FILO: Advent for the Church Technical ArtistSample

Today we are looking at a passage from Romans, chapter 15, verses 4-13.

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.”

Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”

And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.”

And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.”

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Preparation: That’s how we roll over here in the world of local church technical arts! This part of advent should be easy!

To be successful as technical artists, we need to be really good at preparing for services if we want them to go well. Preparation is something that is learned over time. Being prepared is born out of failing time and again and learning from each failure. It requires the ability to sustain a prolonged effort, which is the definition of endurance.

We are called to prepare ourselves for the coming Messiah in week two of Advent. Similar to our lives as production people, as regular people, preparedness requires endurance, the ability to do stuff, fail, get up and keep moving. In Romans 15:4-6, Paul talks about God’s promises through this type of endurance.

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As we contemplate the coming of Jesus this Christmas, our preparation involves us attempting to follow Christ and trust Christ in each moment of each day. Our preparation requires us to fail and to get up and try again. God helps by providing encouragement and endurance to live the life He intended.

Our preparation isn’t for our benefit but for us to glorify God by being of one mind and one voice with each other. Romans 15:13 says this:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

- Todd Elliott