Into the Forge

Overview of Into the Forge

Waiting is uncomfortable. But it is a tool by which God refines and shapes us. The waiting of Advent is the forge which prepares us for the coming of Jesus, both in our remembrance of his coming in Bethlehem and for his coming again in glory. This sermon series focuses on the New Testament readings from the lectionary, all of which help us understand the significance of waiting on Jesus.

Each guide in this series includes:

• AIM exegetical commentary on the text,

• insightful sermon illustrations,

• inspiring quotes,

• discussion questions, and

• liturgical resources on themes in the passage.

Created for Advent 2024. Texts are for RCL Year C and are suitable for non-lectionary preachers at any time.

TPW puts you in the driver's seat. We want you to approach God's Word, prayerfully listen to the Holy Spirit, and create a message for your congregation. We don’t offer ready-made sermons. Instead, we provide resources and inspiration to help you craft your own sermons and services.

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Want to preview the series? The first Sunday of Advent guide is free to view!

Series Introduction

Stuart Strachan Jr. and Austin D. Hill

Waiting for Jesus

At the heart of Advent is the concept of waiting. We wait, not merely to commemorate Christ’s birth, but also his return, when he will, in the words of the creeds, “judge the living and the dead.” We wait for the sake of a future greater than anything in this present world. And while in Advent, we generally focus on that future, we could easily miss how God forms us now when we wait faithfully and steadfastly.

We're Not Good at Waiting Anymore

How often do we see waiting as a nuisance or frustration? If we don't get what we want with the click of a button, watch how quickly we get irritated. As technology speeds up life, we are rarely left simply with the experience of waiting. We become intolerant of boredom. Here’s a little experiment—the next time you find yourself in a line, check to see how many people are on their phones (count yourself if you have to put down your phone to check). 

A deeper reality is at work. Our desperate avoidance of waiting hints at a spiritual disease in our world. If we aren't good at waiting, what will we do when there is no computer code to save us? When we have to wait on cancer treatment, a long-term job search after a layoff, or rebuilding a relationship after a betrayal, what will we do?

We need strength that technology cannot give us. Periods of waiting are, in fact, a gift that God gives us to draw us closer to him, work in us and bind us more closely to our Comforter.

Pastor Ben Patterson puts it this way in Waiting (1990),

At least as important as the things we wait for is the work God wants to do in us as we wait… Picture a blazing hot forge and a piece of gold thrust into it to be heated until all that is impure and false is burnt out. As it is heated, it is also softened and shaped by the metalworker. Our faith is the gold; our suffering is the fire. The forge is the waiting: it is the tension and longing and, at times, anguish of waiting for God to keep his promises.

Enter the Forge this Advent

In this Advent season, we want your congregations to enter the forge with us.

Let's join together in exploring God's deep, personal work within us as we learn how to wait from the New Testament readings for Advent. The earliest Church also needed help waiting as they endured challenging times of persecution, uncertainty, and conflict. These epistles chart a course we can follow, too. Let's learn better how to trust our Lord so that, in the end, we will be ready for his return, whether on earth or in heaven.

What is AIM Commentary?

AIM stands for Ancient context, the text through the lens of Jesus (Ἰησοῦς), and our Modern application.

Understanding the Ancient or original context of the passage is necessary to inform and guide our interpretation. We also believe along with the Reformers that the interpretation of the Ancient context of the Hebrew scripture for the church necessarily flows through its Lord, Jesus Christ. Furthermore, we affirm that the role of the preacher to bring the congregation from the Ancient context through Christ and to the Modern context, making the message real in our hearts and lives.