The sermon launches the Advent series Presence by showing that the entire storyline of Scripture is about God’s relational presence with His people—from Eden, to the tabernacle, to Jesus dwelling among us, to the Spirit living within us, all the way to the New Creation. In Genesis 1–2, God creates a place, forms a people, and gives them purpose so they can dwell with Him and extend His presence throughout the earth. But in Genesis 3, a deceptive voice leads Adam and Eve to distrust God, resulting in shame, hiding, and separation from God’s presence. Yet even in judgment, God pursues them with the question “Where are you?” and offers hope through the first promise of a coming Redeemer who will defeat the serpent. God’s act of clothing Adam and Eve foreshadows the covering Jesus would provide through His sacrifice. The sermon calls us to examine where we have wandered, to return to God’s presence, and to recognize that His nearness is both our greatest need and His great delight.

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