Third Sunday of Advent – Philippians 4:4-7

Grace, peace and mercy to you from God our Father and our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

The day is getting closer all the time. Can you feel the excitement building? Children are becoming more excited as Christmas Day approaches and as they count down how many more sleeps to go. But just as it is a time of growing excitement for many, for others it may be a time of dread. People without families can look forward to another lonely Christmas. Parents who are unemployed may struggle to buy a gift for their children or for each other. Others who have lost a loved one are spending their first Christmas without the whole family together. So just what is there to be excited about?

Well even in this season when it is easy to become distracted or disappointed, our Heavenly Father give us the reason to rejoice. Whether we find ourselves in poverty or wealth, solid families or broken ones, for us as Christians, the reason for our rejoicing is not to be found in our circumstances. Instead it is found in the gracious heart of God who sent his Son to live, suffer, and die for us so we might receive the gift of eternal life and reconciliation with our God.

Heavenly Father, sanctify us in the truth, your Word is truth. Amen.

• Download and read the whole sermon as a pdf here