Embracing the Living God This Advent Season

 

Summary

As we gather on this fourth Sunday of Advent, we celebrate the anticipation of Christ's birth and the joy of welcoming new life into our community through the baptism of little Raelynn Meason. This season of Advent is a time of preparation, a time to open our hearts to the holy mystery of Christmas, where God is born among us. We light the Advent candles as symbols of Christ's love, reminding us of the prophets' words that lead us to salvation.

Today, we reflect on the incarnation, the profound truth that God became fully human in Jesus Christ. This is not just a theological concept but a living reality that God chose to dwell among us, experiencing life as we do. The early church wrestled with understanding Jesus as both fully human and fully divine, a mystery that we embrace as the incarnation. This truth is beautifully captured in the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus is called Emmanuel, meaning "God with us."

In our exploration of the book of Revelation, we are reminded of the bold imagery used by John to encourage the early churches. Despite the persecution and challenges they faced, John's visions were meant to guide them back to faithful living. The vision of a new heaven and a new earth, where God dwells among mortals, is a powerful reminder that God is the living one, present with us in every moment of our lives.

As we consider what it means to be fully alive, we are invited to see God in the things that bring us joy and fulfillment. Whether it's the beauty of nature, the joy of music, or the love of family, these experiences reflect the living God who delights in life. Heaven is not a distant, solitary place but a vibrant, joyful union with God, filled with the things that make us feel truly alive.

This Advent, let us seek the living God, not confined to the pages of the Bible or the walls of the church, but present in every aspect of our lives. God is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end, and God is with us, loving us more deeply than we can imagine.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Incarnation as a Living Reality: The incarnation is the profound truth that God became fully human in Jesus Christ, experiencing life as we do. This mystery invites us to embrace the reality of God with us, not as a distant deity but as a living presence in our daily lives. [28:08]

2. Revelation's Bold Imagery: The book of Revelation uses symbolic language to guide early Christians through persecution and challenges. This imagery encourages us to remain faithful and to see God's presence in our lives, even amidst trials. [29:13]

3. Being Fully Alive: To be fully alive is to experience the joy and beauty of life, reflecting the living God who delights in creation. Whether through nature, music, or relationships, these experiences remind us of God's vibrant presence. [33:12]

4. Heaven as a Joyful Union with God: Heaven is not a solitary, quiet place but a joyful union with God, filled with the things that make us feel alive. It challenges us to see God as a living, loving presence who delights in the same things we do. [38:54]

5. Seeking the Living God: This Advent, we are called to seek the living God, present in every aspect of our lives. God is not confined to the Bible or the church but is with us, loving us deeply and inviting us into a vibrant relationship. [41:57]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [12:10] - Advent Celebration and Baptism
- [13:39] - The Story of Mary and Joseph
- [17:52] - Journey to Bethlehem
- [18:20] - Jesus' Birth in the Stable
- [19:16] - God's Love for Jesus
- [20:37] - Children's Prayer
- [23:27] - Advent Reflections
- [28:08] - The Incarnation
- [29:13] - Understanding Revelation
- [30:40] - Symbolic Language in Revelation
- [32:28] - God Among Mortals
- [33:12] - Feeling Fully Alive
- [36:26] - Heaven as a Celebration
- [41:57] - Seeking the Living God

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 1:23 - "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel" (which means, God with us).
2. Revelation 21:1-3 - "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth... And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.'"

#### Observation Questions
1. What does the name "Emmanuel" signify about Jesus' role and presence in our lives? [28:08]
2. How does the book of Revelation use symbolic language to convey messages to the early churches? [29:13]
3. What are some examples given in the sermon of experiences that make us feel fully alive? [33:12]
4. How is heaven described in the sermon, and what does this suggest about our relationship with God? [38:54]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of the incarnation challenge our understanding of God's presence in our daily lives? [28:08]
2. In what ways does the imagery in Revelation encourage believers to remain faithful during trials? [29:13]
3. How might the idea of being "fully alive" influence our perception of God's presence in everyday experiences? [33:12]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the nature of heaven and its connection to our earthly joys and relationships? [38:54]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt God's presence in a mundane or unexpected moment. How did that experience change your perspective on God's involvement in your life? [41:57]
2. Consider the symbolic language used in Revelation. How can you apply this understanding to discern God's messages in your current life challenges? [29:13]
3. Identify an activity or experience that makes you feel fully alive. How can you incorporate this into your spiritual practice to deepen your connection with God? [33:12]
4. How does the idea of heaven as a joyful union with God challenge your current understanding of the afterlife? What changes might you make in your life to align with this vision? [38:54]
5. During this Advent season, what steps can you take to seek the living God in your daily routine, beyond traditional religious practices? [41:57]
6. Think about a relationship in your life that reflects God's love and presence. How can you nurture this relationship to further experience God's living presence? [36:26]
7. How can you actively participate in your community to reflect the living God, as described in the sermon, in your interactions with others? [41:57]

