The Cast Of Christmas: Prophets - Preparation & Expectation

Devotional

Day 1: Prophecy declares the Messiah's precise birthplace.

You are invited to see how God planned even the smallest details long before they occurred, naming Bethlehem as the place the ruler of Israel would come from and orchestrating events to fulfill that promise so that hope would not be vague but specific. This prepares hearts to trust God's timing and purpose rather than our own plans, reminding believers that God's promises are reliable and worthy of expectation. [34:22]

Micah 5:2 (ESV)
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient times.

Reflection: What specific detail in your life feels too small for God to use, and how might trusting God's specific promises change your daily choices this week?

Day 2: God promised a coming everlasting Prince of Peace.

When darkness felt permanent for a people, the prophet proclaimed a great light: a child born, a son given, whose government and peace would have no end, bringing hope that transforms fear into rejoicing. Let this promise increase your expectation—not only of Christ’s first coming but of the certainty of his return—and let that expectation move you to live in the hope and joy the prophecy calls forth. [36:28]

Isaiah 9:1-7 (ESV)
1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Reflection: Identify one area where you are walking in "darkness" and name one concrete step you will take this week to let Christ's light change how you respond to that situation.

Day 3: John calls people to repentance and preparation.

You are reminded that preparation for the Lord begins with repentance: John came into the wilderness to call people to change their minds, confess, and make straight paths for the Lord, living distinctly rather than comfortably. Repentance is more than feeling sorry; it is producing fruit—visible changes in actions and choices—that align life with God's standards and welcome the Messiah's presence. [43:37]

Matthew 3:1-12 (ESV)
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’”
4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him,
6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
10 Even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Reflection: What one habit, relationship, or choice will you stop this week because it doesn't bear fruit "in keeping with repentance," and what practical step will you take to replace it?

Day 4: Repentance leads to forgiveness and the Spirit.

When people were "cut to the heart" and asked Peter, "What shall we do?" the answer was clear: repent and be baptized in Jesus' name for forgiveness, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit—God's presence to empower changed living. This shows that repentance opens the way not only to pardon but to new life with the Spirit living in and guiding believers, available to you and to the generations to come. [50:36]

Acts 2:37-39 (ESV)
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Reflection: If you were "cut to the heart" today, what is the first visible step of repentance you would take in the next 48 hours to demonstrate your intent to follow Jesus?

Day 5: True worship transforms minds and daily living.

In light of God's mercy, believers are urged to offer their bodies as living sacrifices—holy and pleasing—so that worship becomes daily life: do not be conformed to the world but be transformed by renewed thinking that enables you to discern God's good, pleasing, and perfect will. This transformation is the ongoing fruit of repentance and the Spirit, changing how you decide, speak, and act as an act of worship to God. [01:12:38]

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Reflection: Which one area of your daily routine most clearly reflects the world's pattern, and what realistic practice will you adopt this week to renew your mind toward God's will?

Sermon Summary

Advent is a season of anticipation, and I invited us to look at the “supporting cast” God used to prepare the way for Jesus—the prophets, John the Baptist, and ordinary people like Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, and Joseph. The prophets planted detailed promises centuries in advance: Bethlehem named by Micah, the Galilean light and the royal Son described by Isaiah. Even a pagan census became a tool in God’s hands to keep His word. That history is meant to build present confidence: the One who kept every promise about His first coming will keep every promise about His return.

Because Advent is about preparation, I called us to the kind we often overlook—repentance. Decorations, lists, and meals have their place, but biblical preparation starts with a change of mind and direction that aligns our lives with God’s will. Repentance is more than feeling bad; it bears fruit. John the Baptist’s wilderness voice still rings: make straight paths, confess sins, and produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

Expectation intensifies preparation. When we truly expect God to act, we get ready. That’s what God did with Zechariah and Elizabeth—He answered long-prayed desires and gave John, Spirit-filled even in the womb, to turn hearts back to God. Gabriel’s visit to Mary confirmed that the long-promised King was arriving. John’s ministry pointed to Jesus: He must increase. Our preparation finds its aim not in tidy lives but in welcoming the presence and rule of the Messiah.

We also saw repentance in action in Acts 2. When truth “cut to the heart,” the people asked what to do. Peter didn’t hand them a feeling; he gave steps: repent and be baptized in Jesus’ name for the forgiveness of sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. That’s why we don’t delay baptism when faith and repentance are present—repentance that won’t act isn’t biblical repentance.

