Prepare Ye!
Isaiah 40:2-4 & John 3:1-3
Second Sunday of AdventPreached at Union Church, Quincy Michigan
December 8, 2013Rev. John W. Landis, DMin
“Ready for Christmas!”
What we define as “Ready”
• Decorations out
• House Clean
• Shopping done
Symptoms of what Christmas (?)has become!
We Prepare for the
Wrong Thingsthe
Wrong Way!
Christmas for many is:
A Time to: Stretch already stretched schedules
• Spend money we don’t have; on things we don’t need
• Rip and Run– Noise and Chaos
What should we prepare for?
• Christ to enter our lives
• To share the “Good News”
• To help those who God sends our way
• To show God’s love– Through our actions
What should we prepare for?
• To enjoy the gifts that God gives– Family– Each other– Opportunities• To worship• To serve
– Be part of God’s plan• To know God
To spend Eternity in
the Kingdom of God
How?
• Stop running around– Be quiet
• Focus on the message of Christmas
• Figure out how you would tell YOUR story of God’s work in your life
How?
• Pray• Read the Bible and Meditate– Listen – Quietly
• Look for opportunity• Acquire Skills and Knowledge• Look for the Blessings• Rejoice and Be Glad
Then WAIT PATIENTLY
As a Congregation . . .
Your Waiting is Like Mary’s
A Pregnant waiting!
Prepare to give birth
to something NEW!
That to which you will give birthwill have some of the same traits
and some different ones!
We need the courage and openness to God’s will
of Mary and Joseph!
And as with Mary and Josephthere is a journey to take!
Don’t be surprised if in the birthing
there is some PAIN
And as with a child there will be good days and tough days!
What will come forth will be a gift from God!
We need to prepare for the Journey
We need to prepare to give Birth
We need to prepare to receive the New!
We need to be prepared to share the Blessing!
Now go and prepare for the gift of the coming days.
Prepare . . .then be Ready
to receive the tidings of Comfort and Joy
which is for all people
Christ is Coming!
Are you Prepared?