It may be premature, even anti-spiritual to some, to be looking ahead to the New Year when the season of Advent has just started. You may ask, “Why speed up time? Settle down. Relax.” In the words of Polish poet, Wislawa Szymborska, “haste is make-believe.”
This may be true. However, without neglecting our contemplation of the First Advent, I want us to remember to contemplate the Second Advent, as well. Jesus will come again! Each Advent season, I consider a preaching series focused exclusively on the Second Advent, and then lose courage. Last week, however, I did remind us not to forget that the uninterruptable, unstoppable, will-come-to-completion work of God in redemption overcomes Mary’s Magnificat. Her song is as much about the Second Advent as the first. Jesus will come again. On that day, believers will be “acknowledged and acquitted,” says the Shorter Catechism’s reflection on Matthew 25.23 and 10.32. And, on that day, those who “know not God and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, will be cast into eternal torments and be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power (WCF 33.2).”
So here we are, in the season of the First Advent. In January, I would like for us to consider more closely a deepening reality with regards to the Second Advent: we need to be a people who love our neighbors by making Jesus known. This may sound familiar, as it is a refrain from the Mission Statement of Covenant Presbyterian Church.
On January 9, I would like for us to ponder the topic of evangelism with a special guest, Allan Dayhoff. Al is an author and gifted evangelist, and the founder of Evangelize Today (evangelizetoday.info). He travels around the country leading teaching and training seminars, but also small-group talks, to support the effort of telling others about Jesus. He is in town to serve as an evangelism resource for the pastors and elders of our presbytery, and I specifically invited him to spend some time with the people of Covenant Presbyterian. As a church, we need to consider our role of evangelism in our local community. Al will be leading a small talk in the Fellowship Hall Thursday evening, January 9, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
This event is meant to be a relaxed, thoughtful, and light-hearted discussion on how to tell others about Jesus. Plan for an evening of fellowship and dialogue. We want to understand the gospel, but we also want to be introspective enough to ponder why it is that telling others about Jesus is so challenging. For this, Al will be an excellent tour-guide. He believes that there is a thickening wall between Christians and non-Christians, slowly isolating us from one another. Al loves Scripture and Reformed Theology. He is a great listener. He welcomes all questions, and he believes each of us has a unique calling to share Jesus with others.
Without rushing through the First Advent, let’s prepare for that glorious Second Advent of Jesus as we help each other make Jesus known. Please join us as we hear Al’s take on our current situation in the church, listen to his many personal experiences, ask questions, and contemplate the ministry of loving our neighbors by sharing Jesus with them.
~Pastor Jones