Finally, I urged us toward ongoing transformation. True worship is a life offered as a living sacrifice, not conformity to the world’s patterns. By the renewing of our minds—learning to think God’s thoughts from Scripture—we become able to discern His good, pleasing, and perfect will. This Advent, let’s prepare with repentance, live with expectant hope, and welcome the King with lives that bear the fruit of His presence.

Key Takeaways

1. Preparation begins with repentance. Repentance is not seasonal housekeeping; it is a deep reorientation of mind and direction. It refuses to make peace with small compromises and instead aligns real choices with God’s Word. Confession begins it, but change confirms it—new steps, new speech, new priorities. Advent readiness starts at the heart, not the mantel. [43:59]
2. Expectation fuels faithful preparation. We prepare most for what we truly expect. Zechariah and Elizabeth’s story shows how God stirs hope and then calls us to ready our lives for His work. Expectation trains our habits—prayer, obedience, and courage become the way we set the table for God’s arrival. Hope becomes holy urgency. [52:33]
3. Repentance must bear visible fruit. John demanded fruit in keeping with repentance because grace does not leave us unchanged. Fruit is not perfection but a pattern—noticeable shifts toward obedience that can be seen over time. Where repentance is real, obedience becomes concrete, even when it costs convenience or reputation. If it doesn’t act, it isn’t repentance. [48:11]
4. Prophecy anchors hope beyond the season. God’s precise fulfillment of past promises steadies us for future ones. Bethlehem, Galilee, a Child with an everlasting government—all of it came exactly as spoken. That history invites us to trust Him with the next promise: Christ’s return and our final redemption. Promise-keeping is God’s track record and His character. [38:06]
5. Be transformed, not conformed. True worship is a life, not a moment—a living sacrifice that resists the cultural mold. Renewal begins in the mind as Scripture teaches us to think God’s thoughts and choose His ways. Over time, we discern that His will is good, pleasing, and complete, even when it confronts our habits. Transformation is Advent’s ongoing work. [72:38]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[29:47] - Campus Greetings and Online Invite
[32:04] - Cast of Christmas: Supporting Roles
[33:23] - Micah 5:2: Bethlehem Foretold
[35:31] - Isaiah 9: A Child Is Given
[38:48] - Preparation Begins with Repentance
[43:37] - John the Baptist: Prepare the Way
[47:50] - Fruit in Keeping with Repentance
[50:36] - Repent and Be Baptized
[52:33] - Expectation Fuels Preparation
[53:53] - Angel Visits Zechariah and Elizabeth
[59:29] - Gabriel Visits Mary
[72:38] - True Worship: Living Sacrifice
[75:54] - Renewing the Mind, Not Conforming
[77:29] - God’s Good, Pleasing, Perfect Will

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)
- Matthew 3:1–8
- Acts 2:37–39
- Romans 12:1–2

Observation questions

Read Matthew 3:1–8. What is the primary command John gives the people, and what images or actions does he use to call them to that change? [43:37]
Matthew 3:8 says, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” What kinds of visible actions or habits does the passage (and the sermon’s examples) point to as “fruit”? [48:11]
Read Acts 2:37–39. What sequence of steps does Peter give to the people who ask “What shall we do?” and how do those steps connect belief to community life? [50:36]
Read Romans 12:1–2. What does it mean to offer “your bodies as a living sacrifice,” and how is the renewing of the mind portrayed as the way that transformation begins? [01:12:38]

Interpretation questions (third-person, specific)

How would a person determine whether their sorrow over sin is “godly sorrow” that leads to change rather than worldly sorrow that only feels bad but leaves habits unchanged? [48:11]
How would someone explain the connection between expectation and preparation using Zechariah and Elizabeth’s story (Luke 1) as an example—why did expectation make them ready to act? [53:53]
How would one interpret Peter’s command “Repent and be baptized… and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” in terms of timing and urgency—should baptism follow repentance immediately, and why? [01:08:57]
How would a person apply “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” to a specific cultural pressure (for example, dating/marriage practices or materialism)? [01:15:54]

Application questions (personal and practical)

