Embracing God's Mystery: Community, Love, and Hope

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus, the Word, Brings Light and Life

From the very beginning, Jesus—the Word—was with God and was God, the source of all creation and the light that shines in the darkness, a light that darkness cannot overcome. This truth means that no matter how confusing or unfinished life feels, there is a divine presence that brings meaning, hope, and illumination to every moment. The Word is not distant or abstract, but intimately involved in the world, offering life and light to all people, even in the messiest and most uncertain times. When you feel lost or overwhelmed, remember that the light of Christ is present, shining into every shadow, and that nothing can extinguish it. [35:48]

John 1:1-5 (ESV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Reflection: Where in your life do you most need to let the light of Christ shine into a place of darkness or confusion today?

Day 2: Jesus Is the Alpha and the Omega

Jesus declares Himself the Alpha and the Omega—the first and the last, the beginning and the end—affirming His unity with God and His presence at every point in time. This means that God is not bound by beginnings or endings as we know them; God holds the first breath and the last heartbeat, and everything in between. In a world where everything seems to have a start and a finish, it is comforting and awe-inspiring to know that God’s love and presence are eternal, unchanging, and all-encompassing. You are held by the One who was, who is, and who will be, no matter what season of life you are in. [40:55]

Revelation 22:13 (ESV)
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

Reflection: How does knowing that Jesus is present at both the beginning and the end of your story change the way you face uncertainty or transitions today?

Day 3: God’s Nearness in Our Humanity

God is not a distant deity but became flesh in Jesus, who knows what it means to be human—who eats, laughs, cries, and loves alongside us. In the hardest and most joyful moments, God is with us every day, every second, every moment, offering comfort, companionship, and understanding. When life feels messy or unfinished, you are not alone; God’s presence is real and tangible, meeting you in your need and carrying you through. Bring your struggles and hopes into the light, trusting that Jesus, who made His home among us, is with you in every circumstance. [50:33]

John 1:14 (ESV)
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Reflection: In what specific situation today do you need to remember that Jesus is with you, fully understanding your humanity and walking beside you?

Day 4: The Comfort of God’s Eternal Presence

There is deep comfort in knowing that God, who holds the beginning and the end, is present in every season of life—including times of loss, transition, and uncertainty. God was there at your first breath, is with you in every joy and sorrow, and will be there at your last breath, holding you gently. This eternal presence means you are never alone, and that God’s love remains unchanged and unchanging, holding all things together even when the world feels unstable. Rest in the assurance that the God who holds the stars also holds you, now and forever. [53:54]

Isaiah 44:6 (ESV)
Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: "I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god."

Reflection: When you consider God’s presence at every stage of your life, how might that bring you comfort or courage in facing a current challenge or loss?

Day 5: Living as the Body of Christ in Community

The enduring strength of the church is found not just in its leaders, but in the people who love, support, and care for one another through every season. Even when pastors come and go, it is the community that sustains, encourages, and embodies Christ’s love—reaching out in times of isolation, illness, or need. You are invited to both give and receive this love, to strengthen others and be strengthened, so that together you might truly be the body of Christ, sharing peace and hope in a world that longs for it. [30:11]

Romans 12:4-5 (ESV)
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Reflection: Who in your church community could you reach out to today—either to offer support or to ask for help—so that together you might more fully embody the love of Christ?

Sermon Summary

Growing up as a preacher’s kid, church was woven into the fabric of daily life—music, service, and community. That foundation shaped a lifelong journey of faith, even through seasons of absence and return. When my family moved to Arlington Heights, we sought a church home for our son, and quickly became immersed in the life of this congregation. Over the years, through joys and hardships, the steadfast love and support of this church family has been a source of deep gratitude, especially during times of isolation and loss. The truth remains: while pastors may come and go, it is the people—the body of Christ—who sustain the church and embody God’s love.

Today, we turn our attention to the stained glass windows that frame our worship each week, often overlooked but rich with meaning. The symbols depicted—Alpha and Omega, and the Chi-Rho—are among the earliest Christian signs, pointing to the eternal and mysterious nature of God. Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, echo the words of Jesus in Revelation: “I am the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” This is not a new idea; centuries before, the prophets declared God as the one who holds all of time, from the first breath to the last heartbeat.

