Hope: The Purpose of Advent Week 1

The Celebration of the Christmas Season is Beginning…

Theme: Hope in the Promised Messiah
Candle Color: Purple
Key Scriptures: Isaiah 9:2–7; Romans 15:12–13; Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2

All Scriptures KJV King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture Readings: Isaiah 9:2–7 “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

Romans 15:12–13 “And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles hope. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Micah 5:2 “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

What This Week Means:
The first candle of Advent calls us to awaken our hearts to hope…an active, expectant hope that leans forward toward God’s promises even when circumstances seem bleak. “God’s people, Israel in the past and the Church today, still wait through long seasons of oppression, uncertainty, and seeming silence, holding tightly to the promises of a coming Savior. Our hope has never been a fleeting wish; it is grounded in a steady trust rooted in God’s unchanging character. Even now, we look forward with faith, trusting His faithfulness and clinging to the certainty that His promises will never fail.”Their hope was not wishful thinking; it was a steadfast trust rooted in the unchanging character of God. The purple candle reminds us of the majesty of the King who was promised, the One who would shatter darkness with His light and bring salvation to all nations. At the same time, its color of repentance invites us to prepare our hearts with humility—to turn from distraction, deepen our devotion, and make room for the Savior who has come and who will come again with power and glory.

My thoughts:
Our world today feels dark in so many ways. Yet Advent boldly declares that light has entered the darkness, and darkness will never overcome it. As we sing hymns like “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” we echo the longing of generations before us and the longing of our own hearts today. We are not only remembering the Child who came, but we are also urgently watching for the King who will come again. Hope is not passive; it is a confident expectation that Jesus Christ will return to set all things right.

Today, the darkness seems to grow in many corners of the world—conflict, injustice, despair, and moral decay can feel overwhelming. Yet the Church, empowered by the Spirit and fueled by Advent hope, continues to shine as a witness to the light. We long for souls to encounter Jesus, to experience salvation while there is still time, and to bring the message of peace, joy, and love to a hurting world. Advent reminds us that our hope is not only for ourselves but for the world: that Jesus Christ’s kingdom will triumph, that His love will reach every heart, and that our prayers, worship, and witness participate in God’s plan to redeem and restore creation.

A Little History: Advent is a season observed in various forms since the early centuries of the Christian Church. Its origins can be traced back to the 4th and 5th centuries, when some churches in Europe began preparing for Christmas. Originally, Advent was a time of penitence and reflection, similar to Lent, when believers prepared spiritually for the coming of Christ. Over time, the focus expanded to include the celebration of Christ’s birth and the anticipation of His return.