Journey Community Church Fontana

The Christmas story reveals how God orchestrates world events to fulfill His promises. Caesar Augustus unknowingly moved Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem through a census decree, fulfilling ancient prophecy about the Messiah's birthplace. God became human for three essential reasons: to fully reveal Himself, to fulfill the moral law we couldn't keep, and to die for our sins. He announced Jesus' birth not to powerful rulers but to marginalized shepherds, showing His heart for the overlooked. The shepherds' response demonstrates the pattern of transformation: receiving revelation, responding in obedience, witnessing to others, and returning to daily life changed.CLICK ME: Sermon Outline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TIKTOK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WEBSITE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Abraham's encounter with God in Genesis 18 reveals that divine timing and faithful obedience work together in powerful ways. God appeared to Abraham not during a moment of prayer or worship, but during ordinary obedience at a place where Abraham had previously built an altar. The three visitors included two angels and Jesus himself in a pre-incarnate appearance. Abraham's response demonstrated recognition of authority, dependence on grace, and urgent service. God promised Sarah would have a son within a year, showing that God's timing is perfect even when our hope falters. Sarah's initial doubt transformed into powerful faith over time, proving that faith grows through trust and obedience despite delays and difficulties.CLICK ME: Sermon Outline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TIKTOK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WEBSITE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In Genesis 17, God establishes circumcision as the physical sign of His covenant with Abraham after 25 years of waiting. This sign didn't create Abraham's relationship with God but confirmed what already existed through faith. Abraham responded with immediate obedience, circumcising himself and every male in his household on the same day. For Christians today, baptism serves as our covenant sign - not earning salvation but publicly declaring our faith in Christ. Abraham's example challenges us to receive God's promises by faith and respond with immediate obedience to His commands.CLICK ME: Sermon Outline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TIKTOK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WEBSITE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Abraham's 25-year journey from promise to fulfillment reveals how God rewrites our stories when we surrender our timelines to His perfect plan. At 99 years old, Abraham encountered God as El Shaddai - the God of impossible situations who transforms our identity before changing our circumstances. God changed Abram's name to Abraham, shifting his identity from who he was to who God declared him to be. When we accept our new identity in Christ as sealed, owned, new, and sent, we can trust God's timing instead of forcing our own agenda. Our past mistakes don't define our future when we walk in intimate relationship with the God who specializes in rewriting impossible stories.CLICK ME: Sermon Outline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TIKTOK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WEBSITE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The story of Hagar, an Egyptian slave woman, reveals how God sees and values those who feel invisible and forgotten. When Hagar fled to the wilderness while pregnant and alone, Jesus found her at a spring and asked penetrating questions to help her process her trauma. He commanded her to return to her difficult situation, promising His presence, protection, and purpose. Hagar became the first person to call God El Roi - the God who sees. Her story demonstrates that God builds us up in the wilderness, not the palace, and that He redeems the very places we run from.CLICK ME: Sermon Outline⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TIKTOK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YOUTUBE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WEBSITE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