It is a curious thing, after centuries of Christian tradition, how one of the most extraordinary moments in the story of Jesus—his ascension—is so often overlooked. This week, we returned to the opening verses of Acts, asking not simply “What is the Church?” but “Who is this Jesus we gather around?” The earliest Christians staked everything on the belief that Jesus ascended—not as a disappearing act but as advocate, architect, reigning king, and giver of gifts. This one truth unlocks a deeper hope, a truer identity, and a more courageous mission.

Last week we found ourselves at the threshold of Acts, asking a deceptively simple question: what is the church? Josh Harrison reminded us that, despite all we've accumulated—practices, traditions, and ambitions—the essence of the church isn't found in what we’ve built around Jesus, but in what he established at the start.

The early disciples, confronted by the resurrected Christ, understood neither the timing nor methods of God’s kingdom. Instead, they received two things: a gift (the Holy Spirit) and a mission (to be witnesses—embodiments of hope—beginning in Jerusalem and extending outwards).

May we live as witnesses today, expectant and empowered.

As we begin a new series in Acts, a brief recentering is in order. If you’ve spent any time in church, you’ve likely heard the phrase “Body of Christ” thrown around casually, as if it were merely a metaphor—a nice way to describe collective gifts. But in the earliest days, believers didn’t consider this figurative; they truly lived as Christ’s body, continuing his work on earth, animated by the Spirit. Their conviction transformed families, communities, and ultimately the world. As we plant and form this church, the question before us is: What might God do through us, if we truly embody this reality?

It’s been several weeks now since we first began tracing the Lord’s Prayer as a roadmap for attentiveness and expectancy in Advent. Along the way, we’ve rediscovered prayer not as a rote discipline, but as the core of our relationship with the infinite and personal God. This week, we arrived at a phrase often spoken, if rarely pondered: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Here, we’re reminded that Jesus offers more than mere forgiveness—He invites us to follow closely, learning to move through temptation without falling into it, and so experience His kingdom, power, and glory.

Three weeks into our Advent series, we've been tracing the ancient contours of the Lord’s Prayer, exploring what it truly means to wait with both attentiveness and expectancy—a posture Jesus not only commands but embodies. Beginning with our Father who is both utterly holy and intimately close, surrendering our kingdoms to His, we've journeyed into the wilderness of dependence: “Give us this day our daily bread.” Here, Jesus teaches us not self-sufficiency, but radical daily trust. And when we inevitably fumble for control, He offers forgiveness, and calls us to extend the same mercy to others. This wilderness transforms us—together.

Advent, as Josh shared, is more than the holiday season’s clutter and chaos—it’s a deliberate preparation for the arrival of the King. While culture grows busy, Advent invites us to make space, to nurture expectation and longing through prayer. This week, we explored the Lord’s Prayer: “Your kingdom come, your will be done.” What might shift in our lives if, in every circumstance, we surrendered our will for His? As we trust, anticipate, and pray, we become agents of God’s kingdom—bridging heaven and earth.

For the first time in nearly a year, we have stepped out of The First Gospel series and into Advent—not so much a season as an invitation. Advent comes to us as both a memory and a promise, a time to prepare our hearts for the arrival of Jesus—past, future, and daily.

In this sermon, we explored the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” Remarkably, Jesus invites us to hold together the awe of God’s holiness and the intimacy of calling Him “Dad.”

What if, this season, our preparation begins and ends in prayerful relationship?

It’s been forty weeks since we launched our journey through the First Gospel series, tracking the thread of God’s goodness woven through every page of the Old Testament. Today, we reach the finale, as exile gives way to return—a story marked not simply by restored walls and temple, but by the rhythms, community, and expectation that define the people of God. The builders in the ruins remind us: true community is essential, worship is central, and our story is still unfinished. We wait, expectant, on the eve of Advent—for the King to make all things new. Let’s build, worship, and watch together.