December 17, 2017
We’re in the third week of Your Kingdom Come: Gospel Promises from Isaiah, our series for Advent. Read more about the season of Advent here! Here’s how you can prepare for this week:
1. Read through our text, Isaiah 40:1–11.
God is the God who announces ultimate comfort to His people. This comfort comes only from the Lord and happens only when the Glory of the Lord is revealed to all flesh. What is the glory of the Lord? It’s seen now in the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Jesus and seen ultimately in Jesus’ glorious return. Therefore, take comfort in the Lord who has come once, for He will come again!
2. Read, pray and sing through the service:
CALL TO WORSHIP: The Lord’s Prayer, from Matthew 6:9–13
Come Thou Fount (Robert Robinson, John Wyeth)
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus (Robert J. Hughes, Charles Wesley, arr. Rain For Roots)
CONFESSION OF SIN: From Scotty Smith’s Every Season Prayers
Dear heavenly Father, with the angels, we shout loud praises over the birth of Jesus; with the shepherds, we respond with joy for the gift of a Savior; with Mary, we treasure and ponder this good news in our hearts. You have been faithful to fulfill ancient prophecies and Your covenant promises. Because of Jesus’ finished work, we now live in Your perpetual favor; and because of the Spirit’s ongoing work, we now humble ourselves before You.
We confess our sins to You: Forgive us for attitudes and actions that misrepresent You, contradict Your grace, and sabotage love. Forgive us for speaking words that brought harm and shame, and for withholding words that bring healing and hope. Forgive us for spending so much time and energy on ourselves and our trifles, and so little time with You and on the things that matter the most. We offer our prayer, humbly, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Hallelujah, What A Savior (Philip P. Bliss, arr. Austin Stone)
Build My Life (Barrett, Kable, Martin, Redman, Younker)
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: Romans 8:31–39
THE APOSTLES’ CREED:
I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate;
was crucified, dead and buried;
He descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
I believe in the holy catholic church;
the communion of saints;
The forgiveness of sins;
The resurrection of the body;
And the life everlasting.
Amen.
GREETING, SERMON, & COMMUNION
RESPONSE: Song & Prayer
Jesus Paid It All (Elvina Hall, Kristian Stanfill)
Joy To The World (Isaac Watts)