What Is Advent? What's So Important About Advent?
What is Advent? What's so important about Advent?
As a "new" Confessional Lutheran, these have been the questions on my mind the past couple of weeks. Of course, this isn't the first year that I've ever heard the term "Advent" before, but it is the first time that I've ever really prayerfully considered the importance of this time of year to us believers in Christ.
So, I thought I'd try to put together a piece like this that seeks to answer both questions for those who are asking them like me. I hope you find this helpful.
Now, you might be thinking, "Wait! You attempted to put together a comprehensive and in-depth resource on Advent based on what you learned for the first time and all you could come up with was two links to reference?" Yeah, that's right.
I can assure you that the two audio links above -- representing a mere 29-minutes worth of material -- is all you will need to understand what Advent is all about and why it's such an important season to Christ's Church and to each individual believer that makes up His Church.
If you want a little more, then here's a great Lutheran Hymn that will communicate the special meaning of this time of year through its lyrics for you. Finally, there's this "Advent 101" post from 2008 by Rev. Cwirla.
In short, Advent marks the beginning of the New Year for the Church and it is a time of repentance in preparation for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
In a Lutheran Layman's terms, and to borrow a phrase from Rev. Paul McCain, "let's light a candle, rather than curse the darkness" and proclaim the good news of the Gospel!
[NOTE: As you know, I am a newly converted Confessional Lutheran who recently escaped American Evangelicalism. That being said, please contact me ASAP if you believe that any of my "old beliefs" seem to have crept their way into any of the material you see published here, and especially if any of the content is not consistent with Lutheran doctrine -- in other words, if it's not consistent with God's Word -- so that I can correct those errors immediately and not lead any of His little ones astray. Thank you in advance for your time and help. Grace and peace to you and yours!]
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As a "new" Confessional Lutheran, these have been the questions on my mind the past couple of weeks. Of course, this isn't the first year that I've ever heard the term "Advent" before, but it is the first time that I've ever really prayerfully considered the importance of this time of year to us believers in Christ.
So, I thought I'd try to put together a piece like this that seeks to answer both questions for those who are asking them like me. I hope you find this helpful.
A 7-Minute Sermon On The Importance of Advent
Issues, Etc. Encore: Why The Church Needs Advent - Pastor Matthew Harrison
Now, you might be thinking, "Wait! You attempted to put together a comprehensive and in-depth resource on Advent based on what you learned for the first time and all you could come up with was two links to reference?" Yeah, that's right.
I can assure you that the two audio links above -- representing a mere 29-minutes worth of material -- is all you will need to understand what Advent is all about and why it's such an important season to Christ's Church and to each individual believer that makes up His Church.
If you want a little more, then here's a great Lutheran Hymn that will communicate the special meaning of this time of year through its lyrics for you. Finally, there's this "Advent 101" post from 2008 by Rev. Cwirla.
In short, Advent marks the beginning of the New Year for the Church and it is a time of repentance in preparation for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
In a Lutheran Layman's terms, and to borrow a phrase from Rev. Paul McCain, "let's light a candle, rather than curse the darkness" and proclaim the good news of the Gospel!
[NOTE: As you know, I am a newly converted Confessional Lutheran who recently escaped American Evangelicalism. That being said, please contact me ASAP if you believe that any of my "old beliefs" seem to have crept their way into any of the material you see published here, and especially if any of the content is not consistent with Lutheran doctrine -- in other words, if it's not consistent with God's Word -- so that I can correct those errors immediately and not lead any of His little ones astray. Thank you in advance for your time and help. Grace and peace to you and yours!]
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