Elements City Church
Christmas Playlist - Simeon's Song (Luke 2:21-35)
Christmas is how God shows up in unexpected places and ways. And in that original Christmas season we see the story of Simeon - who was caught up waiting on the Lord to do what only He could do and celebrating that He now saw God’s plan unfolding in Jesus. Heaven invading earth through the incarnation and forever altering history and initiating godly transformation.God still wants his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven through you as he gives and grows the power of his Spirit within you. Lean into seasons of redemptive waiting and how God can transform you through it. (Luke 2:21-35)
Locations & Times
Elements City Church
1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA
Sunday 5:00 PM
Welcome to Elements!
Whether you're on-site or online, we are praying that tonight will be an encouragement to you! If you're new and want to get connected, we'd love to hep you do so! Click the link below to fill out our Connection Card.
https://connect-card.com/yr4Y0g8VLBSqzKXeubjbHow can we be praying for you this week?
If you have a prayer request you'd like our Elders and Prayer Team to pray for, click the link below to share it with us.
https://share.fluro.io/form/6329f633da0feb00250cbd5fSimeon's Blessing (song) -- see Luke 2:21-35
Q) Where did Simeon’s blessing happen?
From a Jewish perspective and heritage — the temple is the focal point of everything because it was this little picture or signpost that God has established a toehold on the planet, a place where God dwells.
Where His very presence meets ours…
New Testament scholar N. T. Wright unpacks it like this:
"Israel would think about heaven and earth not as two completely separate spheres, but that they actually overlap and interlock, and for Israel, that looked like this. There's heaven, the place where God dwells, and there's the earth, and the temple is where heaven and earth meet. God decided in this one tiny little place, people could get a glimpse of what it would be like for heaven to invade earth so that they could keep hope alive."
When Jesus came (the incarnation) it was Heaven invading earth more.
From a Jewish perspective and heritage — the temple is the focal point of everything because it was this little picture or signpost that God has established a toehold on the planet, a place where God dwells.
Where His very presence meets ours…
New Testament scholar N. T. Wright unpacks it like this:
"Israel would think about heaven and earth not as two completely separate spheres, but that they actually overlap and interlock, and for Israel, that looked like this. There's heaven, the place where God dwells, and there's the earth, and the temple is where heaven and earth meet. God decided in this one tiny little place, people could get a glimpse of what it would be like for heaven to invade earth so that they could keep hope alive."
When Jesus came (the incarnation) it was Heaven invading earth more.
Luke says, "Simeon … was righteous and devout." He was committed to God. "It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.”
So what was Simeon doing with his life in the meantime?
He was waiting.
Now, most of us don’t like waiting… it grinds on our nerves.
We are doers — not waiters.
When all things move faster — the power of redemptive waiting gets lost. But being able to wait is distinctly Christian.
In fact, it is a mark of Christian maturity. The Bible speaks of waiting on the Lord, of being steadfast, and of bearing the spiritual fruit of patience.
So what was Simeon doing with his life in the meantime?
He was waiting.
Now, most of us don’t like waiting… it grinds on our nerves.
We are doers — not waiters.
When all things move faster — the power of redemptive waiting gets lost. But being able to wait is distinctly Christian.
In fact, it is a mark of Christian maturity. The Bible speaks of waiting on the Lord, of being steadfast, and of bearing the spiritual fruit of patience.
Quote:
If I want potatoes for dinner tomorrow, it will do me little good to plant them in my garden tonight. There are long stretches of darkness and invisibility and silence that separate planting and reaping. ~Eugene Peterson
Maybe second only to suffering, waiting is one of the greatest teachers and trainers in godliness, maturity, and authentic spirituality most of us will ever encounter.
God can do some of His best work within us as we wait.
If we learn to wait well - redemptive waiting on Him & with Him.
If I want potatoes for dinner tomorrow, it will do me little good to plant them in my garden tonight. There are long stretches of darkness and invisibility and silence that separate planting and reaping. ~Eugene Peterson
Maybe second only to suffering, waiting is one of the greatest teachers and trainers in godliness, maturity, and authentic spirituality most of us will ever encounter.
God can do some of His best work within us as we wait.
If we learn to wait well - redemptive waiting on Him & with Him.
The Scriptures all point to the reality that this Jesus — is the fulfillment of humanity's waiting — HE is what we’ve been waiting for.
At Christmas we remember: heaven was invading earth, and the temple was a picture of that, but only a picture, and now really, concretely, actually it was coming true in Jesus.
Jesus is heaven invading earth, and this invasion of earth by heaven doesn't stop with Jesus. The Church (you and I) are now portals of heaven invading earth. We’re all a work in progress with this - we’re invited to be a partner with God’s Spirit and His Bride (the Church) to bring about more of heaven invading earth in how we leverage our lives for God and His good in the world.
Conclusion:
If you’re waiting on God - keep waiting. Trusting Him.
Let Him strengthen you and lift you up.
Let Him do His work within you.
Keep growing as a person - your inner person; your character transforming to be more like Jesus.
Keep open to be used by Him to bring a little bit more of heaven on earth where you are and with those He’s placed around you.
At Christmas we remember: heaven was invading earth, and the temple was a picture of that, but only a picture, and now really, concretely, actually it was coming true in Jesus.
Jesus is heaven invading earth, and this invasion of earth by heaven doesn't stop with Jesus. The Church (you and I) are now portals of heaven invading earth. We’re all a work in progress with this - we’re invited to be a partner with God’s Spirit and His Bride (the Church) to bring about more of heaven invading earth in how we leverage our lives for God and His good in the world.
Conclusion:
If you’re waiting on God - keep waiting. Trusting Him.
Let Him strengthen you and lift you up.
Let Him do His work within you.
Keep growing as a person - your inner person; your character transforming to be more like Jesus.
Keep open to be used by Him to bring a little bit more of heaven on earth where you are and with those He’s placed around you.
We're so appreciate your financial partnership
Thank you for giving your tithes and offerings. They enable us to be the church, and they help fuel the mission of Elements City Church. They enable us to advocate for justice and blessing in our city! Our capacity to function as a church on a daily basis is directly impacted by your support, and we are so grateful for it! You can give online at the link below or through the Elements City Church app.
http://elementscitychurch.org/giveThanks for being with us tonight!
Gathering together as a church body to worship in song and in the Word is a great way to be refreshed in God's presence. We pray tonight has been a blessing to you as you start your week.
We invite you to Christmas Eve service on Dec. 24th at 530pm.
(family friendly hour long candlelight service)
We'll see you Christmas eve and then back next Sunday the 29th to wrap up 2024 together!
Gathering together as a church body to worship in song and in the Word is a great way to be refreshed in God's presence. We pray tonight has been a blessing to you as you start your week.
We invite you to Christmas Eve service on Dec. 24th at 530pm.
(family friendly hour long candlelight service)
We'll see you Christmas eve and then back next Sunday the 29th to wrap up 2024 together!