Dock Resource Kit
Sunday sermon, 1 December 2024
Advent - HOPE
Brigid Beney
This week, Brigid spoke to us about hope as we began our Advent journey. Drawing from Isaiah 9, she reminded us that hope is not rooted in circumstances or fleeting optimism but in the promises of God and the person of Jesus. In a world often marked by darkness, we were encouraged to look back on God’s faithfulness, forward to the fulfilment of His promises, and to treasure hope as Mary did—even in uncertainty. Hope is a bold, radical choice that frees us from being defined by our circumstances, anchoring us instead in the living hope of Christ, who brings joy, justice, and peace.
Dock Discussion Questions
Reflect on Waiting and Anticipation: Think of a time when you were waiting for something important. How did you handle the uncertainty, and what sustained you during that period? How might this relate to the Advent theme of waiting with hope?
Isaiah’s Vision and Jesus’ Fulfilment: Isaiah 9 describes Jesus as Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Which of these names speaks most powerfully to you in your current season of life, and why?
Choosing Hope Amidst Darkness: Brigid highlighted the difference between optimism and biblical hope. How can we cultivate hope in our own lives when circumstances feel challenging or overwhelming?
Mary as a Model of Hope: Mary’s response to her uncertain and chaotic circumstances was to treasure and ponder God’s promises. How can we learn to treasure hope in our daily lives, even when things don’t go as planned?
Long-form, editted transcript
Introduction: Advent and Anticipation
Good morning, everyone, and happy Advent!
Is it too early to listen to Christmas music? Half of me says yes—it's barely December, and Advent deserves its own time and space. Yet, the other half says no, especially since we’ve already been listening in the office this week, accompanied by beers and carols.
As we listened, themes emerged: hope, peace, joy, and love. These are words we hear often during Christmastime, but how much do we allow them to stir something meaningful in us? Over the next few weeks, we will journey towards Christmas together through Advent. While our evenings may be filled with celebrations, we’ll spend our mornings exploring these themes—starting today with hope.
As followers of Jesus, how do we understand hope in a world that can feel lacking in it? And how can this Advent season help us live out a hope that is deeply rooted in Scripture and the person of Jesus Christ?
My prayer is that as we arrive at Christmas Day and step into 2025, we will be filled with hope—not a fleeting hope based on circumstances or perfection but a lasting hope grounded in our unchanging God.
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 9:2-3, 6-7
Let us turn to Scripture, reading from Isaiah 9:
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
The Season of Advent: Waiting with Expectation
Today is the first day of December—not quite Christmas, but the start of Advent. The word "Advent" comes from the Latin ad (to) and venire (coming). It refers to an arrival, the coming of something important. This season, marked by wreaths, candles, and calendars, is about counting down to Christmas.
But Advent is more than just a countdown; it’s a season of waiting and anticipation. Historically, Advent included a 40-day fast leading up to Christmas—a time of introspection and repentance. While we may no longer fast, Advent still calls us to pause, reflect, and recommit ourselves to God.
Advent also points in two directions: we look back to Christ’s birth in the manger and forward to His return, when all things will be made new. In this way, Advent mirrors the Christian life, which is always marked by waiting, anticipation, and hope.
The Challenge of Waiting: A Personal Experience
How good are you at waiting?
Waiting can test the best of us. This time last year, I found myself in a situation that tested my patience in ways I wasn’t prepared for. A friend and I had planned a visit to a Christmas market, but a problem with the train left us stranded for eight hours near the Channel Tunnel.
At first, we passed the time chatting, watching a movie, and speaking to the people around us. But as the hours dragged on—four, five, six—our optimism faded. There was no power, no toilets, no water, and the situation became increasingly bleak.
On the other side of that experience, I now have a story to tell. But in the moment, the waiting felt endless, and it tested me in ways that revealed both my resilience and my impatience.
Biblical Waiting: Cultivating Hope
The Bible is full of stories about waiting. Throughout the Old Testament, God’s people were caught in a cycle of turning towards and away from Him. In the midst of this, the prophets emerged as voices of hope, reminding the people of God’s promises and urging them to hold on to a better future.
This act of waiting and hoping is central to the human experience. Hope, after all, is crucial for our mental and emotional well-being. It improves resilience, fosters self-esteem, and even enhances brain function. But biblical hope is not the same as optimism. Optimism is based on circumstances, on evidence that suggests things will improve.
Biblical hope, however, looks beyond circumstances. It is grounded in the promises of God, who is faithful even when the evidence seems to suggest otherwise. The prophets, facing immense challenges, chose to hope—not because of what they could see, but because of who God is.
Isaiah’s Vision: Hope in Darkness
Isaiah 9 was written during a dark time for God’s people. The Assyrian Empire had devastated their land, and their leaders were corrupt, ignoring God’s wisdom. Isaiah described this as "walking in darkness," as though someone had turned out the lights.
Yet, in the midst of this darkness, Isaiah painted a vision of hope:
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned.
This light, Isaiah proclaimed, would bring joy, justice, and peace. He described the arrival of a child who would be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. These names reveal the character of the one in whom Isaiah placed his hope: a God who is wise, powerful, eternal, and the source of true peace.
Jesus: The Fulfilment of Hope
Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled 700 years later in Jesus Christ. But God’s fulfilment of this promise was anything but conventional. Jesus did not come as a conquering hero but as a vulnerable baby. He was born to ordinary young parents who soon became refugees.
Jesus did not form alliances with the powerful. Instead, He spent 30 years in obscurity and then gathered around Him a group of fishermen, tax collectors, and women. His kingship was marked not by political power but by humility and sacrifice. He bore the government on His shoulders not by seizing power but by carrying the cross.
Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus shattered the ultimate enemy—not a human empire but the power of sin and death. In doing so, He opened the way for a community marked by forgiveness, justice, peace, and love.
Lessons from Mary: Treasuring Hope
Among all the figures in the Christmas story, Mary stands out as a model of hope. When the angel told her she would bear God’s Son, her response was one of faith and praise: "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour."
Mary’s circumstances were far from ideal. She travelled miles while pregnant, gave birth far from home, and laid her newborn in a manger. Yet, she treasured the promises of God, pondering them in her heart. Mary teaches us to hold on to hope, even in the midst of uncertainty and chaos.
Practising Hope: A Daily Choice
Hope is not always neat or tidy, but it is a practice we can cultivate. Biblical hope is neither pessimism nor blind optimism. Instead, it is grounded in the person of Jesus. It frees us from being controlled by our circumstances and invites us to trust in God’s promises.
In Colossians, we are encouraged to "continue in our faith, established and firm, not moving from the hope held out in the gospel." Revelation gives us a vision of the future:
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain."
This future shapes how we live in the present. Choosing hope is a radical act—it acknowledges that we are not in control but trusts that God is.
As the carol says, "The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight." This Advent, may we find our hope in Jesus—whether now or in the future.
Concluding Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are our living hope. In this season of Advent, teach us to wait with anticipation and trust in Your promises. Help us to treasure Your light in the darkness and to hold fast to the hope found in You. May Your peace, joy, and love fill our hearts, guiding us into the fullness of life You have prepared for us.
Amen.