Between Two Advents
This is our Sunday teaching from Andy Brims. Recorded live at our Sunday Service in Harris Academy Purley, Croydon on Sunday 8th December, 2024. Below you can find a talk summary, the full talk audio, Connect Group notes, and a full transcript.
Between Two Advents: The Hope of Christmas
The Christmas season is more than tinsel, carols, and mince pies—it’s a time to remember one of the most significant events in human history: the first Advent of Jesus Christ. The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning "coming" or "arrival," and it refers to the moment when God stepped into history as a human being. For Christians, it’s not just a warm tradition; it’s a truth that transforms.
A Real Person in a Real Place
The claim of Christianity is grounded in history: Jesus was a real person who lived, taught, healed, and ultimately died and rose again in a specific time and place. The Gospel accounts begin with concrete details—genealogies, rulers, and censuses—rooting Jesus in the reality of first-century Palestine. Unlike myths or legends, the story of Jesus is historical. Scholars widely agree on key facts of His life, such as His crucifixion under Pontius Pilate and the empty tomb discovered by His followers.
But what makes this historical claim extraordinary is the resurrection. Hundreds of witnesses testified to seeing the risen Jesus, many going to their deaths rather than deny it. The best explanation for this is that Jesus truly rose, just as He promised. This is the Gospel: news of something that happened, shaping the world forever.
The Beauty of Humility
What makes the story even more astonishing is how Jesus came. He didn’t enter history with pomp and power but in humility. Born to a teenage mother in a stable, He grew up in a small, overlooked town. He had no political position, no wealth, and no entourage—He walked everywhere. His ministry was marked by serving others, healing the sick, and washing His disciples' feet.
The Apostle Paul described this humility beautifully in Philippians 2: Though He was in very nature God, He did not consider equality with God something to be used for His own advantage. Instead, He made Himself nothing, taking on the nature of a servant and becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross.
This humility is not just a historical fact but a profound invitation. The King of the universe came to serve, showing us how to live with grace and love.
The Kingdom at Hand
Jesus’ coming was decisive. He described His mission as bringing the Kingdom of God—light breaking into darkness. He healed the sick, raised the dead, and cast out demons, demonstrating the power of this Kingdom. And this Kingdom is available today, transforming lives across the globe.
Even in challenging circumstances, like those faced by refugees we’ve met through our English school, this Kingdom brings hope, peace, and joy. It’s a power that works through the messiness of life, much like yeast through dough or seeds in a field.
The Second Advent
As we celebrate the first Advent, we also look forward to the second. Jesus will return—not humbly this time, but in majesty. His return will be global, unmissable, and final, bringing complete renewal and justice.
So, this Christmas, let’s remember: we live between two Advents. The first brought hope; the second will bring its fullness. Until then, we live not as the main characters in our story, but as part of His.
Jesus came, He is coming again, and that changes everything.