The Divine Reflection of Marriage for Advent (Colossians 3:17-19)

This Christmas sermon is built around Colossians 3:17–19, arguing that God has always pursued relationship with humanity—seen in creation, Israel’s history, the incarnation, and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit—and that He reveals Himself through both general revelation (nature) and special revelation (Scripture). The sermon then applies “walking worthy of the Lord” to the home, presenting marriage as a divine picture of Advent: the husband’s loving leadership reflects God the Father’s love for the Son, and the wife’s joyful submission reflects God the Son’s willing submission to the Father in coming to earth, taking on flesh, and going to the cross (with support from John’s Gospel and Philippians 2). In this way, a God-honoring marriage becomes a living testimony of God’s love, humility, and redeeming purpose—first to children and the church, and then to a watching world.