UPDATE! The series is now available.
Editor’s note: This sermon series will be available on Concordia Seminary’s online store, along with previous year’s sermon series, the week of October 5, 2015. Professor Andrew Bartelt provides an overview below.
This series is developed from the Advent OT Lessons (Series C). Each week begins with exegetical notes, which undergird the sermon. This study on the text itself can also be useful for Bible study or Bible class preparation.
A full-length sermon is included, picking up a major motif of the text. The sermon can be used as is or, preferably, as a resource for some thoughts in developing one’s own sermon within the local context of hearers. Of course, other themes can be engaged, and it is hoped that the study notes will generate ideas.
Suggestions for a children’s sermon, related to the sermon theme, offer some ideas that can developed as appropriate.
The worship resources also provide a prayer paragraph related to the sermon theme and hymn suggestions.
The following paragraphs provide an introduction to the Advent series:
“The King Is Coming”
The Kingdom of God is a major theme in God’s holy history, from the house and lineage of David to David’s greater Son and Lord, whose birth we anticipate in this season of Advent. This series will focus on the appointed lessons from the Old Testament prophets, who spoke from the perspective of their own times under the kings of Israel and Judah, with all their human foibles and failures. Yet the Word of God through these words of the prophets speaks of a greater king to come, whose kingdom will have no end.
Our lives as God’s people in Christ are “lived under Him in His Kingdom,” as Luther put it—under the righteous rule and reign of Christ our King. Christmas celebrates his birth and coming among us, even as we pray as He taught us, “Thy Kingdom Come.” May our Advent worship help us prepare and rejoice, for the King is coming!
Advent I: “The King’s City: Safe and Secure” (Jeremiah 33:14-16)
Advent II: “The King’s Herald: Announcing the King!” (Malachi 3:1-4)
Advent III: “The King Will Have His Day” (Zephaniah 3:14-20)
Advent IV: “The King’s Royal Roots: Back to the Future” (Micah 5:2-51)
The Nativity of our Lord: “A King Is Born!” (Isaiah 9:2-7)
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