Message: God’s Family Revealed Series: Advent
Sat. 12.21.19 – 6:30 PM Sun. 12.22.19 – 8:15 / 10 / 11:45 AM
Text: Luke 2:22-35; Ephesians 2:19-22
Speaker: Josh Ratliff

READ:
Luke 2:22-35 English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus Presented at the Temple
22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant[a] depart in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”

33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

Ephesians 2:19-22 English Standard Version (ESV)
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,[a] but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by[b] the Spirit.


NOTES:
Simeon and the Strange Revelation (Luke 2:25-35)

Simeon had been waiting for consolation and deliverance (v.25)

Simeon finally saw salvation for all people (v.27-32) 

But this salvation runs through pierced hearts (v.33-35)



The Church’s Strange Revelation (Eph. 2:19-22)

A movement of the family (v.19)

Built on the foundation (v.20)

And serving together (v.21)

Is how God dwells among us and the world (v.22)



Bottom Line: God’s surprising ways require    a united family moving into mission together. 



For those not yet living a Jesus-centered life:

God answers your cry from bondage with the freedom of Jesus Christ



For those living a Jesus-centered life: 

Jesus is for all people. Are you for all people?

Don’t return to the visible powers. Join Jesus outside the camp!

Put your mission-commitments into the open with this Crosspoint family