Advent • 1

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reading for: Tuesday Night, 26 November

Luke 21:25-36

  • ReAD

    Scripture Reference: Luke 21:25-36

    “27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”- Luke 21:27-28

  • Commentary

    We are approaching the time of Christmas when we celebrate the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christmas is a time of great celebration because of who Jesus is. During the season of Christmas, we celebrate the advent of Christ, who was born into the world, but this passage also reminds us to celebrate another advent of Christ, who will come in a cloud with great power and glory.

    We may wonder why this passage is chosen to be the starting gospel passage for the advent season this year, but greater minds than me have chosen it. Perhaps they chose this passage because Christmas is a celebration not merely of the first coming but also of the one who will come again. Christmas is a celebration of the advent of Christ.

    Jesus’s parable of the fig tree reinforces the message that when the fig tree comes out in leaf, you can see and know that summer is already near and that the kingdom of God and the advent of the king are near. This is why we must straighten up and raise our heads; our redemption is drawing near. This is why we must watch ourselves so that our hearts will not be weighed down with the cares of this life. We prepare and watch ourselves because Christ is coming again in a cloud with great power and glory.

    This season of advent, let us celebrate the one Lord Jesus Christ who came two thousand years ago, lived, died, and rose again, ascending to the Father’s right hand, and who will come again in a cloud with great power and great glory.

  • Reflect

    Are we ready for the Lord's coming? Have we straightened up and raised our heads? Are we looking forward to our redemption? Are we weighed down by the cares of this life?

    Let us prepare for the coming of the Lord by being better and growing stronger in the Lord. Let us not forsake the coming together as a body of Christ every Sunday and remembering to spend time with the Lord daily.

    Prayer

    Father, we look forward to Christ's coming. We want to celebrate Him this Advent season, for He is the one who came and will come again. Help us to be prepared for His coming. We want to be better and grow stronger so that we can be ready for His coming. Amen.

reading for: Wednesday Night, 27 November

jeremiah 33:14-16

  • ReAD

    Scripture Reference: Jeremiah 33:14-16

    Key Verse: "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah." - Jeremiah 33:14

  • Commentary

    Jeremiah 33:14-16 was spoken during Judah’s exile in Babylon, a time of despair and judgment. God, through Jeremiah, declared hope for a future restoration—a righteous Branch from David’s line who would bring justice and righteousness. This prophecy points to Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of God’s covenant promise. For Centre of New Life (CNL), this scripture is especially relevant during Advent as we reflect on God’s faithfulness in sending Jesus and look forward to His return, renewing our hope in the midst of personal and collective challenges.

    Hope is powerful. It sustains us through trials, reminding us that God’s promises are trustworthy. As we reflect on 2024, Pastor Jason’s sermon asked us, “How have you been addressing and relating to your God this year? Is your God worth your beholding?” Jeremiah 33 challenges us to review our relationship with God: Do we trust in His promises, or have we allowed fear, disappointment, or busyness to cloud our faith?

    God kept His promise to send the Messiah, and He continues to fulfill His promises in our lives today. Have we embraced that hope? In our homes, are we speaking words of trust and encouragement, introducing our children, grandchildren, or loved ones to a faithful God? At work, are we living with integrity, demonstrating that our hope is anchored in Him? Advent is a season of waiting, not with anxiety, but with a confident expectation that God will act—because He always does.

    As we prepare for Christmas, let’s recommit to trusting God and living as witnesses to His faithfulness. His promises are not only for the past but for our future, shaping how we live, love, and serve every day.

  • Reflect

    How can you live out hope in God’s promises this week, bringing light to your family, workplace, and community?

  • Prayer

    "O Lord, we believe in your promises. Grant that we may love what you command and desire what you promise so that, amid the uncertain changes of this world, our hearts may be firmly fixed where true joys are to be found."

