AfterThoughts: December 22, 2019
December 22, 2019
SERMON SERIES: Long-Expected Jesus
SERMON TITLE: A Light Has Dawned
This week, Pastor David continued the Advent Sermon Series with a look at Jesus, the Light in the darkness.
- In speaking of the light that was to come, Pastor David explained that Isaiah wrote in the past tense even though it would be many years before Jesus was born. He was confident of God’s promise even in the midst of great darkness. Think about your Christmas activities and celebrations. How do they reflect the light of the coming Christ?
- Which of the four roles of Christ – Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace – speaks to you most during this Christmas season? Why?
- How will you receive Jesus, the light in the darkness this Christmas? How will you share that same light with someone else that’s still in darkness?
To watch this week's sermon, please visit dawsonchurch.org/LongExpectedJesus.
View a digital copy of Dawson's 2019 Advent Prayer Guide at dawsonchurch.org/Advent2019.
To learn more about trusting Jesus as your Lord and Savior, please visit dawsonchurch.org/becoming-a-christian.
ADDITIONAL DISCOVERY:
For there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time, he brought in to contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them light has shone. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time for and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Isaiah 9:1-7
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of Christ, who is the image of God.
2 Corinthians 4:4
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:4-5
“It is here, in the thing that happened at the first Christmas, that the profoundest and most unfathomable depths of the Christian revelation lie. ‘The Word became flesh’ (John 1:14); God became man; the divine Son became a Jew; the Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, unable to do more than lie and stare and wriggle and make noises, needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk like any other child. The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as is this truth of the Incarnation.”
J.I. Packer, Knowing God