God & neighbor: The Gift of Presence | Nov 23 ASCC Online

I shared how my own drift toward escape—hiding in the basement with a screen when I felt worn down—was a wake-up call to remember what this season is about: presence. Christmas proclaims that God didn’t stay far off. In Jesus, God moved into the neighborhood. The Word became human and lived among us, not as a distant observer but as one who ate at our tables, shouldered our pain, faced our temptations, and loved us face-to-face. Presence changes everything.

In Jesus, God knows us, shows us, and grows us. He knows us in relationship, not theory. He shows us the Father’s heart and a Spirit-empowered way of living. And he grows us out of stuck places we can’t muscle through—whether it’s sugar at midnight or deeper patterns of the heart. Through his cross and resurrection, he lifts us into new life and gives us a new identity. That’s why we can come boldly to the throne—like children running to their Father—not as trespassers, but as sons and daughters welcomed in love.

But presence isn’t only what we receive; it’s also what we practice. Jesus summed up the entire law in two relationships: love God and love your neighbor. So we love God with whole-life worship—more than songs on Sunday, it’s noticing his beauty at sunrise, thanking him in hardship, and learning his heart in Scripture and prayer. We love each other as a body, not a club—bearing one another’s burdens, forgiving quickly, serving generously, and even speaking hard truth with tenderness when a friend is drifting. And we love others by moving toward them, not away: showing hospitality, offering compassion, and being real in real spaces. God built the bridge to us in Christ; our task is to guide people to that bridge, not build walls around it.

I asked us to picture the empty chair at Christmas. When the one you long for isn’t there, the room feels thinner. Then imagine the chair filled—joy wells up, because being-with is powerful. This is what God has done for us in Jesus. So this week, choose one way to be present with God, one way to be present with believers, and one way to be present with your neighbors—and then do it. Presence changes everything.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Incarnation: God moved into our neighborhood God didn’t send advice from a distance; he came himself. Jesus shares our streets, sorrows, and hopes, revealing a God who wants to be known, not guessed at. If God has drawn this near, the most faithful response is to draw near in return. Presence is how heaven begins to touch the ground. [39:28]
• 2. Come boldly as beloved sons and daughters Access changes relationship. Because of Jesus, we approach the throne without flinching, seeking mercy and help when we need it most. Prayer becomes less performance and more conversation with our Father. Boldness isn’t arrogance; it’s trust in the love that adopted us. [45:58]
• 3. Build bridges, not walls Christ built the whole bridge to us; we don’t add to it—we point to it. That means moving toward people, entering their spaces, and letting them see our real lives. We don’t celebrate what’s destructive, but we do sit at tables where grace can be tasted. Bridges carry love across divides that arguments never will. [62:22]
• 4. Practice presence in three directions Choose one action this week: with God (linger, listen), with believers (encourage, reconcile), and with neighbors (show up, serve). Relationships are formed by time, not theories—proximity shapes the heart. This is how the gift of Christ’s presence becomes a gift through us. [68:13]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:10] - Great Things: God Breaks Chains
• [25:59] - I Speak Jesus
• [32:29] - Prayer for Community and Churches
• [36:15] - Incarnation: God With Us
• [38:12] - The King Who Moved In
• [44:36] - Come Boldly—Adopted Children
• [49:57] - Love God, Love Neighbor
• [53:59] - Loving Each Other as a Body
• [57:52] - Move Into the Neighborhood
• [62:22] - Build Bridges, Not Walls
• [65:29] - Presence Changes Everything
• [68:13] - Three Presence Practices & Invitation
• [70:01] - Prayer to Follow Jesus
• [72:27] - Announcements and Ways to Engage

Bible Reading

- John 1:14 — "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." —

Observation Questions

1. Read John 1:14. What phrase or image in this verse stands out most to you, and why? How does the word "dwelt" (literally "made his home among us") shape your picture of who God is?
2. The pastor told a story about a king who moved into the village to know his people and then connected that with what Jesus did (being with us in everyday life). What concrete examples did he give of Jesus' neighborly presence (what Jesus ate, felt, faced, etc.)? [38:49]
3. The sermon used the image of an empty chair at a holiday table and then asked us to imagine it filled. What did the pastor say an empty chair does to a room, and why does a filled chair change things? [01:04:54]
4. The preacher quoted Hebrews to say we can "come boldly to the throne" because of what Jesus has done. What did he claim changes about our relationship with God when we remember the incarnation and resurrection? [44:36]

Interpretation Questions

1. If "God moved into our neighborhood" (the incarnation), how should that change the way the church understands its mission toward people who do not yet follow Jesus? Is this a reason to enter their spaces even when those places feel uncomfortable? [01:02:22]
2. The sermon linked Jesus' nearness with our confident access to God. How would a person’s pattern of prayer and dependence look different if they repeatedly practiced coming to God "boldly" as an adopted son or daughter? [44:36]
3. The speaker contrasted building bridges with building walls. How should the reality of the incarnation influence a congregation’s choices about hospitality, service, and being present in the wider community? [57:52]

Application Questions

1. The pastor challenged everyone to choose one way to be present with God this week (linger, listen, pray, read). Name the exact practice you will do (what, where, how long, and when). Share it with the group and agree how you’ll report back. [01:08:13]
2. Identify one believer you will be intentionally present with this week. What exactly will you do for them (phone call, bring a meal, invite over, meet for prayer, speak a loving correction)? When will you do it? [53:59]
3. Pick one neighbor or non-Christian friend you will "move toward" this week. Which real location or event will you enter with the aim of being present (coffee shop, community event, their home, a sports game)? What is your first concrete step and when will you take it? [01:02:22]
4. Pastor Stephen admitted he sometimes hides in the basement with a screen when he’s worn down. What is your usual "escape" when tired or overwhelmed? Name one practical small swap you will try this week (e.g., 10 minutes of prayer or a short walk before turning on a show). When and how will you implement it? [34:56]
5. Think of an "empty chair" in your life (someone absent because of hurt, estrangement, or loss). What is one small, low-risk action you can take in the next seven days that points toward presence and reconciliation (a card, a message, an invite, a sit-down conversation)? [01:04:54]
6. If someone in your circle expresses interest in following Jesus (or has just started), what specific next step will you offer to help them connect (invite to a growth group, give a Bible, pray with them, connect them with a mentor)? When will you make that offer? [01:09:25]