Between the Advents: The Not Yet Kingdom (Chris Zauner)

Key takeaways

The Advent season is a time for both remembrance and formation—it's about living in the reality of God's Kingdom.
Experiencing tension and longing during the Advent season is a normal part of the Christian journey, signifying a collective human yearning for God's complete restoration.
Hope is not a denial of suffering but a profound trust in God's promises amid pain.
Waiting actively involves grieving honestly, hoping stubbornly, and living faithfully.
The assurance of Christ’s return compels us to live out His teachings and serve others right now.

Summary

Living Between the Advents

Pastor Chris introduces the theme of 'Advent' by explaining the significance of living between Christ's first coming and His promised return. He emphasizes that the advent season is more than a time for remembrance; it's a period of formation, where believers are called to embody the principles of the coming Kingdom.

Acknowledging the Tension

A central question raised is why, despite Christ's coming bringing a new kind of kingdom, does the world feel so broken? Pastor Chris shares personal anecdotes of grief and unanswered prayers, highlighting the common struggle many face during the Advent season. He encourages the congregation that feeling this tension is not a sign of weak faith, but rather an indication of a deep longing for God's fulfilled promises.

Hope Amidst Brokenness

The message pivots to the concept of hope—the idea that despite current pain and suffering, hope exists because of God's promises. Pastor Chris references Romans 8:18-25, discussing the collective groaning of creation, which reflects our shared human experience of longing for restoration. The idea presented is that our acknowledgment of suffering can be transformative, heralding a more profound remembrance of Christ's kingship.

Active Waiting: Grieving, Hoping, and Living Differently

Pastor Chris outlines three ways to respond while waiting for God's fulfillment: wait honestly by bringing our vulnerabilities to God, wait expectantly by having faith in God's promises, and wait faithfully by living actively in anticipation of His kingdom. He stresses the importance of grieving honestly, hoping stubbornly, and living in a way that reflects the reality of Christ’s teachings.

The Future Kingdom and Our Role

In closing, Pastor Chris speaks about the certainty of the future when Christ returns, assuring that the advent of Jesus as a baby guarantees His return as a king. He calls on the listeners to live with expectation and to serve others generously, embodying hope and transformation already present in their lives, as they await the fullness of God's Kingdom.

Show notes

What does it mean to live between the two Advents of Christ? In week two of our Advent series Between the Advents, Pastor Chris Zauner delivers a powerful and deeply honest message titled "The Not Yet Kingdom." This sermon explores the tension of life between Christ’s first coming in humility and His promised return in glory.

Pastor Chris leads us through Romans 8:18–25, revealing how even in the midst of suffering, grief, and unanswered prayers, we are not without hope. We live in the "already but not yet" reality of God's kingdom—where Jesus has inaugurated something new, but the full restoration is still to come.

This message doesn't shy away from the difficult questions many of us carry during the Advent season:

If Christ has already come, why does the world still feel so broken?

Pastor Chris reminds us that this ache, this groaning we feel, is not a failure of faith, but evidence that we were made for more—a longing for the completed kingdom to come.

We are invited to wait honestly, expectantly, and faithfully—grieving honestly, hoping stubbornly, and living differently in light of the promise that Jesus will return. Advent is not merely a season of memory but one of formation. We are shaped by hope, rooted in the past, and propelled toward a glorious future.

If you're navigating a season of pain, loss, or longing, this message is for you. It's a call to bring your full, unfiltered heart to God and to anchor your hope in the promise of restoration, renewal, and resurrection through Jesus.

Join us as we continue to live between the manger and the return of the King—carrying a light into darkness that will not be extinguished.

Scripture Focus:

Romans 8:18–25

Revelation 21

Series: Between the Advents

Message Title: The Not Yet Kingdom

Speaker: Pastor Chris Zauner

Location: Grace City Church