On the third Sunday of Advent, John the Baptist warns his followers that the life of faith does not end with forgiveness, it begins here (Luke 3:7-14). When we are baptized and receive God’s forgiveness, we are given the choice to walk a new path that follows the steps of Jesus. When we begin with forgiveness, we can take the sacrificial journey toward Christ in the knowledge that good works are blessings for our neighbor and not justification before God.

Focusing on Luke 3:1-7, Pastor Jon walks through the narrative structure of Luke to show the evangelist’s emphasis on Jesus’ historical, political, and religious context. Through this short prologue, we learn that God has sent Jesus on a journey that covers the full spectrum of human existence. And on this journey, fear is met by joy.

Pastor Jon introduces our series for the season of Advent by surveying the evolving meaning of Advent throughout the history of the church. From the time of ancient Israel, through Jesus’ ministry, the Apostolic Age, and now in the Age of the Church - Advent is rife with meaning no matter what time we live in. One thing remains true: waiting for Jesus does not mean standing still. Over the course of this series, we will join the Wise Men of scripture and journey toward the light of Christ.