The God Who Enters the Dark with Josh Liem

The God Who Enters the Dark with Josh LiemPsalm 80, Isaiah 7:10-16, Matthew 1:18-25On the longest night of the year, the final Sunday of Advent invites us to stop running from the darkness and to sit in it, with our doubts, fears, and longing. The ancient cry of Psalm 80, "Restore us, O Lord," echoes through King Ahaz's failure, Joseph's quiet obedience, and our own prayers for a world still waiting. Yet God's answer isn't a plan to extract us from the darkness, but rather to enter into it: Emmanuel, God with us.For reflection & discussion:What's one thing you're looking forward to this Christmas season, and one thing you're finding hard about it?Joseph receives a word from God that doesn't remove the scandal or suffering—it just asks for obedience. Have you ever felt called to obey God even when it didn't make your life easier?The sermon says, "God's answer to 'Restore us' is not to get us out of the darkness, but to enter into it himself." How does that change what you expect from God in difficult times?Isaiah tells Ahaz that a pregnancy in wartime is a sign of hope. Why is caring for the vulnerable an act of trust in God?  Who are the vulnerable you may be called to care for?