Overview
Our Advent theme is, “This little light of mine.” It calls us to think deeply about how God’s light enters our world through Jesus. It, then, challenges us to to follow it as our North Star. And as we go, we reflect its essence, truth, and power to others.
One way we can accomplish this task is by finding time in our daily lives to shine light. You will read in the following pages ways in which this can be done. I encourage you to take action every day if you are able. Spread God's light through social media. Use #shinelight to capture ways in which First Baptist is shining the light of God in the world.
This Advent season, embrace the call to be a light-bearer. Shine God’s light into the world. Help others find their way through their darkness. Point them to true North Star (i.e. Jesus).
So as you bounce from party to party, service to service, shopping center to shopping center, do not forget that people need hope, peace, love, and joy this Christmas. And they will find it, if we take seriously the call to #shinelight.
November 27 | Isaiah 7:10-16 | This Little Light of Mine Shines Hope
We Christians bear the light of hope. This hope points to a future salvation through Jesus Christ. Even in the 8th century, we see this hope manifest as we think about Israel being a light to the nation and for Jesus being the true light that outshines the darkness. Just like Israel and Jesus, we’re called to bear the light of hope.
December 4 | Isaiah 11:1-10 | This Little Light of Mine Shines Love
We Christians must bear the light of love. Isaiah reminds us that the future of God’s love will be filled with justice and Justice is what love looks like in person. This kind of future is built Just like Israel and Jesus, we are called to bear the light of love.
December 11 | Isaiah 2:1-5 | This Little Light of Mine Shines Peace
We Christians must bear the light of peace. This love points to a future where swords are beat into plowshares and people love and respect each other. Just like Israel and Jesus, we are called to bear the light of peace.
December 18 | Isaiah 35:1-10 | This Little Light of Mine Shines Joy
We as Christians must bear the light of Joy. Isaiah 35:10 says, “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” This verse is a sign of the joy we can bear. There is a day in which we will all experience God’s everlasting joy. As Christians, in the meantime, we are called to bear the light of Joy now.
December 24 | This Little Light of Mine
The light came into the world . . . and the darkness could not overcome it. We are now called to be bearers of that light. We have a spark of God, a spark of the divine in us all. It’s time to be like Jesus . . . it’s time to shine our light.
December 25 | John 1:1-5 | And the Darkness Cannot Overcome It
Christmas Day marks the greatest moment in our history . . . the incarnation. This is the day God steps into our world, wraps himself in our dust . . . and scripture tells us that Jesus is the light that outshines all darkness . . . and no darkness is dark enough to overcome it. On a day like this . . . we will do well to let the words of scripture empower us to celebrate, worship, and unite our thoughts in love.