Parkerville Baptist Church
Jesus Exceeds Our Expectations
This Sunday Ray Hockley will be bringing us a message of hope in the second of our Christmas sermon series entitled "Beyond Expectations". Ray says “God is in the business of surprising us and exceeding our expectations. He did it 2000 years ago and continues to do it today. Jesus is named in the book of Isaiah as ‘Immanuel’ which means God with us. The level of intimacy now available to us through Jesus was unheard of to the religious leaders of the time, yet through abolishing the old sacrificial system, Jesus ushered in a new era where God can be referred to as our Abba Father. Many of us are surprised even today that Jesus would choose us despite our misgivings, yet throughout history He often reaches out to those least expected with the offer of forgiveness and the power to transform their lives. The angelic visitation to the shepherds was just another example of His unexpected and undeserved grace. Finally, the impact of Jesus coming was both far reaching and catalytic. Millions of lives and communities have been transformed through His love and the work of His church. This message is one of hope, even for those whose lives have been marred with tragedy. God is good and His ways are higher than our ways. Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ but also to lean into His promises knowing that God is for us.”
Locations & Times
Parkerville Baptist Church
910 Seaborne St, Parkerville WA 6081, Australia
Sunday 9:30 AM
About Parkerville Baptist Church
Love God, love others, make disciples … that’s the commission Jesus left his followers.
At Parky, it’s our mission to do this by sharing our lives and creating pathways that inspire people to wholeheartedly follow Jesus.
Visit www.parkerville.church to learn more about our church.
1. Intimacy With God
It was difficult for people to accept that God’s plan was to do away with the old sacrificial system of blood sacrifices and usher in a new era.
Jesus on the cross cried out “it is finished” before hanging his head in death, and then the curtain tore from top to bottom allowing everyone access to God’s presence.
The old paradigm of a transcendent God who is off in the distance is finished. It is now the new paradigm of “God with us”. His Spirit dwelling in our hearts and allowing us to refer to God as Abba Father.
Jesus told the Pharisees that “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick” Mark 2:17 and He came to “seek and save those who are lost”. Luke 19:10
The religious people of the day thought that the messiah was going to come to affirm their religious virtues but instead He called them vipers and “whitewashed tombs full of dead men’s bones” Matt 23:27
But to shepherds, the larrikins of the day, who roughed it by living on the land, the angels appeared and shared the good news of the saviour’s birth.
The devout Jews thought that through their many sacrifices they were somehow pleasing God, but as they would have read in Ps 51:16-17 “He does not delight in sacrifice … but a broken and contrite heart he will not despise”.
Imagine the look on the religious people's faces when Jesus called Zacchaeus down from the tree!
"Salvation has come to this house today" Jesus said. Luke 19:9
How profound is it that?
"While we were still yet sinners Christ died for us" Romans 5:8
If you are here today and you have never experienced a touch from your Creator, I encourage you to reach out to Him.
Jer 29:13 “Seek me, and you will find me when you seek me with all of your heart”.
Isaiah writes “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” Isa 1:18
Jesus says “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Rev 3:20
Jesus has impacted lives and continues to impact lives across the globe. His command to forgive has reconciled millions of families, His miraculous power has healed individuals, His love has brought down racial barriers, and through His church He is transforming communities who are trapped in depression, poverty and addiction.
Tragedy and unanswered prayer can leave people frustrated and disillusioned. Asking the question "why God?" or "where are you?" are legitimate, because at times we can feel that we have been deserted. Even Jesus on the cross cried out “Father why have you forsaken me?” Matt 27:46.
God is good, and His ways are higher than our ways. I encourage you not to give up. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up”. Gal 6:9
We have heard the Old Testament promises of the immanent presence of God. We have heard that His love reaches out to the most unlikely of people and that He is impacting individuals, families, and communities across the globe.
But despite all of these promises, we continue to underestimate the ripple effect of Jesus coming. As Habakkuk promised “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” Hubakkuk 2:14.
Who knew that this little baby in a manger would have such a profound impact on so many lives?
