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PRELUDE – “Steadfast” by Sandra McCracken
WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP – Isaiah 12:4-6
Give thanks to the Lord,
call upon his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples,
proclaim that his name is exalted.
“Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
let this be made known in all the earth.
Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”
SONG –
“Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me” by Jonny Robinson, Michael Farren, and Rich Thompson
CONFESSION OF SIN
EVERYONE:
O Almighty God, merciful Father,
I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities
with which I have ever offended You,
and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment.
But I am heartily sorry for them,
and sincerely repent of them,
and I pray that You,
out of Your boundless mercy
and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son,
Jesus Christ,
would be gracious and merciful to me,
a poor, sinful being.
Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON – Micah 7:18-19
Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity
and passing over transgression
for the remnant of his inheritance?
He does not retain his anger forever,
because he delights in steadfast love.
He will again have compassion on us;
he will tread our iniquities underfoot.
You will cast all our sins
into the depths of the sea.
SONG –
“His Mercy Is More” by Matt Boswell and Matt Papa
PRAYER
CHILDREN’S DISMISSAL
SONG –
“Jesus Strong and Kind” by Colin Buchanan, Jonny Robinson, Michael Farren, and Rich Thompson
SCRIPTURE READING – 2 Samuel 15
SERMON – “Prayers of a Poor Sinner”
SONG –
“Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy” by Fernando Ortega, John Andrew Schreiner, and Joseph Hart
THE LORD’S TABLE
OFFERING
SONG –
“All Glory Be to Christ” by Dustin Kensrue
BENEDICTION
ANNOUNCEMENTS
POSTLUDE – “Wasteland” by NEEDTOBREATHE
PRELUDE – “O Holy Night” by Lauren Daigle
WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP – Zechariah 2:10
Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion,
for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst,
declares the Lord.
SONG –
“Angels from the Realms of Glory” by Henry Thomas Smart and James Montgomery
CONFESSION OF SIN – Psalm 5:4-6
You are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil may not dwell with you.
The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;
you hate all evildoers.
You destroy those who speak lies;
the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON – 1 John 1:9, 2:1-2 [NIV]
If we confess our sins,
God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
We have an advocate with the Father – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,
and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
SONG –
“Joy to the World” by George Frideric Handel and Isaac Watts
PRAYER
CHILDREN’S DISMISSAL
SONG –
“Good Christian Men Rejoice” by John Mason Neale
SCRIPTURE READING – John 1:1-14
SERMON – “A Brief Biblical Theology of God Dwelling Among His People”
SONG –
“O Little Town of Bethlehem” by Lewis Henry Redner and Phillips Brooks
THE LORD’S TABLE
OFFERING
SONG –
“All Glory Be to Christ” by Dustin Kensrue
BENEDICTION – From The Book of Common Prayer
O God,
you make us glad by the yearly celebration of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ:
Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer,
may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our Judge;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
POSTLUDE – “Handel’s Messiah” by Jenny & Tyler
PRELUDE –
“Shepherd’s Song” by Josh Garrells
WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP – Luke 2:29-32
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
SONG –
“Angels We Have Heard On High” by Edward Shippen Barnes and James Chadwick
CONFESSION OF SIN – 1 John 1:5-9
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you,
that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness,
we lie and do not practice the truth.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
SONG –
“O Come O Come Emmanuel” by John Mason Neale and Thomas Helmore
ASSURANCE OF PARDON – John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but in order that the world might be saved through him.
SONG –
“O, Holy Night” by Adolphe Charles Adam, John Sullivan Dwight, and Placide Cappeau
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of the Father before all worlds;
God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God;
begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father,
by whom all things were made.
Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven,
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered and was buried;
and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures;
and ascended into heaven,
and sits on the right hand of the Father;
and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead;
whose kingdom shall have no end.
We believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life;
who proceeds from the Father and the Son;
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified;
who spoke by the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins;
and we look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
PRAYER
CHILDREN’S DISMISSAL
SCRIPTURE READING – 1 Timothy 4:6-10
6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
SERMON – “The Savior of All People”
SONG –
“O Little Town of Bethlehem” by Lewis Henry Redner and Phillips Brooks
LORD’S TABLE
OFFERING
SONG –
“Go Tell It On the Mountain” by John W. Work, Jr.