Devotional

Day 1: God With Us in Every Moment
The incarnation is the profound truth that God became fully human in Jesus Christ, experiencing life as we do. This mystery invites us to embrace the reality of God with us, not as a distant deity but as a living presence in our daily lives. The incarnation is not merely a theological concept but a living reality that transforms how we perceive God's involvement in our lives. By becoming human, God chose to dwell among us, sharing in our joys and sorrows, and offering us a tangible expression of divine love. This truth is beautifully captured in the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus is called Emmanuel, meaning "God with us." [28:08]

Isaiah 7:14 (ESV): "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

Reflection: In what ways can you recognize and invite God's presence into your daily routine today, acknowledging Him as Emmanuel, "God with us"?


Day 2: Faithfulness Amidst Trials
The book of Revelation uses symbolic language to guide early Christians through persecution and challenges. This imagery encourages us to remain faithful and to see God's presence in our lives, even amidst trials. John's visions were meant to guide the early churches back to faithful living, reminding them that despite the persecution and challenges they faced, God was with them. The vision of a new heaven and a new earth, where God dwells among mortals, serves as a powerful reminder that God is the living one, present with us in every moment of our lives. [29:13]

Revelation 21:3-4 (ESV): "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.'"

Reflection: How can you remain faithful and aware of God's presence in a specific challenge you are currently facing?


Day 3: Experiencing the Joy of Life
To be fully alive is to experience the joy and beauty of life, reflecting the living God who delights in creation. Whether through nature, music, or relationships, these experiences remind us of God's vibrant presence. The sermon invites us to see God in the things that bring us joy and fulfillment, recognizing that these experiences are reflections of the living God who delights in life. Heaven is not a distant, solitary place but a vibrant, joyful union with God, filled with the things that make us feel truly alive. [33:12]

Psalm 16:11 (ESV): "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Reflection: What is one activity or experience that brings you joy and makes you feel fully alive? How can you intentionally invite God into that experience today?


Day 4: Heaven as a Celebration of Life
Heaven is not a solitary, quiet place but a joyful union with God, filled with the things that make us feel alive. It challenges us to see God as a living, loving presence who delights in the same things we do. The vision of heaven as a place of vibrant joy and celebration invites us to reimagine our relationship with God as one of delight and shared joy. This perspective encourages us to seek out and cherish the moments in life that reflect this heavenly joy, knowing that God is present in them. [38:54]

Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV): "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing."

Reflection: How can you create a moment of celebration today that reflects the joy and love of God in your life?


Day 5: Seeking the Living God
This Advent, we are called to seek the living God, present in every aspect of our lives. God is not confined to the Bible or the church but is with us, loving us deeply and inviting us into a vibrant relationship. The sermon encourages us to seek God beyond the traditional confines of religious practice, recognizing that God is present in every aspect of our lives. By opening our hearts to this reality, we can experience a deeper, more vibrant relationship with God, who is the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. [41:57]

Acts 17:27-28 (ESV): "That they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for 'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we are indeed his offspring.'"

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can intentionally seek and acknowledge God's presence today, inviting Him into your daily activities and decisions?

