Advent 3

Zephaniah 3:14-20; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18

The readings for Advent 3 present a fitting way to wrap up Advent. (Next Sunday is Lessons and Carols.) The texts talk of faith, repentance, change of life, and the coming of Christ, themes we have been hearing for a few weeks now.

As if with one voice the texts say that faith trumps ancestry, change of life must follow repentance, and that preachers must preach Christ, not themselves.

What this means is that we are not determined by birth, race, history, family, or culture. Most important of all, we are not determined by sin.

Read or watch this sermon to find why the coming of the Christ frees us from the lenses of the past.