Christmas for Lansing - Presence
Be fully present to God and fully present to others.
What’s one idea from the message that stood out to you? Why do you think it grabbed you?
What is it about the holidays that makes it most difficult for you to be fully present to God and others?
If Jesse Jackson is right and “our children need our presence more than our presents,” then why do we struggle so much with balancing that?
Read: Genesis 3:8 and 3:23-24; Ezekiel 37:27-28; John 1:14; Revelation 21:3
The failure to be fully present is, at its core, rejection. How is the way we handle the rejection of someone not being present different than the way God handles rejection?
Immediately after their sin, God initiated a way for His children to return to His presence. What about God’s actions demonstrates the lengths He is willing to go in order for His children to experience His presence?
John wrote that Jesus dwelled (literally, “tabernacled”) among his people. What does a presence of that kind of depth entail?
Revelation ends with humanity restored to God’s presence. What about that do you most look forward to?
How can we embody God’s desire to be present to us in the way we choose to be present to others?
Prayer: Pray for the ability to slow down and focus enough this Christmas to be fully present to God and fully present to others.