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
- Pam Church
- 2023 Advent Series
- Genesis 15:1-6
- Genesis 18:9-15
- Genesis 21:1-7
- Abraham
- God's Presence
- God's Promises
- Hope
- Hope in the Resurrected Jesus
- Issac
- Sarah
- The Promise of God's Presence
- We Are Never Alone
- Hillsboro UMC
- Transformation UMC
Hope – Psalm 23 – Liz Statler
April 30, 2023
Welcome to Hill-Tran Ministries. Today we unpack Psalm 23 and learn how to experience “HOPE” in all seasons of life. Speaker Liz Statler provides the message, so engage the message and experience HOPE. Before you listen to the message, you are encouraged to go to our website and download the lesson bulletin for this message, dated April 30, 2023. You can find them on the home page and then click on the tab Bulletins and Lesson Plans. Today’s message is “Hope.”
A Jesus-looking God
December 25, 2022
- Harold Long
- Christmas
- Hebrews 1:1-4
- Advent
- Darkness
- Die to Self
- Hope
- Jesus is the Light
- Jesus-Centered
- Jesus-Centered Faith
- Jesus-centered life
- Jesus-looking God
- Joy
- Joy to the World
- Light
- Light of the World
- light vs dark
- Love
- Morgan Freeman
- New Year 2023
- New Year's Day
- New Year's Resolutions
- Peace
- Personal Inventory
- Surrender
- Hillsboro UMC
- Transformation UMC
On Christmas day of 2022, we lean on the lectionary and the Hebrews 1:1-4 Scripture, teaching us that Jesus is God’s entire manifestation and essence. As Christians, we worship and follow a Jesus-looking God. Thank you for joining us for today’s message.
Time is of the Essence, and the Essence is Jesus
August 22, 2021
- Harold Long
- Summer In The Psalms
- Psalm 90
- Death
- Dying
- Faith
- God's Wrath
- Hope
- Love
- Time
- Hillsboro UMC
- Transformation UMC
We are continuing in our message series, “Summer In The Psalms.” Today we will unpack Psalm 90 and tackle the hard questions centered around time management, dying, God’s wrath, and how to live a Jesus-centered life with the borrowed time we are allotted here on earth.
Faith, Hope, and Love
May 2, 2021
Welcome to today’s message titled “Faith, Hope, and Love.” Our guest speaker for this message is Tom Johnson. Tom unpacks 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10 and helps us understand and practice the attributes of faith, hope, and love in our everyday lives.
Expect The Unexpected For An Unreal Christmas
December 6, 2020
- Harold Long
- Christmas Is For Real People
- Luke 1:26-38
- Funny Christmas Stories
- Hope
- Ideal Christmas
- Jesus
- Mary and Joseph
- Unexpected Christmas
- Hillsboro UMC
- Transformation UMC
Welcome to today’s message titled “Expect The Unexpected For An Unreal Christmas.” This is part of our Advent message series titled “Christmas Is For Real People.” In our message today, Pastor Harold Long unpacks Luke 1:26-38 and helps us discover how Jesus shows up regularly in the most less than ideal places, including your messy life. Today we will learn how to have hope amid COVID-19, the political divide, and being separated at Christmas.
Hope In Christmas; Amid COVID-19
November 29, 2020
- Harold Long
- Christmas Is For Real People
- John 1:1-20
- Age After Age
- Christmas
- Christmas 2020
- Christmas Is For Real People
- COVID Christmas
- COVID-19
- Hope
- Incarnation
- Nashville Tennessee
- Sacrafice
- Sandra McCracken
- Hillsboro UMC
- Transformation UMC
Welcome to our new Advent Series titled “Christmas Is For Real People.” Today’s message is titled “Hope In Christmas; Amid COVID-19.” Today Pastor Harold breaks down John 1:1-20 and reminds us of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. We discover how to find hope even with a worldwide pandemic. Lastly, we learn what it means to be Christian in a world that is broken and hurting.