This sermon addresses the deep ache for "home" we feel during the holidays—a longing for the permanent and perfect that the world cannot satisfy. This desire points to the central theme of Scripture: Emmanuel, God with us. This is not just a Christmas slogan; it is the entire storyline of the Bible, from the Garden of Eden to the New Jerusalem.

Scripture References

• Genesis 1-3: Eden, the first temple where God walked with humanity.
• Exodus 25:8 & 29:45: God commands a sanctuary be built so He may dwell among His people.
• 1 Kings 8:10-11: The glory of the Lord fills Solomon's Temple.
• John 1:14: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."
• 1 Corinthians 3:16: "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?"
• Revelation 21:1-27: The New Creation, where God dwells with man permanently.

Key Points

1. The Journey of God's Presence The Bible traces God's dwelling place through history:
   • Eden: The original design where God walked with man.
   • The Tabernacle/Temple: "Mini-Edens" where God's glory dwelt, guarded by boundaries.
   • Jesus: The true Temple; God in the flesh.
   • The Church: Today, the Holy Spirit fills believers. We are the temple of God.
   • New Creation: The final stop where heaven and earth merge, and there is no temple because God's presence is everywhere.
2. You Are a Priest on Duty Just as Adam was called to "work and keep" the garden, and priests were called to minister in the temple, believers are a "priesthood" called to keep and cultivate the presence of God. Every believer houses the Holy Spirit and has a ministry to the Lord that will last forever.
3. Longing for Home is Longing for God Our holiday homesickness is actually a spiritual longing for the New Creation. Earthly pleasures are just appetizers (or "little pink spoons") meant to arouse our desire for the real thing: face-to-face communion with God.

Conclusion

We are currently living as temples of the Holy Spirit, the "embassies" of the coming Kingdom. The next event on God's timeline is the return of Christ and the establishment of the New Jerusalem, where we will finally be "home" with Him forever. Until then, our purpose is to house and cultivate His presence in a world that desperately needs Him.

Calls to Action

1. Cultivate His Presence: Ask yourself, "How am I tending to the presence of God in my life?" Make time for "face time" with Him amidst the holiday busyness.
2. Be Filled with the Spirit: Instead of being filled with wine, fear, or greed this season, intentionally ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).
3. Clean House: Remember you are God's temple. If there are habits or thoughts that grieve the Spirit, clean them out to honor His presence.

Support the show

*Summaries and transcripts are generated using AI.
Please notify us if you find any errors.

This sermon explores the origins and significance of baptism and communion, tracing them back to their roots in the Exodus story. It explains that these sacraments are not random rituals but divine institutions commanded by Jesus, prefigured in the Old Testament, and practiced by the church for thousands of years.

Scripture References

• Matthew 28:18-20: The Great Commission to baptize.
• Luke 22:7-20: The Last Supper, instituting communion.
• 1 Corinthians 11:23-26: Paul's instructions on the Lord's Supper.
• Exodus 12:1-28: The Passover, the origin of communion.
• Exodus 12:29-51 & 14:1-31: The Exodus and crossing of the Red Sea, the origin of baptism.
• John 1:29: John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the "Lamb of God."
• 1 Peter 1:18-19: Redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish.

Key Points

1. Communion: The Passover Fulfilled To understand the Last Supper, we must understand the First Supper (Passover). In Exodus 12, God provided a substitute (a lamb) to save the Israelites from judgment. This lamb had to be:
   • Pure: Without defect.
   • Personal: Kept in the home for four days.
   • Killed: A true sacrifice.
   • Applied: Blood on the doorposts (faith in action).
   • Consumed: Totally devoured (we take all of Jesus).
   • Taken in Faith: Eaten in haste, ready to move. Jesus is the fulfillment of this Passover lamb. He is the pure, personal sacrifice whose blood is applied to our lives, saving us from judgment.
2. Baptism: The Red Sea Crossing Baptism is framed by the Israelites' crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14). It involves three movements of salvation:
   • Leaving the Old Behind: Just as Israel left 430 years of slavery in Egypt, baptism symbolizes leaving our old life of bondage.
   • Surrendering to God: At the Red Sea, Israel was trapped and terrified. Moses told them, "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Baptism declares our trust in God to fight battles we cannot win.
   • New Identity: Passing through the waters, Israel was born again as a free nation. They emerged on the other side with a new identity as worshipers, erupting in song. Baptism marks our entry into a new life and identity in Christ.
3. Why We Do It We practice baptism and communion because Jesus commanded them, the early church practiced them, and they powerfully reenact the story of our salvation. They are not just rituals; they are "sacraments" that mark the church and remind us of who we are and whose we are.

