"Advent: Love" with Ryan Burns

·31 min·3 clips

Why does the host describe baby Jesus as a deceptive-looking creator on a rescue mission?

This episode is a sermon from the Living Stones Hawaii Podcast, part of a series on Advent themes. Host Ryan Burns concludes the series by focusing on love, following previous discussions of peace, joy, and hope. He opens by reflecting on Jesus' first coming as a rescue mission, referencing Tim Keller's perspective that Jesus came so his second coming could end evil without ending humanity. Burns transitions to gift-giving at Christmas, using a humorous analogy about receiving Rogaine or Ozempic to illustrate how gifts communicate perceived needs. He turns to 1 John 4:9-10, explaining that God's gift of Jesus shows love is defined by sacrifice, not human imperfection. The host discusses how experiencing God's love produces a quality of abundant life, citing Psalms and Gospel of John verses. He emphasizes that Christians access deeper pleasure by knowing both creation and its creator. Burns then analyzes 1 John 3:1, highlighting John's 'behold' as an outburst of wonder at being called children of God. He explains 'bestowed' love as a transformative event, likening it to marriage vows. The sermon contrasts moralistic religious people, who think God owes them, with real Christians, who see everything as grace. Burns notes this distinction is tested when bad things happen. He encourages listeners to cultivate awe at God's love, which then flows to others, especially difficult relatives during Christmas. The episode concludes with an invitation for prayer team ministry, offering fresh filling of the Holy Spirit or salvation for those far from God.

As heard by us

A Christmas sermon that turns Advent wonder into the shock of being called children of God.

This Advent sermon moves from the manger to a rescue mission and closes on 1 John 3:1, where the shock of being called children of God becomes the emotional center.

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Why you'd press play

If you want Advent to end in wonder instead of holiday noise, start here.

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