The Way Church of Sussex County
Sunday 11.30.25
      • Bible Trivia
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  • 10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)
  • Here I Am To Worship
  • Vengo A Adorarte

  • Intro

    Have you ever expectantly prepared for something? Do you remember the steps you took? Do you remember the process?
    examples: family visits (cleaning), upcoming marriage (ceremony vs life together), the arrival of a baby (more cleaning/nesting).
    For those unfamiliar, in the life of a the Christian Church, there are seasons akin to the regular calendar. One of those, which begins today, is Advent. It is a time of preparation and reflection on the coming of Christ, both in his Nativity and his anticipated return.
    Advent is a time of preparation and reflection on the coming of Christ, both in his Nativity and his return.
    What I want us to think about is what does this promise and process of Jesus’s return look like.

    The Promise

    What will it be like?

    What the promise looks like after Jesus returns as King (prophecy from Isaiah)
    Isaiah 2:1–5 NLT
    1 This is a vision that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: 2 In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all— the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship. 3 People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem. 4 The Lord will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore. 5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
    Isaiah 2:1–5 NTV
    1 Esta es una visión que tuvo Isaías, hijo de Amoz, acerca de Judá y de Jerusalén: 2 En los últimos días, el monte de la casa del Señor será el más alto de todos, el lugar más importante de la tierra. Se levantará por encima de las demás colinas, y gente del mundo entero vendrá allí para adorar. 3 Vendrá gente de muchas naciones y dirán: «Vengan, subamos al monte del Señor, a la casa del Dios de Jacob. Allí él nos enseñará sus caminos, y andaremos en sus sendas. Pues de Sión saldrá la enseñanza del Señor; de Jerusalén saldrá su palabra». 4 El Señor mediará entre las naciones y resolverá los conflictos internacionales. Ellos forjarán sus espadas en rejas de arado y sus lanzas en herramientas para podar. No peleará más nación contra nación, ni seguirán entrenándose para la guerra. 5 Vengan, descendientes de Jacob, caminemos a la luz del Señor.

    What will it feel like?

    On this earth we have often gotten glimpses of what our Lord Jesus’s reign will be like and we read of it in one of David’s psalms.
    Psalm 122:1–5 NLT
    1 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” 2 And now here we are, standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem. 3 Jerusalem is a well-built city; its seamless walls cannot be breached. 4 All the tribes of Israel—the Lord’s people— make their pilgrimage here. They come to give thanks to the name of the Lord, as the law requires of Israel. 5 Here stand the thrones where judgment is given, the thrones of the dynasty of David.
    Psalm 122:1–5 NTV
    1 Me alegré cuando me dijeron: «Vayamos a la casa del Señor». 2 Y ahora, aquí estamos, de pie dentro de tus puertas, oh Jerusalén. 3 Jerusalén es una ciudad bien construida; sus murallas compactas son impenetrables. 4 Todas las tribus de Israel —que son el pueblo del Señor— peregrinan hasta aquí. Vienen a dar gracias al nombre del Señor, como la ley requiere de Israel. 5 Aquí están los tronos donde se emiten los juicios, los tronos de la dinastía de David.

    The Process

    What should I do?

    Keep watch!
    Matthew 24:36–44 NLT
    36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. 37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes. 40 “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. 42 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.
    Matthew 24:36–44 NTV
    36 »Sin embargo, nadie sabe el día ni la hora en que sucederán estas cosas, ni siquiera los ángeles en el cielo ni el propio Hijo. Sólo el Padre lo sabe. 37 »Cuando el Hijo del Hombre regrese, será como en los días de Noé. 38 En esos días, antes del diluvio, la gente disfrutaba de banquetes, fiestas y casamientos, hasta el momento en que Noé entró en su barco. 39 La gente no se daba cuenta de lo que iba a suceder hasta que llegó el diluvio y arrasó con todos. Así será cuando venga el Hijo del Hombre. 40 »Dos hombres estarán trabajando juntos en el campo; uno será llevado, el otro será dejado. 41 Dos mujeres estarán moliendo harina en el molino; una será llevada, la otra será dejada. 42 »¡Así que ustedes también deben estar alerta!, porque no saben qué día vendrá su Señor. 43 Entiendan lo siguiente: si el dueño de una casa supiera exactamente a qué hora viene un ladrón, se mantendría alerta y no dejaría que asaltara su casa. 44 Ustedes también deben estar preparados todo el tiempo, porque el Hijo del Hombre vendrá cuando menos lo esperen.

    Paul’s perspective on waiting

    Romans 13:11–14 NLT
    11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
    Romans 13:11–14 NTV
    11 Esto es aún más urgente, porque ustedes saben que es muy tarde; el tiempo se acaba. Despierten, porque nuestra salvación ahora está más cerca que cuando recién creímos. 12 La noche ya casi llega a su fin; el día de la salvación amanecerá pronto. Por eso, dejen de lado sus actos oscuros como si se quitaran ropa sucia, y pónganse la armadura resplandeciente de la vida recta. 13 Ya que nosotros pertenecemos al día, vivamos con decencia a la vista de todos. No participen en la oscuridad de las fiestas desenfrenadas y de las borracheras, ni vivan en promiscuidad sexual e inmoralidad, ni se metan en peleas, ni tengan envidia. 14 Más bien, vístanse con la presencia del Señor Jesucristo. Y no se permitan pensar en formas de complacer los malos deseos.
    The often trap for even seasoned/veteran believers is to try harder: pray more, read more Scripture, fast more, serve more, etc. Although these are great disciplines, our hearts are ultimately changed in an active, trusting relationship with Jesus Christ. Without that, all the disciplines are meaningless
    pipe (consistent disciplines) is good if water (Jesus, the Living Water) is flowing through it (source?)

    Conclusion

    In this Advent season, we remember Jesus’s promised return and keep watch by actively trusting Him to transform our hearts.

    God hasn’t forgotten about us

    2 Peter 3:8–9 NLT
    8 But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. 9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
    2 Peter 3:8–9 NTV
    8 Sin embargo, queridos amigos, hay algo que no deben olvidar: para el Señor, un día es como mil años y mil años son como un día. 9 En realidad, no es que el Señor sea lento para cumplir su promesa, como algunos piensan. Al contrario, es paciente por amor a ustedes. No quiere que nadie sea destruido, quiere que todos se arrepientan.

    God continues to work in us

    2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT
    18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
    2 Corinthians 3:18 NTV
    18 Así que, todos nosotros, a quienes nos ha sido quitado el velo, podemos ver y reflejar la gloria del Señor. El Señor, quien es el Espíritu, nos hace más y más parecidos a él a medida que somos transformados a su gloriosa imagen.
    Philippians 2:13 NLT
    13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
    Philippians 2:13 NTV
    13 Pues Dios trabaja en ustedes y les da el deseo y el poder para que hagan lo que a él le agrada.

    Closing Remarks

      • Isaiah 2:1–5ESV

      • Isaías 2:1–5ESV

      • Psalm 122:1–5ESV

      • Salmo 122:1–5ESV

      • Matthew 24:36–44ESV

      • Mateo 24:36–44ESV

      • Romans 13:11–14ESV

      • Romanos 13:11–14ESV

      • 2 Peter 3:8–9ESV

      • 2 Pedro 3:8–9ESV

      • 2 Corinthians 3:18ESV

      • 2 Corintios 3:18ESV

      • Philippians 2:13ESV

      • Filipenses 2:13ESV

  • I Surrender All
  • Yo me rindo a El
The Way Church of Sussex County
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