BENEDICTION & ANNOUNCEMENTS
POSTLUDE –
“Go Tell It on the Mountain” by Penny and Sparrow
CCLI License # 2308869
PRELUDE –
“Angels We Have Heard On High” by Phil Wickham
LIGHTING OF THE THIRD ADVENT CANDLE & CALL TO WORSHIP – 2 Samuel 7:12-13
During this advent season, we as a church are lighting candles to symbolize the people of God’s anticipation of the coming of Christ. In 2 Samuel 7:12-13, God promised David that one of his sons would sit on the throne of Israel forever. The Lord says,
“When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”
As Israel struggled under oppression and exile, God’s people clung to this promise, eagerly awaiting the day when their promised king would come. Christmas is a time that we celebrate, because the king who was promised so long ago, has finally come to his people.
(light the three candles)
Let’s stand and sing to Jesus Christ, the king who has come at last.
SONG –
“O Come All Ye Faithful” by C. Frederick Oakeley and John Francis Wade
CONFESSION OF SIN – Psalm 40:11-13
Although Christ has come to establish a kingdom of justice and love, we as a people are sinful and broken. In ourselves, we have no right to enter into God’s holy kingdom. Therefore, let’s pray along silently with the words of this confession of sin from Psalm 40:11-13.
Do not withhold your mercy from me, O Lord;
May your love and your truth always protect me.
For troubles without number surround me;
My sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the heirs of my head, and my heart fails within me.
Be pleased, O Lord, to save me;
O Lord, come quickly to help me.
(moment of silence)
ASSURANCE OF PARDON – Colossians 1:12-14
[Give] thanks to the Father,
who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness
and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
SONGS –
“Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” by John Wyeth and Robert Robinson
“Away In A Manger (Forever Amen)” by Phil Wickham
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of the Father before all worlds;
God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God;
begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father,
by whom all things were made.
Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven,
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered and was buried;
and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures;
and ascended into heaven,
and sits on the right hand of the Father;
and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead;
whose kingdom shall have no end.
We believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life;
who proceeds from the Father and the Son;
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified;
who spoke by the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins;
and we look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen
PRAYER
CHILDRENS’ DISMISSAL
SCRIPTURE READING – 1 Timothy 4:1-5 Please stand for the reading. End with “This is the word of the Lord.”
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.
SERMON – “Ascetic Heresies”
SONG –
“Behold the Lamb (Communion Hymn)” by Keith & Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townend
LORD’S TABLE
OFFERING
SONG –
“Hope for Everyone” by Matt Maher
BENEDICTION
ANNOUNCEMENTS
POSTLUDE –
“It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” by Sara Groves
PRELUDE –
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” by J.J. Heller
LIGHTING OF THE SECOND ADVENT CANDLE & CALL TO WORSHIP – Isaiah 9:6
During this Christmas season, our culture often tries to get people to think about the good things in life such as friends, family, and general human benevolence. All of this is fitting to the season. But as Christians we also need to remember that this is a time to give hope to those who are really hurting around us. As we light this second Christmas candle and read this prophetic promise in Isaiah 9:6, let’s remember the hope that God gives in Jesus Christ to those who feel their world is falling apart.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Let’s stand and sing praise to Jesus Christ our King.
SONG –
“Hark the Herald Angels Sing” by Charles Wesley and Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
CONFESSION OF SIN – Luke 3:3
In light of the coming king who would rule in justice and righteousness, John the Baptist acted as a forerunner of Jesus Christ and went into all the region around the Jordan, “proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin.” As we now stand in the holy presence of the Lord our God, let’s also take a moment to pray silently and ask the Lord to forgive us for our unrighteousness and cleanse us from our sin.
(Moment for Prayer)
ASSURANCE OF PARDON – Titus 3:4-8
[W]hen the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy.
SONG –
“Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery” by Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, and Michael Bleecker
BAPTISM
CHILDREN’S DISMISSAL
PRAYER
SCRIPTURE READING – 1 Timothy 3:14-16 Please stand for the reading. End with “This is the word of the Lord.”
I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.
SERMON – “The Church and Truth”
SONG –
“O Come All Ye Faithful” by C. Frederick Oakeley and John Francis Wade
LORD’S TABLE –
OFFERING –
SONG –
“All Praise to Him” by Bob Kauflin and Matt Merker
BENEDICTION
ANNOUNCEMENTS
POSTLUDE –
“Oh Come, All You Unfaithful” by Sovereign Grace Music
Immanuel Blog 