Advent Pitfalls
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Matthew 24:36-44 - 36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Advent - Adventus (to come) - Parousia (arrival)
Bound up in Advent is the expectation of a new but known reality.
The Day
How will we know?
Matthew 24:9-13 - …you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
What shall we do?
Matthew 24:42, 44 - 42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come… 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Keep Watch / Be Ready
How might we be the ones who stand firm to the end?
Failure of Nerve & Failure of Heart.
Tod Bolsinger - Failure of nerve is caving to the pressure of the anxiety of the group to return to the status quo. It is a loss of courage to further the mission…Failure of heart is the “emotional cutoff” that occurs when the leader’s discouragement leads them to psychologically abandon their people and the charge they have been given.
Failure of Nerve - Peter & Cultural Momentum
Failure of Heart - Moses & Bitterness
Differentiation - the ability to stand apart without the need for affirmation or the guarantee of outcomes.
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Each Sunday we come together we offer an open invitation into the way of Jesus. An invitation to enter into sacred rhythms - to draw near to God through singing, giving, learning, and praying.
As a community that desires renewal in Des Moines as it is in Heaven, we recognize that we cannot offer what we ourselves do not have. We cannot lead where we ourselves have not been led; in turn, these questions aim at reflection. Reflecting on God’s word and making space for his leadership.
After watching or listening consider the following discussion questions as a large group or in groups of three to four:
What stood out from the teaching?
Tod Bolsinger describes a failure of nerve as:
“Caving to the pressure of the anxiety of the group to return to the status quo. It is a loss of courage to further the mission…” And failure of heart as “the “emotional cutoff” that occurs when the leader’s discouragement leads them to psychologically abandon their people and the charge they have been given.”
What do you find more challenging? The collapse into the anxiety of the moment or the internal collapse?
Take time to discuss differentiation and how Jesus models a way forward.
How can we live out of our identity in Christ? What might that mean, and what stands in the way?