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The Promise of God’s Presence – 2023 Advent Series – Sermon by Pam Church

December 3, 2023

Hello Kingdom Family,

Welcome to our Jesus-centered community. We are glad you are listening to today’s message.

“We are People Helping People Experience a Jesus-centered Life.”

Today’s message focuses Genesis 15:1–6; 18:9–15; 21:1–7 | The Story of Abraham & Sarah.

Most people know that the Christmas season begins with an unlikely married couple. So we’re starting there. But we’re not starting with the married couple, you think. It’s not Jesus’ mom or dad. It’s much further back than that. We’re beginning centuries before Jesus—with Abraham and Sarah.

Abraham and Sarah are the first couple in Jesus’ genealogy. They are best known for the radical promise God made to them. When Abraham was 99 years old (Genesis 17:1) and Sarah was 90 (Genesis 17:17), God said he would give this barren couple a son (cf. Genesis 15:4–5; 18:10).

Abraham and Sarah knew enough about human reproduction for this to be an unbelievable promise. God visited Abraham no fewer than three times to remind him of this promise (Genesis 12:1–4; 15:4–5; 17:1–8). It was so unrealistic that both Abraham and Sarah laughed out loud at the prospect (Genesis 17:17; 18:12). And before we judge them too harshly, let’s keep in mind that nearly every one of us would have had the same response!

In the end, however, Abraham believed God’s promise (Genesis 15:6). And in the end, God fulfilled it, miraculously giving Abraham and Sarah a son, Isaac (Genesis 21:3)—whose name means “He laughs,” a playful reminder of the child’s remarkable birth story. Abraham and Sarah’s mocking
laughter had transformed into unbridled tears of joy.

Abraham and Sarah had wanted a son for decades. God had promised a son for years. And while it felt painfully slow, God was moving. He made a promise, and he delivered on it.

Isaac was not just a joy for Abraham and Sarah. He was an integral part of God’s plan, too. Through this son, God would start a family line that would overturn the curse brought on by Adam and Eve. Through this son, God would provide a way to bring renewed blessing to the earth (Genesis 12:1–3). And generations later, God would keep another promise through another miraculous son in this line. That child, Jesus Christ, would forever and finally prove that however slow God seems, his “slowness” is not a sign of his absence.

The Apostle Peter reminds us, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). In other words, God is not slow. He is patient. That distinction also allows us to be patient, waiting for him to fulfill his promises.

For some of us, God will act sooner than we imagine—healing an illness, reconciling a broken relationship, ending an addiction. For others, God will ask us to wait until he returns. For all of us, God’s promise of restoration in Jesus is certain. Though it seems slow, it will come.

Before you listen to the message, you are encouraged to go to our website and download the lesson bulletin for this message, dated December 3, 2023. The publication contains questions to reflect on as an individual, couple, or small group. You can find them on the home page by clicking the Bulletins and Lesson Plans tab. Today’s message is “The Promise of God’s Presence .”

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Shalom,

Hill-Tran Ministries

Reconciling The Holidays – 2 Corinthians 5:11-21

November 26, 2023

Today’s message focuses on 2 Corinthians 5:11-22, where Paul shares the transformative love of Christ with the people of Corinth. Paul is in defensive mode due to false teachers, accusers, haters, and wicked people attempting to taint the gospel message and the character of Paul.

I Have Overcome The World

November 19, 2023

Today’s message focuses on John 16:25-33 and the promise that Jesus has conquered the world. Jesus prepared the disciples for his death, resurrection, and second coming. First, he uses parables, but now he speaks to them in plain language. Jesus prepared them for all the tough times ahead, knowing their souls would experience distress, but he reminded them that he had overcome the world.

You Will See Me Again

November 12, 2023

Today’s message focuses on John 16:19-24 and the promise that joy follows sorrow. Jesus prepared the disciples for his death, resurrection, and second coming. Using the metaphor of a birthing mother, labor pains, and patience because her hour had not yet come, Jesus prepared them for the sorrow they would endure but also the joy that would follow.

Tepid – Lukewarm Christians – Sermon by Donna Bondurant

November 5, 2023

Today’s message focuses on Revelation 3:14-22, where John shares his revelation of Jesus speaking to the churches. His message is stern for lukewarm Christians. Would you consider yourself a hot or cold Christian or lukewarm at best? Jesus states he would prefer you be hot or cold versus lukewarm. Today, Donna unpacks what it means to be a lukewarm Christian and the ramifications of such a disposition. She also shares how becoming a fully committed disciple of Jesus has changed her life and influenced the lives of many.

The Prodigal God – The Feast of the Father – Session V of VI

October 22, 2023

Today, we conclude our new message series, “The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith.” Our message is titled “The Feast of the Father.” This sermon is V of VI and sets the stage for the rest of the series. We unpack Luke 15:11-32 (NIV) and unpack the most popular of the three parables in Luke 15, which included the first two parables, The Parable of the Lost Sheep and The Parable of the Lost Coin. This message should shock and move every person engaging in the scripture and teaching. In our message today, we look at the true elder brother, Jesus the Christ. We are all called to be true elder brothers, and the question is, can we be humble and honest enough to own it and, even more importantly, do something about it? Before you listen to the message, you are encouraged to go to our website and download the lesson bulletin for this message, dated October 22, 2023.

The Prodigal God – The True Elder Brother – Sermon IV of VI

October 15, 2023

Today, we continue our new message series, “The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith.” Our message is titled “The True Elder Brother.” This sermon is IV of VI and sets the stage for the rest of the series. We unpack Luke 15:1-6; 25-32 (NIV) and unpack the most popular of the three parables in Luke 15, which included the first two parables, The Parable of the Lost Sheep and The Parable of the Lost Coin. This message should shock and move every person engaging in the scripture and teaching. In our message today, we look at the true younger brother, Jesus the Christ. We are all called to be true elder brothers, and the question is, can we be humble and honest enough to own it and, even more importantly, do something about it?

The Prodigal God – The Elder Brother – Sermon III of VI

October 8, 2023

Today, we continue our new message series, “The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith.” Our message is titled “The Elder Son.” This sermon is III of VI and sets the stage for the rest of the series. We unpack Luke 15:25-32 (NIV) and unpack the most popular of the three parables in Luke 15, which included the first parables, The Parable of the Lost Sheep and The Parable of the Lost Coin. This message should shock and move every person engaging in the scripture and teaching. In our message today, we look at the second brother, who is as lost as the younger brother. We are all elder brothers, and the question is, can we be humble and honest enough to own it and, even more importantly, do something about it?

The Prodigal God: The People Around Jesus – Sermon I of VI

September 24, 2023

Today, we start a new message series, “The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith.” Our message is titled “The People Around Jesus.” This sermon is I of VI and sets the stage for the rest of the series. We unpack Luke 15:1-10 (NIV) and decipher two of the three parables in this section of scripture. The Parable of the Lost Sheep and The Parable of the Lost Coin. This message should shock and move every person engaging in the scripture and teaching.

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