It’s easy to see Advent as a break from the real “stuff” of church. We are going to drink hot cocoa, see Santa, look at the lights, and talk about baby Jesus. Advent becomes a fun thing we do for the kids. But in reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Advent isn’t some novel break from real life. It is the celebration of divine invasion. It is the actualization of thousands of years of hope and expectations. And it is the epicenter of the Kingdom’s inauguration, the gospel, the church, and even our mission in the world. Advent isn’t some trite nicety, it is the continuous declaration that the King is here and that His kingdom is near.