will be full if I fill them. It will be a church of loyalty, love, faith, honesty, joy, and service if I who make it what it is, am filled with these. Therefore, with God’s help, I dedicate myself to the task of being all these things I want my church to be.”
God’s Welcome
- Romans 15:7
- Romans 15:2
“True gospel-centered community moves you from being a sealed envelope to being an open letter.”
Paul David Tripp
- Romans 15:8
- John 3:16
“He took flesh from the lump of our mortality, yes, and he too took to himself the death which was the penalty for sin, but didn’t take the sin; instead with the merciful intention of delivering us from sin, he handed over that flesh of his to death.” God doesn’t abstractly solve a ‘problem’; God condescends to inhabit and absorb the mess we’ve made of the world. God ‘has not abandoned humanity in its mortal condition.’
AUgustine
- Romans 15:9-11
- Romans 15:12
- Romans 15:13
- Proverbs 13:12