Hide and Seek
Experiencing the Absence and Presence of God

The six sessions that comprised the sermon series "Hide and Seek: Experiencing the Absence and Presence of God" are now available in a book of the same name.


Back Cover

"Truly, you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior."

God desires that we live coram deo - in the presence of God. The story of the Bible is that of God's pursuit of wayward sinners. Though we hide from God's presence, God continues to pursue us.

If this is true, what do we make of passages like Isaiah 45:15 - "Truly, you are a God who hides himself." What exactly is the "hiddenness" of God? What reasons could God have in hiding?

In this book, Pastor Rich Vincent traces the centrality of God's presence in sacred scripture, wrestles with why God hides, and suggests how we may bring God out of hiding through the spiritual sight of faith - and even how we might go about spending an entire day with God!


Table of Contents

The Presence of God

  • Just Lift a Finger
  • Coram Deo

The Hiddenness of God

  • Why God Hides (Part 1)
  • Why God Hides (Part 2)

Seeking God's Hidden Presence

  • Spiritual Sight
  • How to Spend a Day with God


Expanded Summary

The Presence of God

  • Just Lift a Finger
    God’s greatest desire is that we would live all of life coram deo, that is, before the face of God. God is closer than we think, offering us access into the divine life. God furiously pursues us – in spite of our lethargy – and desires for us to awaken to his presence. “He is never farther than a prayer away. All it takes is the barest effort, the lift of a finger.”


  • Coram Deo
    It is important that we not only believe in God, but that we live before God. The former without the latter is irrelevant to our daily lives – it is religion without relationship. Even worse, it is empty of any meaning whatsoever. Simply consider how many people believe in God, and yet, this belief has absolutely no significance in shaping any aspect of their lives.

The Hiddenness of God

  • Why God Hides (Part 1)
    “Truly you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior” (Isaiah 45:15). What exactly is the “hiddenness” of God? What reasons could God have in hiding? Could God's hiddenness actually be an expression of divine love? Perhaps in God's hiddenness, God is up to something. Perhaps God has good reasons to hide.


  • Why God Hides (Part 2)
    God’s revelation must never be detached from God’s ultimate will for humanity. God is interested in much more than our becoming theists over atheists! God desires to transform our hearts in order that we might freely participate in loving union with God. God achieves this through the means of divine hiddenness.

Seeking God's Hidden Presence

  • Spiritual Sight
    Faith is spiritual sight. Faith finds the hidden God in nature, relationships, events, and objects. Since “this is my Father’s world” where Christ is Lord and the Spirit is given, all creation holds the possibility of manifesting the divine presence. Faith does not change the facts about the world we live in, but it changes the way we see these facts, & this makes all the difference.


  • How to Spend a Day with God
    All the ordinary places and events of our lives hold the potential to become houses of God, gateways of heaven. Every moment holds the possibility of revealing the hidden God in our midst. The reason knowing God does not consist of an endless stream of ecstatic and extraordinary experiences is because God wants us to learn to see him in the ordinary!

For More Info

An extended preview of Chapter 3 - Why God Hides - is available online and can be viewed by clicking HERE. The book itself can be ordered by clicking HERE.


Online Sermon Series

The mp3s that are the basis for the book can be downloaded and listened to for free.

NOTE: To download mp3's to your computer using Internet Explorer, right-click the file name, and choose "Save Target As." If using Firefox, right-click and choose "Save Link As." In both cases, a box will open up allowing you to save the mp3 to your harddrive.


Other Books

While you're at it, check out my ebook on Ken Wilber's Theory of Everything titled Integral Christianity.

Integral Christianity is fresh look at the all embracing quality of historic Christianity, beyond popular attempts to define a Christian worldview. Using the "all quadrant, all levels" model of Ken Wilber, Vincent offers an open Christian framework for personal growth, church life and cultural influence that moves beyond the conflict of modern and postmodern views. Vincent concludes by examining the role of tradition and dogma as a convention for the open-minded. Integral Christianity will enlarge your faith, enrich your life, and help you open the doors to pursue the common good.