Conclusion

The sacraments of baptism and communion are God's way of "resetting our clocks" and marking us as His own. Just as the Passover changed the calendar for Israel, meeting Jesus changes everything for us. We leave behind the old, trust God to fight for us, and step into a new identity as His people.

Calls to Action

1. Remember Your Baptism: If you are a believer, recall the moment you "crossed the Red Sea" and left your old life behind.
2. Take Communion in Faith: When you participate in the Lord's Supper, remember the cost of the Lamb and apply His blood to your life by faith.
3. Stand Firm: If you are facing an "impossible" Red Sea situation, hear the word of the Lord: "Do not be afraid. Stand firm... The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

Support the show

*Summaries and transcripts are generated using AI.
Please notify us if you find any errors.

This sermon addresses the "why" behind the Ten Plagues, asking "What's up with that?" regarding God's harsh judgment. The plagues are a revelation (Who is God?), a rescue (fulfilling His promises), and a recompense (judging oppression). They show God rules over humanity, nature, and all other gods. These were supernatural acts, and this message tackles the "why" of their severity.

Scripture References

• Acts 17:25
• Psalm 50:12
• Galatians 6:7-8
• Matthew 7:2
• Proverbs 1:24-33
• Exodus 34:6-7
• 2 Peter 3:9
• Ezekiel 33:11
• Exodus 8:25, 8:28, 10:11, 10:24

Key Points

1. God Is Not Insecure; His Glory Is Our Good God's commitment to His own glory isn't neediness; it's love. He seeks our worship not because it meets His need, but because it meets our need. When God exalts Himself, He draws us to the only thing that can satisfy our souls. We were designed to worship. Non-worship is not an option; you will worship something. God, in His kindness, offers Himself as the only object that leads to life.
2. God Will Not Be Mocked (Reaping What You Sow) The plagues are a terrifying picture of justice. Egypt is reaping what it has sown. Long before God turned the Nile red, the Egyptians turned it red with the blood of Hebrew infants. Long before God struck the firstborn son, Pharaoh had been killing Israel's sons. This principle is meant to drive us to the Gospel, to flee to God for mercy rather than face the just consequences of our own actions.
3. God's Patience Precedes His Judgment God is "slow to anger" (Ex. 34:6). He is not a short-fused, raging deity. These plagues come after centuries of oppression. He warns repeatedly because He is patient, "not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). His warnings are an act of love.
4. God Will Not Compromise on Freedom Pharaoh tries to negotiate, offering four compromises that are still schemes of the enemy today:
   • Deal 1: "Worship, but stay my slaves." (A faith with chains on).
   • Deal 2: "Worship, but don't go too far." (A private, comfortable faith).
   • Deal 3: "Let the men go, but leave the families." (A faith that doesn't include your household).
   • Deal 4: "Go, but leave your flocks." (A faith that costs you nothing). God refuses every deal. He is committed to total, costly, all-encompassing freedom.

Conclusion

God will not settle for a people who worship with chains on. He has not called us to a compromised faith. He is committed to our total freedom, and He paid the ultimate price for it. We must refuse to "play church" and settle for anything less than the complete freedom Christ has purchased for us.

Calls to Action

1. Refuse to Worship with Chains On: Renounce any bondage you've accepted as normal.
2. Reject Compromised Faith: Don't take the enemy's deals. Go as far as God calls.
3. Take Your Family With You: Commit to leading your entire household in worship.
4. Make Your Worship Costly: Refuse to offer God a faith that costs you nothing.

Support the show

*Summaries and transcripts are generated using AI.
Please notify us if you find any errors.