Sculley Family

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Multimedia Advent Devotional – Week 2-1, Sunday

December 6, 2025

2025:

Week 2, Sunday:

  • Scripture: Romans 15:4-13 (Michael Sculley)
  • Reflection (Karen Sculley)
  • Prayer (Kyle Inman)
  • Artwork: “The Tree of Jesse” (Macclesfield Psalter)
  • Music: “With One Voice” (New Wine) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMUCyPBmyus

Reflection on Romans 15:4-13 – “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, ‘Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name’; and again he says, ‘Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people’; and again, ‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him’; and again Isaiah says, ‘The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.’ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Hope. It seems like with each passing day, we are confronted with a plethora of miscellaneous reasons outside us, media reports around us, or mental responses inside us that all conspire to remind us that we. need. hope. Today’s passage assures us: God is the God of hope. God creates hope. God overflows with hope. God is our source of hope, in Jesus Christ. Today’s Scripture passage is bracketed by two precious promises that are desires flowing from God’s heart: God desire that we live in and abound in hope!

The first promise guides us, in a very practical way, as to how we can receive God’s hope: “by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures.” We receive genuine hope by steadfastness, by endurance. This is not about pretending that life isn’t hard or just stubbornly gritting our teeth on our own. A little bit of denial and a lot of grit can be good things! The kind of steadfastness we’re talking about here is mostly about abiding in Christ. In Christ, God enables us to endure as we face life’s challenges. We also receive genuine hope by the encouragement, the solace, of the scriptures. This is not about legalistically reading the Bible or woodenly memorizing verses. Picture how we might wrap a soft blanket around ourselves or a loved one in need of warmth or comfort. The kind of encouragement we’re talking about here is mostly about allowing ourselves to be enfolded in God’s intimate presence and love, so that we can hear God’s tender voice.

And the second promise confirms that God fills us with joy and peace in believing, so that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we may abound in hope! To hope with the kind of hope that God supplies is not wringing our hands outside of an operating room waiting to see if the surgery was successful. It is not going into an exam without adequate preparation. Genuine hope is a joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation! Today is the day of salvation! In Jesus Christ, eternal life begins right here, right now! Genuine hope comes as we place our trust in the Messiah, the Lord of lords, the King of kings – Jesus – who is our source of hope and the lover of our souls!

God desires that we would live in and abound in hope. Precious sisters and brothers in Christ, always remember that genuine hope grows to give us both joy and confidence. Hebrews 13:5-6 reminds us that Jesus “has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?’”

2024:

Week 2, Sunday:
• Scripture: Philippians 1:3-6, 8-11 (Ally Vick)
• Reflection (Dawn Roberson)
• Prayer (Beth Parker)
• Artwork: “The Nativity in the Basilica of San Francesco, Assisi (detail)” (Giotto)
• Music: “Every Time I Think of You (Philippians 1)” (Project of Love) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZZV25EhApI

2023:

Week 2, Sunday:

  • Scripture – Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 (Michael Sculley)
  • Reflection (Jim Roberson)
  • Prayer (Beth Parker)
  • Artwork: “Adoration of the Shepherds” (Titian)
  • Music: “Comfort My People” (Ian Callanan) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSf9avmG4uM

2022:

Week 2, Sunday:

  • Scripture: Luke 1:46b-55 (Karen Sculley)
  • Reflection (Patricia Dotson)
  • Prayer (Paul Sculley)
  • Artwork: “Nativity scene at Parliament House” (Brisbane, Australia)
  • Music: “Who Do You Say That I Am?” (Karen Sculley) – https://youtu.be/Y-kHd496rCg

Each short Multimedia Advent Devotional is an invitation to set aside time each day during a typically busy season preparing for Christmas to rejoice in the coming of our Savior, Christ Jesus, and to respond to God’s invitation to us to join with Him in what He’s doing today.

Advent is a season of the liturgical year observed in most Christian denominations as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Christ at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming. Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year in Western Christianity and is part of the wider Christmas and holiday season. Advent is a period in which we are invited to set aside time each day during a typically busy season preparing for Christmas to rejoice in the coming of our Savior, Christ Jesus, and to respond to God’s invitation to us to join with Him in what He’s doing today.

This collaboration is brought to you by Liberty Vineyard Church

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