Fourth Sunday of Advent
Fourth Sunday of Advent (24 Dec 2023)
Readings
Sermon
Jesus’ Genealogy series: Zerubbabel
Sermon Text: Haggai 1:1-2, 7-12
Zerubbabel was of the line of Israelite kings and the leader of the people after they returned from the Babylonian exile. Even though he had to repair the physical nation of Israel, he first had to restore the worship of God. With God at the centre of His people, the people can thrive in His salvation. We get distracted by physical things ourselves in worship–like buildings and demographics of the congregation–but our worship must be on God because through Him we have salvation. We see this when Christ rebuilds the temple of God to be his own flesh and blood–the place where the fullness of God dwells bodily. In the sacrifice of Christ, his wounds opened up our way to God. We continue worshipping in the body of Christ by receiving his salvific sacrifice through his body and blood in the Lord’s Supper. While having buildings and good demographics helps, we will always be God’s people so long as He dwells among us in Christ.