Identify one specific area of your life where you need to change direction this Advent (relationships, speech, money, time, sexual purity, priorities). What is the first concrete step you will take this week to begin that change? (Repentance begins with a change of mind and direction.) [38:48]
For the area you named above, what will “fruit in keeping with repentance” look like after 30 days? List 2–3 measurable actions (e.g., fewer hours on social media, weekly conversation with spouse, a budget plan, a regular witness conversation). [48:11]
What habits will you build to live in expectant hope for Christ’s return—practices that actually prepare you rather than merely decorate the season (prayer, Scripture reading, service, confession, evangelism)? Choose one habit and set a specific time and accountability plan. [52:33]
If someone genuinely believes and repents today, are they willing to follow the biblical step of baptism without delay? What might prevent immediate baptism, and how will they remove that obstacle now? [01:08:57]
What daily or weekly practice will you commit to that helps renew your mind with Scripture (reading plan, memorization, sermon review, small group study)? How will you measure whether your thinking is changing? [01:15:54]
Who in this group (or in your life) will you ask to help you live out repentance and bear fruit—someone to pray with, to confess to, or to hold you accountable? When will you contact that person this week? [01:02:38]

Use these questions to keep discussion focused, honest, and practical. Start and end your time together by reading one of the Bible passages aloud and asking for brief prayer requests that relate specifically to the application steps chosen.

Sermon Clips

You see, repentance is more than just confessing your sins. That's the starting point of repentance. But that's not repentance completely. Repentance is not only confessing the sin. It's then making the change that will produce the different results, the different activity in your life, the different words you're speaking, the different actions you're taking, that show that you've truly repented. It's not real until it's lived out, until it's acted upon. We live in a culture that's very much about saying you're sorry, and then everything's okay. Move on. Repentance is not just saying you're sorry. It's not just confessing that you did something wrong. It's actually changing how you're living your life. [00:48:20] (52 seconds) #RepentanceInAction

See, you could change without lining up with God. You could stop doing something without loving God just because you're having bad consequences from it. Doesn't mean you love God. Doesn't mean you're doing the right thing for the right reason. Repentance would be, not only am I changing, but I'm changing because I want to be pleasing to God and how I'm living my life. That's the repentance that's called for in Scripture. A lot of people make changes if they get caught doing something bad. I won't do that anymore. Why? Is it because you want to please God? You want to honor God with your life? That's repentance. [00:49:19] (38 seconds) #ChangeToPleaseGod

Apart from repentance, scripturally, there is no forgiveness. There has to be the act of repentance to get to the place of forgiveness. Because you're not really asking for forgiveness if you're not willing to change. You're asking for excuse, not for forgiveness. And God wants us to turn from our sin. Repent. Turn around. Get back on track. Get back in line with the teachings of Scripture. [00:50:56] (37 seconds) #RepentForForgiveness

Scripturally, the scripture is clear from beginning to end that that child growing in the womb is a human baby that God has a plan for in their lives. That ought to direct how we deal with things, how we treat the value of that baby in the womb. Friends, I'm convicted as a pastor, as your pastor, that we need to quit dishonoring babies in the womb. We need to treat them with the dignity and respect that the scripture says they ought to have as children. Real children in the eyes of God, planned by God for a purpose for God. [00:56:25] (48 seconds) #DignityForTheUnborn

See, here's the thing. God does love you just like you are. You can come to Him just like you are but He doesn't want to leave you where you are. His plan is to transform you into His image which is the process of repentance and change and obedience that comes along with making things right with the Lord. This is not to earn your salvation. Jesus did that on the cross. This is to honor God and fulfill your purpose and plan that God has for your life that you repent, that you get in line with the teachings of Scripture. [00:58:05] (38 seconds) #LovedAndTransformed

So as we get closer to Christmas this year we need to get prepared in all the right ways. Whether you've got your decorations up or not whether you've bought all the gifts or not that's not the most important part of the preparation is it? The most important part of the preparation is the repentance and the welcoming of the presence of the Messiah. [01:01:14] (20 seconds) #RepentantChristmas

but here's what you have to know about the heart of God like a surgeon who opens you up not just to expose the tumor but to get it out of there so that healing can take place right that's the important step the healing can't take place without the exposure and the removal that comes through repentance in the name of Jesus [01:05:54] (26 seconds) #HealingThroughRepentance

here's the thing you need to know about God's will as a loving father his will for you is good but here's something people miss God's will for you is also pleasing it's it's what it's what brings the greatest joy it protects you from the greatest harm it gives you the greatest opportunity for good it's a good pleasing and perfect will that word translated perfect means complete in every way for every part of your life when you follow God's will it's perfectly leading you to the good pleasing results that God wants you to enjoy while you're here and into eternity [01:17:52] (42 seconds) #GodsGoodPerfectWill

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