https://www.bible.com/events/49186160

Church of the Nazarene – East Rock

God With Us – Always

Christmas Eve 2023

Throughout this Christmas Season we have been seeking to understand the power and meaning of the name given to Jesus in the Christmas Story- Immanuel: God WITH us.

If we wanted to try to boil down the Christmas story into just one word- it would have to be Presence.

The essence of Christmas is the presence of God with us in Christ. His presence changes everything. This is the amazing promise we find in the story of Christmas.

Matthew 1:18-23

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

When the Angel instructs Joseph to name the baby Jesus- The mission of this child becomes clear-

“…and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Jesus came not because we needed a celebration, but because we needed a savior. We needed a rescuer from the power of sin and death.

Matthew doesn’t leave his audience in suspense either- He makes it clear in telling the Christmas Story-This is Immanuel-This child is God with us.

These two names together express the real meaning of the story of Christmas. God is with us- present with his people. His actions are aimed at rescuing his people.

This is Christmas, this is the story of Jesus. His presence changes everything.

At Christmas we celebrate the coming of Jesus. There is great reason to celebrate and remember this event.

But Easter brings us the promise of His permanent presence in the hearts of those who are for Him.

This is the promise Matthew concludes his gospel with in Chapter 28. Literally the whole story of Jesus in Matthew is bookended by Presence.

After Jesus, that baby in the manger, grew up. He performed miracles. He showed us what it was to love like the Father, serve like the Father. And then he died, a criminal’s death on a cross. And after 3 days, he rose again. He conquered death and now, the resurrected Jesus is about to go back to heaven. And before he does, He tells his disciples – his closest followers – something that we need to remember today:

Matthew 28:18-20

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The promise of Presence

God with us at the beginning, God with us Always.

The beautiful thing about the Christmas story is that the ultimate gift that lasts forever has your name on it- It’s for you. Will you receive it?

Don’t let Christmas rush by this year without that reality taking root deep in your heart.

God Himself, is WITH us. And, if you choose, will ALWAYS be.

Updates on the new Waynesboro campus

God is inviting us to step out in faith to plant a Spanish-speaking campus in the Waynesboro community. Join us on the journey!

Check out the link below for more information and for frequent updates throughout the journey.

Waynesboro

Giving at COTN

If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: finance@cotnaz.org Thank you for your partnership in building the Kingdom of Christ as you impact others!

Giving

https://www.bible.com/events/49183288

Church of the Nazarene – Harrisonburg

God With Us – In the obscurity

Christmas proves it: There are no invisible people.

Today we continue our Advent series entitled “God with Us”.

Christmas, in a word, is about presence. You can’t talk about the significance of Christmas, the most life-changing story in human history, without talking about presence.

One of the most extraordinary things about the Christmas story is how otherwise unremarkable the people and situations of the nativity are. For one of the most extraordinary events in human history the birth of Jesus is surrounded by the ordinary.

Long before the arrival of Jesus, the promise of God was of a Savior, but the picture we get is not what you might expect.

It’s the picture of a Savior who Himself seems insignificant, alone, invisible, and obscure.

Micah 5:5

And he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses. We will raise against them seven shepherds, even eight commanders,

So it shouldn’t surprise us, that as we learn the details of Jesus’ arrival, He arrives in obscurity.

Luke 2:1-14

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Obscure town? Check

Obscure birthplace? Check

Then the most obscure of people – shepherds who were literally obscure out in their fields – are the ones who see the very Glory of God.

This is the story of a Savior arriving in the midst of obscurity

And the question is: why?

Because God knows you. And He knows how often we feel pretty obscure.

And if that’s you, if it’s ever felt like you, God wrote the story of redemption with you in mind.

This story is an emphatic declaration in the family of God, there is no such thing as obscure. In reality, you can make the case that it is the “unmajestic” He cares for first. That His eyes fall first on the obscure.

The bottom line:

Christmas proves it: There are no invisible people.

Verses for further study/reflection:

Psalm 138:6-8

1 Corinthians 1:27-32

1 Peter 5:5-6

Matthew 21:21

Updates on the new Waynesboro campus

God is inviting us to step out in faith to plant a Spanish-speaking campus in the Waynesboro community. Join us on the journey!

Check out the link below for more information and for frequent updates throughout the journey.

Waynesboro

Giving at COTN

If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: finance@cotnaz.org Thank you for your partnership in building the Kingdom of Christ as you impact others!

Giving