THE INVITATION:
A STORY OF HOPE IN EXILE
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14) is a truth that God has entered into human history through the incarnation of Jesus. Advent is a season of hope. It is a time to reflect on God’s activity in the past, present, and future.
Through this Advent season, we are joining in with brothers and sisters in Christ worldwide to celebrate the incarnation of Jesus Christ by following the Revised Common Lectionary around the theme of hope.
In Advent, we hear the promises of scripture pointing us to the Messiah. We see these promises fulfilled in scripture at the first coming of Jesus, and with great anticipation and hearts filled with hope, we now look forward to His second coming.
As a church family, we just finished our series in the Book of Revelation, where we were invited to see life from heaven’s perspective. Jesus is the triumphant lamb who comes to rescue His people. John writes this book from exile, ending with John looking forward with excitement to Jesus’ return. Maranatha!
The final chapter of revelation has an incredible invitation for all:
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. [Revelation 22.17]
This Advent season, we are invited to place our hope in Christ. Christ has come, and we celebrate this, yet not all things have reached completion. While we remember Israel’s waiting and hoping and giving thanks for Christ’s birth, we also anticipate His second coming at the end of this age.
The gospel is available to all people! This Christmas, we have the opportunity to incarnate, mirroring what Christ did in our world: manifesting hope to people in exile. As a church family, we would encourage you to identify how the Lord asks you, your friends, family, or group to be conduits of the Gospel message of hope! May our hearts be filled with hope as we live together in community in our city this Advent season.
The Downtown Hope Theology Team
Hope In The Righteous One
Dec. 24, 2022 | JOEY TOMASSONI
Christmas is when we remember, reflect, and celebrate the mystery of the incarnation. During Advent, we spent time meditating on the theme of hope and anticipating the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Messiah.
Behold the Sign | Isaiah 7.10-14
Dec. 18, 2022 | JOHN CAVALLARO
On this fourth Sunday of Advent, we have the privilege of looking at three words through the eyes of three people. The three words: Sign, Immanuel and Behold. The three people: King Ahaz, Mary, the mother of Jesus, and us.
Hope in Redemption | Isaiah 35
Dec. 11, 2022 | DAVID BEMPONG
The salvation we embrace now is shaping what we will embrace for eternity. The question remains: What or who are we looking to for our salvation? In this message we continue our Advent series: Stories of Hope from exile, and discover God’s promise to His people.
Hope in the Righteous One | Isaiah 11.1-10
Dec. 4, 2022 | JOEY TOMASSONI
We inhabit a world riddled with contorted and violent relationships - the strong prey on the weak in the natural world, and it is no different in human relationships. This distortion leaves us feeling a profound sense of exile - hopelessly unable to truly feel at home, safe. And yet in Isaiah 11.1-10 we discover a world put back into right relationship (righteousness) - a peculiar world where wolves and lambs share a home, where children lead lions and lambs as friends, and where infants become playmates with cobras, all founded through the most unlikely arrival of a most unexpected Restorer.
The Power of Hope | Isaiah 55
Nov. 27, 2022 | DAVID BEMPONG
This Advent season, we are invited to place our hope in Christ. Christ has come, and we celebrate this, yet not all things have reached completion. While we remember Israel’s waiting and hoping and giving thanks for Christ’s birth, we also anticipate his second coming at the end of this age.