Special Guest speaker Pastor Hamish Buntain teaches about Life's Purpose and Faith

🎄 Emmanuel — “God with us” ✨ 🎁

God’s Constant Presence Amidst Human Aloneness

Speaker: Pastor Hamish Buntain

I. Core Theme: God’s Constant Presence Amidst Human Aloneness

Pastor Hamish Buntain’s central message affirms the profound, unwavering presence of God in the lives of believers, directly addressing the human condition of aloneness. While people often feel isolated and face challenges independently, the Christian faith announces the encouraging news that:

“God is a God who draws near to make himself present to us.”

This divine nearness counters “alone-ness,” illustrated through personal stories and biblical examples.

Key Idea 1: The Universal Experience of Aloneness

  • Feeling alone is a fundamental human experience, intensified in times of fragility, inadequacy, or overwhelm.
  • Illustration: a father and daughter separated on a “Man Tracker” episode—panic rises and the longing not to be alone surfaces.

  • “alone-ness is part of our human condition… so much of life magnifies our alone-ness.”

  • Contrast: the fictional Star Trek “Borg collective,” where the greatest trauma is to be an individual “alone with one’s thoughts.” Yet that is precisely our reality—we are individuals.

II. The Assurance of God’s Presence: Biblical Foundations and Christ’s Promise

The sermon builds a biblical case for God’s presence from Old to New Testament, culminating in Jesus’ final words to his disciples.

Key Idea 2: God’s Historical Pattern of Drawing Near

  • Abraham: God draws near despite Abraham’s fear and foolishness.
  • Jacob: God shows him the way when he’s “caught between a rock and a hard place.”
  • Moses: God promises His presence when Moses is “overwhelmed and fearful.”
  • Joshua, Gideon, Israel: Repeated reassurance: “Do not be afraid, I am with you.”
  • Isaiah 41:8–10: “You’re my servant, I chose you and have not rejected you so do not fear, I am with you.”

Key Idea 3: Jesus Christ as the Embodiment of “God With Us”

The Christmas season highlights Jesus, Emmanuel — “God with us.” Paul’s blessing in 2 Corinthians 13:14 reinforces that every member of the Trinity desires to be present with His people.

Key Idea 4: Jesus’ Three-Fold Promise

“Surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28)

A. “Surely I am with you” — The Promise

  • Jesus’ authority is complete; His promise cannot fail.
  • Disciples knew His power: over death, nature, demons, and His compassion in feeding, healing, and forgiving.

  • Paul testifies:

    “But the Lord stood by my side and gave me strength.”

  • Personal testimony: peace during a car accident — God’s presence in weakness.

B. “Always” — The Manner of Presence

  • Not intermittent, not conditional — but always.
  • In rebellion: Jesus is present, even to discipline (Peter’s denial, thief on the cross, adulterous woman).

  • In grief: Psalm 23 —

    “Even though I walk through the valley… you are with me.”

  • In death: Jesus has conquered death — “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

C. “To the very end of the age” — The Duration

  • Jesus’ presence continues until eternity, where togetherness is fully realized.
  • Unlike human limitations, God’s Spirit is always present.

  • Psalm 139:

    “Where can I go from your Spirit?… even the darkness will not be dark to you.”

III. Benefits of Recognizing God’s Presence and Call to Action

Key Idea 5: Transformative Impact

  • “I’m a better lover of God and of people.”
  • “My life blesses and encourages and refreshes others.”
  • “I resist temptation more and find less satisfaction in sin.”
  • “I make better decisions and steward my resources wisely.”
  • In sadness and pain: believers are comforted and given hope of better days.

Key Idea 6: God’s Presence as Ultimate Community

Even church community cannot be with us at all times. Yet Jesus is constant:

“Rejoice — the Lord Jesus is with you, you’re not alone.”

 

Key Idea 7: Call to Surrender

To those who do not know Jesus:

“You’re missing out… you’re living without experiencing the life-giving presence of God.”

 

Surrender today. Enter into relationship with the ever-present God who gives life now and eternally.

IV. Conclusion

This sermon moves from the universal human experience of aloneness, through God’s biblical promises, to Christ’s assurance: “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” His presence is transformative — enabling faithful, hope-filled living now, with the promise of eternal togetherness to come.