https://www.bible.com/events/49187894
Church of the Nazarene – Harrisonburg
God With Us – Always
He is always with you, so you are never alone.
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.
The Christmas story in a word is “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 1:20-23
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”).
We need Christmas to be more than just traditions, carols, candlelight, gifts and gatherings.
We need Christmas to be about His presence because we’ve never needed the presence of God more than we do right now.
Loneliness is pervasive throughout our society today:
-At least a third of Americans say that they feel lonelier than ever before.
-20% more people report feeling lonely at Christmas as compared to other times of the year
-It impacts every generation, in fact, Gen Z (38%) and millennials (37%) feel the loneliest compared to other generations
-many have suggested a disconnected digital world is driving pervasive loneliness. We are “50% human and 50% technology.”
We are living in a world that is increasingly disconnected, anxious, and lonely.
The arrival of Jesus describes God’s presence in Matthew 1. But the final words of Jesus in Matthew 28 also points to the power of presence.
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.”
So the same one who began as Immanuel, ‘God with us’, now proclaims ‘I am with you always.’
Bottom Line:
He is always with you, so you are never alone.
For Further Study & Reflection:
Exodus 33:13-16
Deuteronomy 31:6
Joshua 1:5
Psalm 23:4
John 14:16
Hebrews 13:5
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.
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!