     

reading for: THURSDAY Night, 28 November

1 thessalonians 3:9-13

  • ReAD

    Scripture Reference : 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

    Key Verse: "May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you." - 1 Thessalonians 3:12

  • commentary

    Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians to encourage a young church enduring persecution. In this passage, he expresses gratitude for their faith and prays for their continued growth in love and holiness as they prepare for Christ’s return. For CNL, this passage resonates deeply as we reflect on 2024 and prepare for Advent, a season that calls us to deepen our relationship with God and others through prayer and love.

    Advent is a time of anticipation, not just for Christmas but for Christ’s coming. Pastor Jason challenged us to review our spiritual journey this year: “How have you been addressing and relating to your God? Is He worth introducing to others?” Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians mirrors this call. He prays for their love to abound and their hearts to be blameless in holiness. This is a call to action for us too.

    Have you grown in love this year? At home, have you demonstrated Christ’s love to your family, showing kindness and patience even in difficult moments? At work, have you been a peacemaker, reflecting God’s grace in your interactions? Holiness isn’t just about avoiding sin; it’s about being set apart for God’s purposes, living in a way that honors Him.

    Paul’s prayer also challenges us to be intentional in our spiritual growth. Are we prioritizing prayer, spending time in God’s Word, and seeking His presence daily? Eugene Peterson reminds us, “The Psalms train us in a conversation of language, from talking about God to talking to God.” This Advent, let’s use the Psalms and prayer to deepen our relationship with God, preparing our hearts to love as He loves.

  • Reflect

    How can you grow in love and holiness this week, intentionally preparing your heart for Christ’s presence?

  • Prayer

    "O God, cleanse my heart and keep it clean, and make me fit for your eternal dwellings, for your holiness is our strength and your love our hope."

reading for: FRIDAY Night, 29 November

Psalm 25

  • ReAD

    Scripture reference: Psalm 25:1-10

    Psalm  25:1-2

    To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.

    O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.

  • COMMENTARY

    Who is this LORD that we are invited to look up to and lift our souls to?

    In the Old Testament, whenever we see the phrase LORD with all caps, it's actually a reference to Yahweh. The name which the God of Israel used to introduce Himself to Israel. (Exodus 3:13-16)

    From just a few verses, we catch a glimpse of who this LORD, who Yahweh is.

    He is trustworthy, he will not put his children to shame and will not allow your enemies to triumph over you.

    All of us struggle with shame, how people feel and think about us. Especially when we do something wrong.

    Yet we’re told that anyone who waits on the LORD our Father will not be put to shame. In other words, we are loved and accepted in spite of our failures and weaknesses. We will be not shamed and we certainly don't have to feel shame since we are loved.

    In fact, it's that very reason that we are invited to come to our Heavenly Father. For He is good and upright and he delights to instruct us in His good ways (v. 8). Those of us who humble ourselves before Him will be taught and guided by Him (v. 9). All of His ways are steadfast love and faithfulness (v. 10).

    This is why we can lift our soul, bear our heart to Him.

  • Reflect

    What are 1 or 2 things that have happened in 2024 that made you disappointed or discouraged?

    Write it out and lift it to the LORD and God.

  • Prayer

    Do not be distant, O Lord, lest i find this burden of loss too heavy,

    and shrink from the necessary experience of my grief.

    Do not be distant, O Lord, lest i become so mired in yesterday’s hurts,

    that i miss entirely the living gifts this day might hold.

    Let me neither ignore my pain, pretending all is okay when it isn’t,

    nor coddle and magnify my pain, so that I dull my capacity to experience all that remains good in this life.

    Amidst the pain that lades these days, give me courage O Lord;

    Courage to live them fully, to love and to allow myself to be loved,

    to remember, grieve, and honour what was,

    to live with thanksgiving in what is,

    and to invest in the hope of what will be.

Announcement

Starting next week, all lectionary uploads will be fully transitioned to Elvanto. Please note that moving forward, the lectionary will no longer be uploaded to the current platform.

Season of LentCNL