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Comments

Rich, I just ordered your book for Glenn. I will probably read it, too, as it looks like my kind of book. He is going to be so excited! We still miss you and Elizabeth. Come visit us again soon...or maybe we'll visit you! Laurie Rich: Yeah, Laurie! You are the very first person to buy the book! Thanks much. I certainly hope you enjoy it. The first two chapters are not ground-breaking, but they lay the groundwork for the chapters that deal with divine hiddenness - and as far as I know, the content here is relatively unique in popular Christian literature. Anyway, thanks for the support!

Posted by: Laurie Miller at March 8, 2007 11:40 AM

Kudos, Rich! I posted a blog about this to get the word out at DP. :-) Rich: Cary, thanks for the promo! It's much appreciated!

Posted by: Cary at March 8, 2007 3:21 PM

I'll be looking forward to this book Rich! Thanks for all your insights here. God's peace to you! Rich: James, thanks for the support! By the way, I'm finally reading Between Cross and Resurrection: A Theology of Holy Saturday which you recommended a year ago. I love it! Hopefully, I'll finish it in time to share some of the insights to my congregation during Holy Week. Also, next time I'm in the Chicago area, let's connect. I've been a few times in the past months for some conferences/seminars at Northern Seminary. Finally, just curious: What happened to your blog?

Posted by: James R. A. Merrick at March 10, 2007 10:58 AM

I am feeling very angry and frustrated. I was listening to that wonderful set of sermons by Pastor Vincent and I get to the last one and I get told that this feature is no longer available. I wanted to hear that last one so much. It means so much to me to learn about spending time with God. I wanted to listen to the other ones again too. This was the best set of sermons I've ever heard on relationship with God. Rich: Hey Jude! (Sorry, I had to say it!) Let me see if I can figure out what the problem may be - all the sermons should be available online. ... I found it. If you go to the this page and page down to the header "Online Sermon Series" - you can download the mp3s for all six sessions by following the instructions. Let me know if you have any problem doing so. And thanks for your kind and encouraging comments about the series. I'm grateful that it has been meaningful to you.

Posted by: Jude Bisgaard-Morley at February 26, 2008 9:00 PM

Rich - hope the family is doing well. I got your book today and couldn't put it down. I really appreciated the encouraging thoughts on a purpose for God's hiddenness other than "must be sin" as I have felt this may many times in my walk. It is encouraging to think that it is part of how God shows his love to us and encourages us to continue our pursuit of constantly living in His presence. Hear you are coming to Indy in July - Cathlynn and I will try to make it to the Dwelling Place to see you. Keep up the great writing! Rich: Monte, great to hear from you! And thanks for reading the book. You picked up on the first idea that made me want to write/preach on God's hiddenness in the first place. Glad to see that it was helpful/encouraging to you. It would be great to see you and Cathlynn at the Dwelling Place. Hope that works out! Thanks again for your encouraging words. I remember both you and Cathlynn with great fondness. God bless!

Posted by: Monte Curnutt at June 28, 2008 9:18 PM

Rich - In the last month or so I have been exposed to not only what is available on your web-site, but I have purchased and devoured both of your books Integral Christianity and Hide and Seek. Amazingly, you have a special knack for relating a lot of pertinent information so as to direct the whole of one's being toward God. I have already and will continue to pass on to others close to me the Light and Love I have come across through what God has been placing on your heart to share with others. Rich: Chris, thanks so much for your encouraging comments. I am grateful that my material speaks to you. And wow - if you got through "Integral Christianity" you certainly deserve an award of some type! I've received the other emails you personally sent, but haven't got around to responding to them yet. I will soon.

Posted by: Chris Hill at August 23, 2008 5:33 AM

hI rICH, I was looking at your web page and thought that I would drop you a line. I remember that your full name is Richard Joseph Vincent. Of course you are aware that God's abundant blessing is still upon CPC. May He guide every day you, Elizabeth, Carmen, Owen,and the youngest one. Eugene Kimble

Posted by: Eugene kIMBLE at January 27, 2009 6:57 PM

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