Embracing the Omnipresence and Purpose of Christ

In my sermon, I emphasized the omnipresence and omnipotence of Jesus Christ, drawing a parallel between His divine arrival and the triumphant entry of a champion into a boxing ring. I highlighted how Jesus, like a champion, steps into the scene of sin, death, pain, and trauma, and declares that hope, love, grace, shalom, and purpose are present. I stressed that the purpose of our lives is to know Jesus, to understand His teachings, and to live by them.

I also underscored the accessibility of God. I pointed out that God is not distant or detached from us; instead, He is near and present in our lives. I emphasized that God is not just 'out there', but He is here with us, in our midst, in our everyday lives. This understanding of God's proximity is crucial in fostering a personal relationship with Him and experiencing His divine presence in our lives.

Key Takeaways:
- Jesus Christ is omnipresent and omnipotent, stepping into our lives like a champion, bringing hope, love, grace, and purpose. ([00:00])
- The ultimate purpose of our lives is to know Jesus and live by His teachings. ([00:00])
- God is not distant or detached; He is near and present in our everyday lives. ([00:00])
- Understanding God's proximity is crucial in fostering a personal relationship with Him. ([00:00])
- Experiencing God's divine presence in our lives is possible because He is not just 'out there', but He is here with us. ([00:00])

Bible Reading:
1. John 1:14 - "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." [00:00]
2. Matthew 1:23 - "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us"). [00:00]
3. Romans 5:8 - "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." [00:00]

Observation Questions:
1. What does John 1:14 mean when it says "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us"?
2. How does Matthew 1:23 relate to the concept of God being near and not distant?
3. In Romans 5:8, how does God demonstrate his love for us?

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of "Immanuel" or "God with us" in Matthew 1:23 change our understanding of God's relationship with humanity?
2. How does the message of John 1:14 and Romans 5:8 challenge the idea that God is distant or uninvolved in our lives?
3. What does it mean for us today that Jesus came to bring hope, love, grace, and purpose as mentioned in the content?

Application Questions:
1. How can you practically experience the nearness of God in your daily life?
2. What is one way you can demonstrate God's love to others this week, reflecting the love God showed us in Romans 5:8?
3. Can you think of a situation in your life where you need to remind yourself of the hope, love, grace, and purpose that Jesus brings?
4. How can you live out the purpose of knowing Jesus in your life this week?

Day 1: The Arrival of Hope

Jesus' arrival on the scene of sin, death, pain, and trauma signifies the arrival of hope, love, grace, and shalom. His presence is not distant or detached, but near and involved. He is here today, offering us purpose and direction in our lives ([00:00]).

Zephaniah 3:17 - "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 have you experienced the nearness of God in your life recently?

Day 2: The Champion of Love

Just as Muhammad Ali would declare his presence in the ring, Jesus declares His presence in our world. He is the champion of love, grace, and peace, stepping into our brokenness and offering restoration ([00:00]).

1 John 4:9 - "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him."

Reflection: In what ways have you seen Jesus as the champion of love in your life?

Day 3: The Purpose of Knowing Jesus

Our ultimate purpose in life is to know Jesus. This is not a distant, theoretical knowledge, but a personal, intimate relationship that shapes our identity and actions ([00:00]).

Philippians 3:10 - "I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death."

Reflection: How is your relationship with Jesus shaping your daily life?

Day 4: The Nearness of God

God is not distant or detached. He is near, involved in our lives, and present in our circumstances. His nearness is a source of comfort, strength, and guidance for us ([00:00]).

Psalm 145:18 - "The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a greater awareness of God's nearness in your daily life?

Day 5: The Presence of Shalom

Jesus brings shalom - peace, wholeness, and well-being - into our lives. His presence transforms our chaos into order, our brokenness into wholeness, and our despair into hope ([00:00]).

Isaiah 9:6 - "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Reflection: How have you experienced the shalom of Jesus in your life?

And all of creation testifies of Him.

Like Muhammad Ali would walk into the ring and say, "The champ is here."

Jesus steps onto the scene of sin and death and pain and trauma, and He says, "Hope is here. Love is here. Grace is here. Shalom is here. He is here. Purpose is here."

The purpose for you and I in our life is to know Jesus, and we can know that God because He ain't out there kicking it.

He came near, and He's here today.

1. "And all of creation testifies of him like Muhammad Ali would walk into the ring and say The champ is here. Jesus steps in onto the scene of sin and death and pain and Trauma and he says hope is here." - 00:00

2. "Jesus doesn't just bring hope, but Love is Here, Grace is here, Shalom is here. He brings all these things into our lives, transforming our pain and trauma." - 00:00

3. "HED is here, purpose is here. The purpose for you and I in our life is to know Jesus." - 00:00

4. "We can know that God because he ain't out there kicking it, he came near and he's here today." - 00:00

5. "Jesus steps into our lives, not as a distant deity, but as a close companion. He's not just out there, he's here with us, in our everyday lives." - 00:00