Ben Connelly - Sunday, 1 August 2021
It is worth waiting for Jesus
Scripture References: Luke 2:21-38, Isaiah 52:7-15, Acts 1:1-12
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CloseWhat is something that you have had to wait for? Was it worth the wait? Today we meet Simeon and Anna who were both waiting for God to fulfill his promises to Israel. Their time of waiting ended in the most unlikely way when they met a one-month-old child who was brought to the temple by his parents. But when we see who this child really is, we see that all of God's promises to save his people will be fulfilled. Luke wants us to know exactly who Jesus is so we can be assured that when he returns it will definitely be worth the wait.
Scripture References: Luke 2:21-38, Isaiah 52:7-15, Acts 1:1-12
From Series: Service - Sunday Morning, Luke, Jesus | More Messages from Ben Connelly | Download Audio
It is worth waiting for Jesus | Ben Connelly | Sunday, 1 August 2021 | Kids Talk | Watch | Listen |
How to wait... Well | Bernard Gabbott | Sunday, 19 April 2020 | Kids Talk | Watch | Listen |
Waiting | Bernard Gabbott | Sunday, 1 December 2019 | Watch | Listen |
Esther is such an exciting story! There are evil plots. There are interesting yet flawed characters. There is risk and sacrifice. There is heroism and villainy. Today, we are introduced to the villain of the plot, and what an evil scheming villain he is! He spins lies and concocts murderous plans to do away with the Jews, God’s covenant people. How will the people respond? Will he get away with his evil plan? Will God, who is not mentioned at all, intervene to protect His people, to live up to the promises He made to Abraham, the people at Mt Sinai, and to David?
There is so much that sounds familiar in these first two chapters of Esther: the world is dominated by loud and brash and imposing and degraded power, the people of God are small and struggling and faced with ambiguous decisions and actions and God seems so far away he is almost absent (at least to our minds and hearts). As we read this book, we will need God’s revelation to help us navigate its strangeness, its ambiguity, and its confrontational narrative. In this, we have the key to the book—the lack of God’s name in letters does not mean the lack of God’s presence.
He is risen! This morning we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The tomb is empty, the power of sin and death has been defeated. It is fitting that if Jesus’ last words were “it is finished” than His first words to His followers are “peace be with you”. But this is no ordinary greeting. The work of Jesus, His life, death, burial and resurrection is the grounds on which our relationship with God can be restored. The brokenness and rebellion that once plagued our lives has been dealt with. It’s no wonder that Jesus’ words are “peace be with you”. Jesus doesn’t give peace as the world does, nor does He promise a life free from trouble. But He does promise life to the full. God promises Shalom, complete wholeness in relationship with Himself through Jesus. That is something to celebrate!
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