During Advent season, we often sing, "Come thou long-expected Jesus...". We put up the same decorations, sing the same carols, lay out the same creche; we imagine what it was like to welcome Jesus into the world on that silent night. So peaceful. So lovely.But what if everything was not as it seems? What if Jesus actually challenged everyone's expectations of what a Messiah would be like, how he should arrive, what he would do? What if he was born in a house with a family, in a noisy bustling town and not a quiet stable? What if he was more interested in those who were outside the religious and social establishment than those who were in it? What if looking closely at the scriptures overturns our expectations of Advent and Christmas in a way that changes us forever?

Alan P. F. Sell has produced a vast output of high quality research across many disciplines. From philosophy and theology to ethics and history his work has been received with acclaim for its clarity and incisiveness, as well as for its relevance to contemporary issues faced by the church. Throughout, Sell has maintained an unwavering commitment to Reformed faith and the unity of the church universal. His work continues to deliver challenges and inspire reflection for those who are interested in thinking deeply about issues of living under the cross of Christ in the world today. In this collection of essays in his honor, colleagues and friends offer reflections on his work and other related themes under the banner of the unity of the church in the contemporary world. The essays explore the foundations of unity, its historical context and some of the challenges of ecumenism today. Together they make a unique contribution to the theme which has occupied so much of Sell's attention over the years, and which continues to be of crucial importance to the life of the church.

This study examines some key approaches to ecumenical social ethics in the past century, as expressed in the thought of Walter Rauschenbusch, Reinhold Niebhur, and the World Council of Churches.The author argues that unless Christians are clear about the ways that theology and philosophy relate to one another and work themselves out in our practical commitments, we will lose the ability to discuss social ethics as individuals and churches, let alone reach effective arguments.