Live Service for Dec. 3rd, 2025

Pastor Dr. Charles W. Ferguson Mitchell Harper

Text: Matthew 1:23 (ESV)

“‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).”

Reflection:
God’s presence changes everything. The incarnation is divine proximity—God entering our brokenness, not avoiding it. Presence heals what absence wounds. Jesus’ birth reveals that redemption begins when we show up where pain lives.

Societal Lens:
Many enter the holidays with grief, loneliness, or anxiety. “God with us” must become “we with each other.” In a world of digital connection but relational isolation, being fully present is counter-cultural ministry.

Spiritual Practice:
Reach out to someone who feels unseen. Don’t fix—listen. Bring warmth through presence rather than solutions.

Conversation Questions:

1. What does “God with us” mean in your daily experience?
2. How can the church embody presence in a hurting world?
3. What practices help you remain emotionally available to others?

Prayer:
“Emmanuel, You are the presence we crave. Help us to be present for others as You are for us. Amen.”

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