God With Us 1: Eden

Scripture lesson: Genesis 1:26-27; 2:8-9, 15- 17; 3:1-10, 22-24

Key verse: Revelation 4:11“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.”  

 

From the beginning, God wanted to be “Immanuel,” which means, “God With Us.”

• 1.     God created humans to be enough like him so he could enjoy being with us
• 2.     God gave us free will so we can freely respond to his love
• 3.     God gave our first ancestors a chance to prove their love through obedience
• 4.     Our first ancestors proved themselves unworthy to live in God’s presence
• 5.     The Bible is the record of God’s moves to restore humanity to a place of                     fellowship with him

God wants to live with you. “Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends” (Revelation 3:20). Is your heart’s door open?

 

 

God With Us 2: The Tabernacle

Scripture lesson: Exodus 24:9 – 25:8

Key verse: Exodus 25:8 I want the people of Israel to build me a sacred residence where I can live among them.

•        I
•        want
•        the people
•        of Israel
•        to build
•        me
•        a sacred
•        residence
•        where I can
•        live
•        among them.

 

God With Us #3: The Temple

Scripture lesson: 2 Chronicles 5:1-14

Key verse: 2 Chronicles 5:14 The priests could not continue their work because the glorious presence of the LORD filled the Temple of God.

·       Every aspect of this passage represents us, the church, as we invite God to be Immanuel, “God With Us”

o   We give the gifts (v. 1)
o   We offer the sacrifices , which are different than gifts (v. 6)
o   We are the priests

•   Priests represent God to people
•   Priests represent people to God
•   We must purify ourselves (v. 11)

o   We are the worshipers (v. 13)

o   We are the temple (vv. 13-14)

·       Our goal: all of us together, as the living temple of God, will be filled with the glorious

presence of the Lord

o   Obvious to everyone, like the cloud of glory (v. 13)

o   Physically overwhelming to us (v. 14)

 

12/16/2012 Christmas Cantata

God With Us 4: Jesus

Scripture lesson: John 1:1-14

Key verse: Isaiah 7:14 Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel—‘God is with us.’ 

·       Jesus was

•    Word
  
•    Light
  
•    Creator
  
•    Eternal
  
•    God
  

·       Jesus came

•    Into the world he made
  
•    To the people he made
  
•    To live with his people
  

·       Jesus gave

•    Light
  
•    Life
  
•    The right to become children of God
  

God paid the ultimate price to be with us. What price are you willing to pay to be with God?

 

God With Us 5: The Holy Spirit

Scripture lesson: John 14:15-26

Key verse: 1 Corinthians 3:16 Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 

For all who love Jesus and do what he says, the Holy Spirit is Immanuel, “God With Us”

·       The Holy Spirit is a gift

•    to us
  
•    from Jesus
  
•    through the Father
  

·       The Holy Spirit is our counselor
·       The Holy Spirit will never leave us
·       The Holy Spirit leads into all truth
·       The Holy Spirit is not recognized by the world
·       The Holy Spirit lives with and in those who follow Jesus
·       The Holy Spirit represents Jesus
·       The Holy Spirit will teach us everything we need to know
·       The Holy Spirit will remind us of Jesus’ words

No Plan B - Part 2: Intro to Church