Welcome to the Paul Tripp podcast, where pastor and best-selling author Dr. Paul David Tripp connects the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life.

In today's episode, we'll start a four-part sermon series throughout the month of December focusing on Advent.

Paul's first sermon is preached from the book of Genesis where the need for Advent begins.

Here's Paul.

Well, it just doesn't work to start in the middle of a story. You can't crack open a novel and

begin reading in the middle and make any sense of what's happening.

There will be conversations that make no sense to you.

There will be things that people are choosing to do that confuse you completely.

You can't walk into the middle of a movie and make sense out of what is happening.

Some of you have tried, but it doesn't work.

You can't jump into the middle of a conversation and actually say things that are appropriate without knowing where that

conversation has already been. You just can't begin in the middle of a story. And if you start in the Christmas season with the baby in

Bethlehem, you're not starting at the beginning of the story. You're actually starting at the

middle of the story. And there will be things that don't make any sense.

Why the celebratory songs of the angels?

Why the fearful anticipation of the shepherds?

Why the inquisitive journey of the kings?

Why the political panic of Herod?

Why, why, why? You really have to begin in the roots of the story, and that's really what I want to do with you over the next few Sundays.

I want to say this one thing for you this morning and have you consider it, That that story of that baby in the manger is actually

rooted in grief in the heart of God. And if you don't understand that grief in the heart of God,

you won't understand the glory of the story of that baby in a manger.

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