Awaiting Advent: Awaiting His Presence // Travis Cook

Dec 12, 2021 | Travis Cook

Sermon Response Guide

Guia del Sermon en Espanol


PRIMARY SCRIPTURE: 
Isaiah 7:10-17

10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: 11 “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” 13 And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. 17 The Lord will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father's house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria!”


Key Points

  • Just as the Word was with God in the beginning, so was the Spirit (John 1:1-2, Genesis 1:1-2). God’s presence has always been present.
  • A brief history of God’s presence coming to us includes:
    1) God’s presence comes in the Temple
    2) God’s presence comes in Jesus
    3) God’s presence comes in us
  • In the Garden of Eden, humanity wanted to be like God, and we gave up the role God had given us to steward God’s creation on earth. But the story doesn’t end there – the rest of the story is God bringing us back to Eden.
  • Like Adam and Eve, the people of Israel wanted to rule and reign apart from God, and turning from God, they gave up their God-given identity as a nation of priests.
  • When Jesus came, he initiated a new kingdom on earth: the Kingdom of God – where Christ the Lord is King.
  • Let us turn toward God and receive our true identity freely offered to us in Christ Jesus: let us become children of God – a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession (1 Peter 2:9).
  • By the grace of Jesus, the Spirit of the Living God is with us, in us, and guiding us as we trust in him – as we slow down and listen to him, remaining in him, acknowledging his presence, learning from him as he speaks to us through his word, and utilizing his power within us to turn toward him and follow him – our Good Shepherd.

Memory Verse

Ask God to write this word on your heart this week:
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
-John 16:7

Questions for Reflection

Take time to reflect and respond to these questions on your own in the presence of the Holy Spirit, or with trusted friends or family members:
 
If you do not have a copy of the 2021 Awaiting Advent guide, you can download it here. Take time to read the introduction letter and today’s reading, then answer the following questions.
 
1: When will you take time to slow down and really listen to God this week?
 
2: How will you acknowledge the enduring presence of God in your own life this week?
 
3: What will you read from God’s word to better hear from God this week?*
 
4: Why will you utilize the power of God’s Spirit in you to actively follow God this week?
 
*Join us as we spend this Christmas season journeying through our 2021 Awaiting Advent guide. Take time to seek God in his word and in prayer. Then, reach out to others in our faith family to share what God is showing you with each new week of Advent.

Pray

Lord, there has never been a time when you were not. Your presence has always been present. And yet, throughout history and still today, we are so quick to run from your presence. Lord, open our eyes to see your wide-open arms of grace we were all created to continually run to. Prompt us to pursue your presence in all we do. Your nearness truly is our good.

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