Advent Preparation and WaitingPreparation and Waiting Hope and AnticipationHope and Anticipation First coming – Jesus as a babyFirst coming – Jesus as a baby Second coming – Jesus as LordSecond coming – Jesus as Lord “So here it is Merry Christmas, Everybody’s having fun, Look to the future now It’s only just begun”

Big Picture Thinking This has always been Plan A – there is no Plan BThis has always been Plan A – there is no Plan B “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight” – Ephesians 1:3-4 (NIVUK) “The work of redemption was planned and its details arranged from all eternity. Before such a mystery it becomes us to put the shoes from off our feet, and bow reverently before Him Positive – holy; a plan for our future Negative – blameless; freedom from the past

Big Picture Thinking “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake” – 1Peter 1:18-20 (NLT)

Chosen “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and he chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose what the world thinks is unimportant and what the world looks down on and thinks is nothing in order to destroy what the world thinks is important. God did this so that no one can brag in his presence. Because of God you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God. In Christ we are put right with God, and have been made holy, and have been set free from sin” – 1Corinthians 1:27-30 (NCV) Who does the choosing? Who does the choosing? Who has been chosen? Who has been chosen? Who are we chosen to become? Who are we chosen to become?

Throughout the Bible “This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men” – Acts 2:23 (ESVUK) “…before the foundation of the world” – Revelation 13:8 (NIVUK)

Saved for a Purpose “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” – Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIVUK) “He has saved us and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” – 2Timothy 1:9-10 (NIVUK)

Saved for a Purpose “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord” – Ephesians 3:10-11 (NIVUK) An eternal plan UnstoppableUnstoppable UndefeatableUndefeatable InfallibleInfallible InvincibleInvincible

Challenge Am I assured that God loves me and do I know I am saved for all eternity?Am I assured that God loves me and do I know I am saved for all eternity? Do I have a clear understanding of my purpose and how willing am I to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to help bring others to know Jesus?Do I have a clear understanding of my purpose and how willing am I to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to help bring others to know Jesus? “This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head. All things are done according to God's plan and decision; and God chose us to be his own people in union with Christ because of his own purpose, based on what he had decided from the very beginning. Let us, then, who were the first to hope in Christ, praise God's glory!” – Ephesians 1:10-12 (Good News Translation)