In our modern world, we often prioritize logic and reason, explaining away mystery with science. Yet, the vastness of God stretches beyond our imagination—God exists outside of time, without beginning or end. The early church wrestled with this mystery, ultimately affirming in the Nicene Creed that Jesus is not merely a representative of God, but shares God’s very essence: “God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God.” The Word, present at the dawn of creation, became flesh and made a home among us. Jesus is both fully God and fully human, entering into our messiness, our unfinished stories, and our pain.

This paradox—God’s enormity and nearness—offers comfort and hope, especially in times of uncertainty or grief. Whether facing the end of a relationship, the loss of a loved one, or the turbulence of the world, we are held by the One who was there at the beginning and will remain at the end. Each time we gather, the colored glass reminds us: we worship the Christ who holds all things together in infinite love, now and forever.

Key Takeaways

1. The sustaining power of Christian community is not found in leadership alone, but in the faithful presence and love of its people. Through seasons of change, absence, and return, it is the body of Christ that embodies God’s enduring care, offering support and welcome in both ordinary and difficult times. This is a living witness to God’s faithfulness in our midst. [30:11]
2. The ancient symbols of our faith—like Alpha and Omega and the Chi-Rho—invite us to contemplate the mystery and eternity of God. They are not just relics for scholars, but living language for the church, helping us hold together what we cannot fully explain: that God is both beyond time and intimately present with us. Embracing these mysteries deepens our faith and humility. [38:21]
3. The Nicene Creed’s affirmation that Jesus is “of one being with the Father” is not a mere theological detail, but a profound truth that grounds our hope. Jesus is not a distant intermediary, but God in the flesh—fully divine and fully human—who enters into our suffering, our questions, and our unfinished stories. This unity assures us that God’s love is not abstract, but personal and present. [45:39]
4. In moments of pain, uncertainty, or transition, the paradox of God’s enormity and nearness becomes especially vital. The God who holds the stars also holds each of us, from our first breath to our last. This truth is not meant to foster complacency, but to offer a place of rest and courage as we face the unknown, trusting that we are never alone. [53:54]
5. The call to proclaim good news is not just about words, but about embodying freedom, justice, and love in a world marked by oppression and brokenness. Where we have agency, we are invited to act; where we are powerless, we are called to trust. In all things, we are participants in God’s ongoing work to bring light into darkness and to make the world right again. [32:58]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[28:16] - Reflections on Growing Up in Church
[28:53] - Finding Community in a New Place
[29:34] - The Power of Welcome and Return
[30:11] - The People Who Sustain the Church
[31:40] - Prayers for Peace in a Troubled World
[32:19] - Our Agency and Powerlessness
[32:58] - Proclaiming Good News and Justice
[35:48] - Scripture Reading: John 1:1-5
[37:04] - Stained Glass Windows: Symbols and Meaning
[38:21] - The Importance of Theology and Mystery
[39:39] - The Chi-Rho: Christ’s Ancient Symbol
[40:55] - Alpha and Omega: God’s Eternity
[43:31] - Early Church Debates and the Nicene Creed
[46:58] - The Word Became Flesh
[48:26] - God’s Nearness in Our Messiness
[49:50] - A Child’s Reminder: God Is With Us
[51:57] - Holding the Paradox: God’s Enormity and Nearness
[53:54] - Comfort at the End of Life
[55:44] - Infinite Love: The God Who Holds Us
[56:27] - Offering and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 1:1-5 (NIV) — In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Observation Questions

According to John 1:1-5, what does it mean that “the Word was with God, and the Word was God”? How does this passage describe the relationship between Jesus and God?
The sermon mentioned ancient Christian symbols like Alpha and Omega and the Chi-Rho. What do these symbols represent, and where do they appear in the church? [[39:04]]
In the sermon, what examples were given of how the church community supported people during times of isolation or hardship? [[30:11]]
What does the Nicene Creed affirm about Jesus, and why was this important to the early church? [[45:39]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think John begins his Gospel by calling Jesus “the Word” and connecting him to the very beginning of creation? What does this say about who Jesus is?
The sermon talked about the mystery and eternity of God, and how we often try to explain things with logic and science. Why is it important for faith to leave room for mystery? [[42:07]]
The Nicene Creed says Jesus is “of one being with the Father.” How does this truth affect the way Christians understand God’s love and presence in their lives? [[45:39]]
The sermon described God as both enormous (holding all of time) and near (present in our pain). How can holding this paradox bring comfort during times of grief or uncertainty? [[53:54]]

