Leading Through Advent: Leading with Anticipation

Have you given thought to how you will lead through the season of Advent? As a Christ centered leader, you have the opportunity to teach, lead, and model what it means to be a Jesus follower in uncertain and challenging times.

Because we are living in a time of conflicting values, when people are confused and looking for certainty, your Christ-focused leadership is needed. You already know that some people, to address the uncertainty in their lives, have become overconfident, brash, and insensitive, while others have withdrawn in anxiety and fear. As a Jesus follower, gifted to lead for this time, how will you lead in the midst of the challenges?

Advent Waiting

To help get a handle on the leadership needed, it might be helpful to begin with an understanding of Advent.

Advent began with watching and waiting for Jesus to return. Luke tells us in the Acts of the Apostles, that when Jesus ascended, the message to his followers was, “Galileans, why are you standing here, looking toward heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

Preparation and Waiting

As the centuries have passed and the church has grown weary of waiting, Advent has become more focused on preparing for the birth of Jesus with one exception, the first Sunday in Advent which focuses upon what is known as “the second coming” of Jesus.

With the focus being on the energy-draining activities of preparing for the birth of Jesus, we have little capacity to address the chaos and confusion around us with the promises of God. I know that sounds negative, but as a Christ-centered leader, you have been gifted and equipped to face the negative forces of evil and wickedness that are presenting themselves in our culture today. Be aware of the opportunities you have to teach, lead, and model God’s promises.

The Discipline of Waiting

Advent provides you with the time and space to practice the discipline of waiting in hope while you anticipate the fulfillment of God’s promises. You can model the discipline of waiting as you participate as a member of the community of faith.

In our culture, waiting is a challenge. Most of us are not very good at it. We live in a time when we want what we want when we want it. And we want it on our own terms, exactly the way we perceive it. We have not had training in waiting. Yet waiting is a necessary aspect of life and a valued characteristic of Christ-centered leaders.

Anticipating God’s Presence

Neither have we had training in anticipating God’s presence and power. So, how do you lead others in something you are not very good at yourself? Well, because most of us learn either by experience or by practice, take advantage of the Advent Season to practice waiting in anticipation.

To help focus, take a few minutes to read Luke 21:25-36. Reflect upon it from the context in which it was written, respond to it by thinking about the implications of its truth, and return at the end of the day to focus on how the scripture came to life for you. This practice of “Read, Reflect, Respond, and Return” will help you not only rethink the coming of Jesus but anticipate his coming. This practice can assist you in becoming the Christ-centered leader needed at this time.

Read Luke 21:25-36

²⁵ “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. ²⁶ People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ²⁷ Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. ²⁸ Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

²⁹ Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; ³⁰ as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. ³¹ So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. ³² Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. ³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

³⁴ “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, ³⁵ like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Reflect on Luke 21

Luke weaves together material from Mark and from Matthew to provide a sketch of how things will happen in the end. First, Jerusalem will be overrun by enemies. Then, all of nature will erupt and shake the world powers. And finally, the son of man will come in power and glory, bringing redemption for his people.

Because Jesus frequently talked about the destruction of Jerusalem, Luke puts Jesus’ teaching into context. Luke understands the destruction of Jerusalem to be a fulfillment of prophecy.  He incorporates the tragedy into the overarching purpose of God and affirms that God is the God of all history.  So, instead of predicting the future, he is proclaiming the work of God in the present.

Be Alert!

Then he describes cosmic upheaval, “…there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars.” It is an age of great natural disasters which will afflict all the world, even the Gentile world. The “roaring of the sea and the waves” suggests the chaos of all nature”. The power of the heavens will be shaken.

So, he is reminding his readers of the reality of God’s judgment and the certainty of Christ’s return. He offers hope and assurance to those who remain faithful and alert, encouraging them to live with for the fulfilling of God’s purposes.

In other words, when the earth seems to be moving under your feet and you are in the midst of chaos and confusion, be alert and anticipate the presence and power of God, your redemption is near. in the midst of all the chaos and confusion and tragedy and turmoil, be alert, your redemption is near. So, be who you are supposed to be. Stay alert and pray. God’s presence and power is on its way.

Anticipating Hope

Regarding the coming of Jesus, it matters where you start. If you start with the preconceived idea of the coming of Jesus, you get caught up in a desperate attempt to know the future. So, you miss the point of the hope Luke is providing.

The imagery is just that, imagery. It is used to help you get the point of the coming of Jesus. Luke uses imagery as a backdrop to understand God’s promise of hope. Despite all signs to the contrary, all the hurt, chaos, wars, separation, and uncertainty, there is hope. Hope centered in the living God you know in and through Jesus. Hope that comes in the anticipation of the presence and power of God.

God’s Hope

This hope is not a domesticated political agenda or some form of a doctrine of progress. God does not provide happy endings for the futures we are engineering. God provides a future beyond our knowledge and control.

But even with this caution against wanting to know too much, we are still left with too little. We still have the question of how to hope in the meantime when nothing ever happens. And that is why the writer of Luke uses the story of the fig tree.  

Power to Be Witnesses to God’s Work

The fig tree blossoms in late spring, so that when its leaves appear, summer must be very near. You can see for yourself when God is near.

With that in mind, the good news in Luke is “Jesus not only possessed the Holy Spirit but promised the Holy Spirit to his followers.” What does the coming of Jesus in uncertain times mean within the context of Luke’s good news”

You have received power to be a witness to God’s work of salvation in the world. Whether it be with those who are theologically and religiously misguided (Acts 9:1-22), those who were marginalized because of race, nationality, or condition (Acts 8:14-39), or those who were culturally and religiously different (Acts 10:1-48), Luke has woven into the fabric of his gospel the possibility that every encounter is a possibility of the promise of God’s future. Again, in whatever situation or circumstance, you can anticipate the presence and power of God.

Those who trust the promise are able to see signs of its coming (fig tree). Those who have received the power of the Holy Spirit anticipate that something is about to happen, and it is happening now.

Keep Alert & Stay Faithful

So, Luke says, “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down…” and “be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place…”

The anticipation of the coming of Jesus should keep you alert, and faithful to being who God has created you to be.

Respond to Luke 21

Advent provides the opportunity to become the leader you are created to be. So, give yourself the space to grow in faith as you keep watch for Jesus. Be aware of how you model waiting in the difficult moments of your life. Take notice of how you teach others how to respond to the power of the Holy Spirit when they face barriers of race, nationality, gender and disagreements.

Throughout this day, be aware of how you respond to the people who are theologically and religiously misguided. Think about how you will engage in conversations of hope. Take notice of how you respond to people who are racially marginalized. Think about how you will lead with courage. Be aware of how you respond to people who are culturally and religiously different. Think about how you might model developing relationships

It is as you wait, trusting God’s leading, that you experience the grace to step out in faith and to lead with courageous action. As you learn to wait on God, God provides clear direction. It is at that point that you have the courage to act when the time is right. Christ-centered leadership is about knowing when to wait and when to act. It is about responding to God’s promise in Jesus that allows you to anticipate his presence and power in every situation and circumstance.

Return

Give God thanks for the people you encountered today. Where did you anticipate God entering your life with love, hope, and peace? How did you respond in tough situations? How did you care for people around you? How did you allow others to care for you? What did you do to allow God’s love to flow through you to the people around you today? With whom do you need to celebrate the hope you have experienced? How will you practice waiting and anticipating tomorrow? Ask God to give you the faith to be the leader God has created you to be. 

Click to read a related blog, “Leading Through Advent: Rethinking the Coming of Jesus” based on the good news according to Mark.