Embracing God's Presence: Love and Community This Advent
Devotional
Sermon Summary
Sermon Clips
Welcome home to Epford, where God is with us. [00:20:11] (4 seconds)
We begin our series this Advent, this first Advent Sunday called Welcome to Our World, where we explore different ways we prepare to welcome Christ once again, not just for this season and Christmas, but for every day of our lives. [00:20:35] (18 seconds)
I think of you all the time in my prayers. In fact, I was looking up several of these verses, and I just want to read some of them to you. This is not a one-off for Paul. The second thing he says is, night and day, I pray for you. He's not talking about my morning and evening prayers. He's talking about all the time. [00:44:56] (20 seconds)
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. That's the last verse. The letter he wrote to the Philippians. We always thank God for all of you, remembering you in our prayers. [00:45:16] (12 seconds)
Unstoppable prayers. How can we sustain that level of excitement? Because I can tell you, I haven't always expressed my love for Vicki in the way I expressed when I got on the phone with her after I thought she was gone, and then God had raised her from the dead. [00:45:27] (19 seconds)
Practicing the presence of God. And where is God? One of the things, Paul prays this blessing over the people in Thessalonica. He asks for two things. He says, first of all, may God remove all the barriers that exist between us. [00:47:51] (18 seconds)
One of the next part of Paul's blessing is that you will increase in love to overflowing. And then Paul says this very interesting thing. He writes this very interesting thing. Of course, he would have said it orally. Everything in this letter, except the letter itself, was transmitted orally. The composition, and the presentation to the churches in Thessalonica. [00:49:09] (25 seconds)
Paul says, I pray that God's love will increase to overflowing for you, for each other, and for everyone. Why would he make a distinction? [00:49:44] (10 seconds)
Recognizing the miracle around us. I remember one time I was reading about the miracle of birth, right? And, you know, biologically, it's this extraordinarily jaw-dropping miracle that any of us are here. I think I mentioned one Sunday about the staggering odds to win a million or a billion dollars in the lottery, which pale when compared to the staggering odds that we're here at all. [00:50:20] (32 seconds)
Come on over here and tell me a story. What does it mean to be open to God's presence? This is what we are exploring once again this Advent. We know that Christ has come. We don't have to count days, right? Christ is here. Advent reminds us to practice that communion that we are celebrating this Sunday. [00:52:01] (25 seconds)
May God remove every barrier that exists between you and Jesus Christ and everyone. Can you imagine the miracle? And may God increase your love to overflowing for each other and for everyone. Emmanuel. God is with us. [01:12:18] (22 seconds)
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We begin our series this Advent, this first Advent Sunday called Welcome to Our World, where we explore different ways we prepare to welcome Christ once again, not just for this season and Christmas, but for every day of our lives. [00:20:35] (18 seconds)
I think of you all the time in my prayers. In fact, I was looking up several of these verses, and I just want to read some of them to you. This is not a one-off for Paul. The second thing he says is, night and day, I pray for you. He's not talking about my morning and evening prayers. He's talking about all the time. [00:44:56] (20 seconds)
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. That's the last verse. The letter he wrote to the Philippians. We always thank God for all of you, remembering you in our prayers. [00:45:16] (12 seconds)
Unstoppable prayers. How can we sustain that level of excitement? Because I can tell you, I haven't always expressed my love for Vicki in the way I expressed when I got on the phone with her after I thought she was gone, and then God had raised her from the dead. [00:45:27] (19 seconds)
Practicing the presence of God. And where is God? One of the things, Paul prays this blessing over the people in Thessalonica. He asks for two things. He says, first of all, may God remove all the barriers that exist between us. [00:47:51] (18 seconds)
One of the next part of Paul's blessing is that you will increase in love to overflowing. And then Paul says this very interesting thing. He writes this very interesting thing. Of course, he would have said it orally. Everything in this letter, except the letter itself, was transmitted orally. The composition, and the presentation to the churches in Thessalonica. [00:49:09] (25 seconds)
Paul says, I pray that God's love will increase to overflowing for you, for each other, and for everyone. Why would he make a distinction? [00:49:44] (10 seconds)
Recognizing the miracle around us. I remember one time I was reading about the miracle of birth, right? And, you know, biologically, it's this extraordinarily jaw-dropping miracle that any of us are here. I think I mentioned one Sunday about the staggering odds to win a million or a billion dollars in the lottery, which pale when compared to the staggering odds that we're here at all. [00:50:20] (32 seconds)
Come on over here and tell me a story. What does it mean to be open to God's presence? This is what we are exploring once again this Advent. We know that Christ has come. We don't have to count days, right? Christ is here. Advent reminds us to practice that communion that we are celebrating this Sunday. [00:52:01] (25 seconds)
May God remove every barrier that exists between you and Jesus Christ and everyone. Can you imagine the miracle? And may God increase your love to overflowing for each other and for everyone. Emmanuel. God is with us. [01:12:18] (22 seconds)
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