2. Preparing for Christmas Eastern (Orthodox) - The Nativity Fast - 11/28
Western - Advent - 12/2

3. starting at
the end

4. John 18:33-37
Jesus before Pilate

5. Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

6. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

7. “My kingdom is not of this world.”

8. “My kingdom is not of this world.” political/government
beyond religious

9. “My kingdom is not of this world.” political/government
beyond religious
celebrity/popularity

10. “My kingdom is not of this world.” political/government
beyond religious
celebrity/popularity
corporate

11. “My kingdom is not of this world.”

12. “My kingdom is not of this world.”

13. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

14. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

15. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

16. the other Kingdoms calling us...

17. political/government celebrity/popularity
the other Kingdoms calling us...
political/government
dogmatic religion
celebrity/popularity
corporate
consumerism

18. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

19. Therefore

20. everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
Matthew 7:24-25

21. Are you ready to make the Baptismal promises? or
Call to Faith -
Are you ready to make the Baptismal promises? or
Do you affirm the promises of your Baptism?

22. Do you now desire to build your life on the truth of Jesus Christ?
I Do

23. Proclaiming this covenant with Jesus Christ, do you renounce all the powers of evil and declare your opposition to a way of life in contradiction to the gospel?
I Do

24. Do you repent of your sins, confessing Christ as your Savior and Lord and living as his faithful disciple?
I Do

25. Will you devote yourself to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer?
I Will

26. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, will you do all in your power to participate fully in the life of this congregation, to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
I Will