Quotes


Today, as we celebrate this last Sunday of Advent, this preparation of getting ready for the holy mystery of Christmas, we will be baptizing little Raelynn Meason, so what a joy that we get to celebrate that together. This morning, you're going to need a bulletin, which you should have received when you came in. For those joining us online, welcome. We are delighted you are joining us. [00:12:24] (27 seconds)


And so we gather, as we gather every Sunday, every Sunday, a weekly anniversary of the resurrection. We gather to make disciples, to grow in our own discipleship, to inspire others to grow in their discipleship. And our worship series is God is Born, as we've been going through these Advent weeks. This morning, we're going to be looking at the one who is the living one, God is born. [00:13:09] (30 seconds)


And so during this Advent season, we practice keeping our eyes open and looking at the one for God and we have our four Advent candles lit and so we bless our Advent wreath we light this candle as a symbol of Christ our love may the word sent from God through the prophets lead us to the way of salvation God is born amen and please rise as you are able as we sing away in a manger it's in the hymnal which should be in the pocket in front of you number 217 you [00:13:26] (43 seconds)


human and fully God. We call it the incarnation. That God was born. It was at that point in history Mary starts being referred to as the mother of God. In the gospel of Matthew we hear about Jesus being divine. A virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they shall name him Emmanuel which means God is with us. [00:27:40] (27 seconds)


Now some of you when you heard a reading from the book of Revelation you got a little nervous because Revelation is often misunderstood and I would say misused. It's wrong. the last book of the Bible. It was written by John. We don't know which John. Might have been the same John that wrote the gospel. Might have been a different John. But we do know because the author wrote that they were in prison on an island at Patmos. [00:28:20] (31 seconds)


Some of them were suffering under persecution and remaining faithful. Some of these churches were being corrupted by Roman society. Some of them just stopped treating faith as important. And so, John uses bold imagery. Bold imagery to guide these churches into right and wrong. And he uses symbolic imagery that people then would have immediately understood. But today, isn't nearly as apparent. Now, John's in prison. He couldn't exactly write a letter to these churches saying, stop worshiping the emperor. [00:29:32] (45 seconds)


That would not have gone well for anyone. So, he uses symbolic language. We might even call it code language that they understood. And we can do that today with symbols that we understand. So, I'm going to give you an example of a story using symbolic language and see if you can tell what I'm talking about. So, there was a great battle between an elephant and a donkey. People lined up behind the elephant. They said, we are elephant people. [00:30:17] (37 seconds)


And people lined up behind the donkey and said, we are donkey people. And the elephant people said, we want nothing to do with those donkey people. And the donkey people said, we want nothing to do with those elephant people. And they forgot that they were people first. And that they had more in common than divided them. So, what am I talking about? talking about political division in the United States in 2024. I am not talking about a literal elephant and a literal donkey. [00:30:54] (38 seconds)


At the end of Revelation, after John shared these visions with this bold imagery, he laid out one last vision, encouraging those Christians who are being persecuted to be faithful, remain faithful, and to rebuke those Christians who were acting more Roman than Christian to correct them back to faithful living. And then he shares this final vision, which Melanie shared with us this morning, a vision of a new heaven and a new earth, a new Jerusalem, a new people of God, and in this vision, we hear God is among the mortals. God is with them, and death is no more. [00:31:32] (51 seconds)


Now, when you think about living, think about what it means to you to be alive. I mean, it means breathing, moving, but think about when you feel fully alive. What is it in your life that makes you feel, fully alive? Perhaps it is a garden in full harvest. That is, you've taken care of and cultivated and watered. Some of us already have the seed catalogs out, getting ready for the next growing season. [00:32:31] (37 seconds)


Or perhaps for you, it's not the harvest, it's the flowers. And you plant these flowers and nurture them and watch them grow and then share them with others. Share them with friends and family. Perhaps for you, what makes you feel fully alive is hiking in the mountains. That being immersed in the raw nature and beauty of creation and hiking up into it. Or perhaps for you, the pace is a little faster. [00:32:49] (30 seconds)


That for you, running makes you feel fully alive as you feel the strength and the rhythmic contemplative movement. Perhaps you run at sunrise or at sundown and running for you is part of your connection to creation. Perhaps for you, being fully alive involves water. Swimming or being at the ocean or the river or the lake or hot tub. Or perhaps for you, being fully alive means being in a full stadium. [00:33:26] (38 seconds)


As the team runs out, and you are filled with excitement and anticipation of what the game will bring. Some of us are counting down to the Fiesta Bowl. How many days is it? Is it nine? Listening to a great choir and a great orchestra, or it is singing that makes you feel alive. Perhaps it's a different kind of music that makes you feel alive [00:33:48] (58 seconds)


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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?