God's Neighboring Presence || Pastor Derek Vreeland

The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood to reveal God’s neighboring presence. God has joined us as us in order to rescue us and the world. The infinite took on the finite. Immortality took on mortality. The eternal took on the earthly. The God of creation moved into the neighborhoods of our creation in order to rebuild our neighborhoods. God is here. God’s neighboring presence is here with us and for us in order to remake us. In and through Jesus, God joins us in three movements. God joins us in life (incarnation) to be with us and we awaken. God joins us in death (crucifixion) to rescue us and we believe. God joins us in new life (resurrection) to transform us and we participate.
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The sermon, led by Pastor Derek Vreeland, delved into the theme of "God's Neighboring Presence," highlighting the concept of God's presence with His people as illustrated in the Bible.
Using the gospel of John 1:14, Pastor Vreeland emphasized the incarnation of Jesus, describing it through the lens of Eugene Peterson's "The Message" translation, which phrases it as "The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood."
This translation was used to underscore the tangible and intimate presence of God in everyday life.
Pastor Vreeland encouraged the congregation to cultivate an awareness of God's presence through practices such as prayer, kindness, and worship, and to view their surroundings with a Christ-like perspective.
The sermon concluded with a call to participate in Holy Communion, reinforcing the communal and participatory nature of worship and the ongoing presence of Jesus among His followers.
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SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS wolc.com/sermon-discussion-questions
1. What was your favorite television show when you were a child?
2. If Jesus showed up in your neighborhood, how would things change? Read John 1:6-14
3. Various translations of John 1:14 use different words. How does the phrase “moved into the neighborhood” strike you?
4. Why is God’s neighboring presence, that is God’s presence with us, the great hope of the gospel?
5. When you reflect on God with us in life, God with us in death, and God with us in new life, which one speaks to you the most, right now, in your life?
6. How does the fact that Jesus joined us in suffering, give us hope in our suffering?
7. What changes when we begin to see things from Jesus’ perspective?
8. Which of the following three responses do you need to focus on: awakening, believing, or participating in God’s neighboring presence?
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Outline of the Transcript
Chapter 1: Introduction to God's Presence
0:01 - 0:24: Introduction to the theme of God's presence with us, particularly God's neighboring presence.
Chapter 2: The Word Became Flesh
0:24 - 0:59: Introduction to John 1:14.
0:59 - 1:47: Introduction to the Message Bible by Eugene Peterson.
Chapter 3: The Message Translation of John 1:14
1:47 - 2:43: Reading and explanation of John 1:14 from the Message Bible.
Chapter 4: Significance of Incarnation
2:43 - 4:49: Discussion on the theological concept of incarnation and its significance.
Chapter 5: Personal Reflections and Cultural References
4:49 - 7:40: Personal reflections growing up in the seventies and eighties and references to popular culture.
Chapter 6: Returning to the Text
7:40 - 9:12: Returning to John 1:14 and its implications on God's neighboring presence.
Chapter 7: God's Ever-Presence
9:12 - 10:39: Discussing the concept of God's ever-presence.
10:39 - 12:51: Reflection on Psalm 139 and God's omnipresence.
Chapter 8: Hebrews and Jesus' Role
12:51 - 15:29: Reading and interpretation from Hebrews 2 about Jesus' role.
Chapter 9: The Story of Lazarus
15:29 - 17:37: The story of Lazarus and its significance.
Chapter 10: Participating in the Resurrection Life
17:37 - 20:58: Encouragement to participate and see things from Jesus' perspective.
Chapter 11: Practicing God's Presence
20:58 - 26:06: Practical ways to practice God's presence and prayer.
Chapter 12: The Good Samaritan
26:06 - 29:12: Reference to the parable of the Good Samaritan and its lessons.
Chapter 13: Worship and Community
29:12 - 30:19: The importance of worship and community as participation in God's presence.
Chapter 14: Preparation for Holy Communion
30:19 - 31:39: Preparation and invitation to Holy Communion.
Chapter 15: Confession and Pardon
31:39 - 34:43: Confession of faith and sin, and receiving the Lord’s pardon.
Chapter 16: Invitation to the Table
34:43 - end: Invitation to partake in the communion table, concluding the service.
Notes
🎯 God's Neighboring Presence (00:01 - 07:12)
Discuss the theme of God's presence with His people.
Introduction of John 1:14 and its interpretation in the Message Bible.
Eugene Peterson's translation highlighted as a tool to open up new imagination.
Emphasis on the verse: "The word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood."
📖 Biblical Interpretation and Relevance (07:12 - 16:40)
Reference to Mister Rogers' approach to addressing significant issues through his show.
Comparison of Mister Rogers' neighborhood concept to God's neighboring presence.
Discussion of the famous episode with Officer Clemens.
Return to John 1:14 and its significance.
🌊 Presence and Awareness (16:40 - 22:21)
Jesus' conversation with Martha in John 11:25 about resurrection and life.
Mention of Jesus' role in transforming and rebuilding neighborhoods.
Reference to Colossians 3 and participation in the new resurrection life with Christ.
Encouragement to see things from Jesus' perspective.
🙏 Participating in God's Presence (22:21 - 28:27)
Awakening to God's neighboring presence.
Trusting and accepting God's presence in life.
Emphasis on participation and transformation through the Holy Spirit.
Steps to cultivate awareness and practice the presence of God.
Importance of prayer as a means to stay aware of God's presence.
💖 Acts of Kindness and Worship (28:27 - 35:06)
Kindness as a signpost of the Kingdom of God.
Reference to the parable of the Good Samaritan as an example of kindness.
Encouragement to participate in acts of worship and kindness.
Worship as a means to encounter and participate in the life of Jesus.
🍞 Holy Communion (35:06 - 35:06)
Invitation to prepare for and participate in Holy Communion.
Communion as an act of remembrance and connection with Jesus.
Twofold confession of faith before taking communion.
Open invitation to all, regardless of faith level or previous attendance, to partake in communion.