Advent is a season of waiting that leads not to despair, but to joy. In Zephaniah 3:14–20, God speaks a promise of reversal: fear is removed, shame is lifted, exiles are gathered, and the Lord Himself comes to dwell among His people. This is not joy born from easy circumstances, but joy rooted in God’s nearness—so deep that God rejoices over His people with singing. As we light the Candle of Joy, we remember that Advent joy rises from the certainty that God is coming to restore what was broken and bring His people home.
Advent starts with hope—the kind you only really understand when life feels heavy. Jeremiah preached hope in the middle of ruin, and honestly, our world doesn’t feel that far off. Yet God’s message was the same then as it is now: “The days are coming.” Advent invites us to look back at God’s faithfulness so we can look forward with confidence, even when we have no control over the timing or the outcome. Real hope isn’t pretending things are fine; it’s trusting that God is at work in the mess and planting something good in the dark. As we light the first candle, we’re choosing to believe again that God is coming, always coming—and what He brings will be even better than we hoped.
1 Thessalonians was originally written as a personal letter to a whole community, not a book meant for solo study, so it would have been heard collectively - out loud, in one sitting - by people who already shared relationships, struggles, and hope. Paul’s words were crafted to encourage a group navigating pressure and uncertainty together, reminding them how to support one another, stay faithful as a community, and keep their eyes on the bigger story God was telling among them. When we read it today, it helps to imagine that original setting: a room full of friends listening together, receiving not isolated instructions but a warm, communal message meant to shape their shared life.
Scripture shows a God whose Spirit once rested on only a few people for specific moments, but Joel promised—and Peter confirmed at Pentecost—that a day would come when the Spirit would be poured out on everyone and prophesy would be a common practice of the Church. That’s why Paul urges us not to extinguish the Spirit but to desire His gifts, especially prophecy, because it strengthens, encourages, and comforts the church. So instead of fear, dismissal, or chaos, we learn to welcome the Spirit with discernment—holding on to what is good, rejecting what is not, and becoming a people shaped by love, truth, and the voice of Jesus.
Joy. Prayer. Gratitude. Paul reminds us these aren’t occasional feelings but daily practices of faith. We rejoice not because life is perfect, but because God—the most joyous being in the universe—is with us. We pray continually to stay aware of His presence in every moment, not just the big ones. And we give thanks because everything we have is grace, not entitlement. As C.S. Lewis said, “Joy is the serious business of heaven.” Live each day rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks—this is the will of God for you.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:12–15, Paul calls the church to live as a loving, peace-filled community that mirrors the very life of God. Believers are to honor their leaders, live in peace, and care for one another - correcting the idle, encouraging the discouraged, and helping the weak - with patience and grace. Though community can be inconvenient and authority uncomfortable, Paul reminds us that the church’s unity and humility reflect the mutual love of the Trinity. When Christians choose peace over pride and service over self, their life together becomes the clearest witness of Christ’s love to the world.
Life moves fast, and the future can feel uncertain, but 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 reminds us that we do not drift toward holiness or safety; we must stay awake, sober-minded, and full of hope. The “Day of the Lord” will come like a thief in the night, but we are not in darkness. Instead of fearing it, we live with anticipation, ready for Christ’s return. This means exercising self-discipline in our thoughts, words, and actions, encouraging one another, and walking in righteousness and faith.
At the beginning of chapter 4 of 1 Thessalonians, Paul calls us to live lives that please God - lives not marked by the world, but by holiness, love, and self-control. In a world that treats people as objects and prizes individual freedom above all, the Christian life stands apart. To please God is to turn from lust to love, from self-seeking to service, and from isolation to community.