Application Questions

The sermon emphasized that it’s the people—the body of Christ—who sustain the church, not just the pastors. In what ways have you experienced the support or welcome of a church community? How can you be that support for someone else this week? [[30:11]]
The stained glass windows and their symbols are meant to remind us of God’s mystery and eternity. Is there a symbol, song, or tradition in church that helps you connect with God’s mystery? How might you pay more attention to these reminders? [[39:04]]
The Nicene Creed’s affirmation that Jesus is fully God and fully human means God enters into our messiness and pain. Is there an area of your life right now where you need to invite Jesus in, trusting that he understands and cares? [[48:26]]
The sermon shared a story about a child reminding us that “God is with us every day, every second, every moment.” When have you most needed to remember that God is with you? How can you remind yourself of this truth in the coming week? [[49:50]]
In moments of pain, uncertainty, or transition, the sermon encouraged us to rest in the truth that God holds us from our first breath to our last. Is there a specific situation where you need to trust God’s care right now? What would it look like to rest in that truth? [[53:54]]
The call to proclaim good news is not just about words, but about embodying freedom, justice, and love. Where do you see opportunities in your daily life to act for justice or show love to someone who is hurting or excluded? [[32:58]]
The sermon mentioned that where we have agency, we are invited to act, and where we are powerless, we are called to trust. Is there a situation in your life where you need to discern between acting and trusting? How can you pray for wisdom in that area? [[34:15]]

Sermon Clips

These deep ideas matter the way that we shape our faith matters and so we're going to dig into this okay so as we do this I got four I have four thoughts for you first theology matters it helps us to know who God is the symbols for our church not just scholars so I'm going to [00:38:07]

these symbols are among the earliest Christian signs of faith and they point to something that's hard to put into words which is the eternal nature of God the mysterious nature of God and the nature of who God is in Jesus Christ so first we're going to talk about the kro [00:39:20]

the next symbol alpha and omega those are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet they remind us the truth from Revelations where Jesus says "I am the alpha and the omega the first and the last the beginning and the end." You guys know that scripture right yes okay but this is not actually a new idea [00:40:41]

they were speaking about the one who holds the beginning and the end who holds the first breath of each human and the last heartbeat of each person [00:41:18]

and in some ways I think it can be difficult for us to grasp that enormity of God in ancient culture everything from a rainstorm to a drought from a blessing to a hardship it was understood to come from God's hand but today we [00:41:37]

but we prioritize logic and reason over mystery so it stretches the limits of our imagination to think about how God can exist beyond time itself think about that god exists beyond time [00:42:05]

beginning and an end right uh people have a beginning and an end relationships have a beginning and an end stories even the stars in the sky but God does not so when Jesus says in the book of [00:42:39]

revelation I am the alpha and the omega he is claiming unity with God's very being not merely representing God not a diminigod if you even look at Greek culture but sharing God's essence the Nyian [00:42:58]

creed names this truth homusius so homo meaning same and usius meaning of this um substance so affirming that Jesus is not lesser than the creator but one with the father in the early church there were actually [00:43:22]

he was really popular charismatic and he was teaching that Jesus was more than human but something less than God he said um basically that God originally lived alone and had no son and then he [00:44:00]

and they produced what is now called the Nyian creed anybody know that creed anybody memorize it like in confirmation or something yeah yeah this is um in the United Methodist Church we oftentimes uh at least when I was growing up and I think more traditionally we said the apostles creed but the Nyian creed was [00:45:25]

they read passages like Revelation i am the first and the last and even the John passage today where we heard in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God in Greek word [00:46:44]

and Jesus the logos was there too so this eternal and unknowable God did not stay distant and unreachable a few verses later in 14 we hear the word became flesh and made his home among us [00:47:24]

this word is not only spoken at the beginning of time but becomes God in the flesh a God that you can touch a God who eats with you and cries with you and laughs with you and loves you that is Jesus the Christ [00:47:53]

the God who holds the stars also holds you in good times and in unsettling times so each week as you look up at this colored glass remember we worship Jesus the Christ [00:55:24]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What do stained glass windows reveal about God's nature?

How does the concept of Jesus as Logos deepen faith?

In what ways does God's eternity provide comfort during life's uncertainties?