We’re beginning a new message series on Advent. How many of you are familiar with Advent? Raise your hand if you know a lot about it. If you’re watching online, you can comment, “I know a lot about Advent,” or “I don’t know much about Advent.” When I was a kid, I had an Advent calendar, though I didn’t know anything about Advent at the time. But I loved it—it had what I called “flippy flaps.”

I’m sure there’s a proper name for them, but I called them “flippy flaps.” On December 1st, you could open a flap and find a cool picture inside. Then on December 2nd, you’d open another flap with a new picture. I was so excited every day! It was like the 1975 version of TikTok dopamine anticipation. I didn’t understand Advent, but I had a calendar full of flippy flaps. You may not know much about Advent either, but perhaps you’ve had an Advent wreath, a calendar, or candles.

It’s interesting that while there are many Advent traditions in churches, many Christians still don’t fully understand what Advent means. So, over the next four weeks, we’ll explore it together. Let’s start with a foundational understanding: the word “Advent” comes from the Latin word “adventus,” meaning “coming” or “arrival.” Advent focuses on the arrival of Jesus on earth.

Advent has roots in the early church, all the way back to the 4th century, when Christians set aside time to prepare spiritually for Christmas. During this period, they would fast (denying themselves physical food to spiritually seek God), pray, and immerse themselves in Scripture, anticipating the birth of the Savior. By the 9th century, the church officially established Advent as a four-week period, with four main themes: hope, peace, joy, and love. Over the next four weeks, we will reflect on these themes and prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christ’s birth.

Today, we’ll light the first Advent candle—the candle of hope. As we do, let’s pray together, whether you’re in church or joining us online. Father, we put our hope in You. I pray especially for those who are hurting, lacking, or in need of a miracle. Lord, if their hope is wavering, build their faith through the power of Your Word. Help us to place our hope in You because You are faithful, and You never fail. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen. If you’re online, type “Amen” in the comments.

Now, if you’ve been with us for a while, you know I typically start my messages with something to grab your attention, and by the end, I get louder and faster. That’s my style! But today, I’m going to do something different. Today, I want to be real. Can you handle that? Type “I can handle it” in the comments.

I’m preaching on hope today, but as a preacher, I don’t always feel hopeful. Can anyone relate to that? Yes, I’m a full-time Christian and a preacher, but I don’t always feel full of hope. So the verse I’m starting with is very true, but it’s not exactly positive. Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” In other words, when we hope for something and it doesn’t come when we expect, it’s incredibly difficult—it makes our hearts sick.

I looked up the word “deferred,” and in Hebrew, it’s “mashach.” This means “to push aside” or “to delay.” Hope that is pushed aside, delayed, or deferred makes the heart sick. One of the reasons I struggle with hope is that, truthfully, I’ve been hoping and praying for a long time for healing for my daughters.

I have four daughters and two sons. Three of my daughters were born with genetic challenges, and all of them grew up in two rooms that were severely moldy—something we didn’t know about at the time. I feel guilty for not knowing sooner, but it has had a significant impact on their health. I still believe in the healing power of Jesus, and I continue to pray for their healing every day.