Sunday, December 3rd

Meditation

Reflect on these words about the incarnation of the Lord Jesus.

If Christ had arrived with trumpets and lain in a cradle of gold, his birth would have been a splendid affair. But it would not be a comfort to me. He was rather to lie in the lap of a poor maiden and be thought of little significance in the eyes of the world. Now I can come to him. Now he revealed himself to the miserable in order not to give any impression that he arrives with great power, splendor, wisdom, and aristocratic manners.

~Martin Luther~

Call to Worship

Hear God call you to worship through his word

Mark 11:9-10

Adoration

Say or sing this praise to God

Hail to the Lord’s anointed,

Great David’s greater Son.

Hail in the time appointed

His reign on earth begun!

He comes to break oppression,

To set the captive free,

To take away transgression

And rule in equity.

He comes with succour speedy

To those who suffer wrong;

To help the poor and needy

and bid the weak be strong;

To give them songs for sighing,

Their darkness turn to light,

Whose souls, condemned and dying,

Were precious in his sight.

He shall come down like showers

Upon the fruitful earth;

And love, joy, hope, like flowers

Spring in his path to birth;

Before him, on the mountains

Shall peace, the herald, go;

And righteousness, in fountains

From hill to valley flow.

Kings shall fall down before him,

And gold and incense bring.

All nations shall adore him,

his praise all people sing.

To him shall prayer unceasing

And daily vows ascend;

His kingdom still increasing,

A kingdom without end.

~James Montgomery~

Reading of the Law

Hear God’s law as his will for your life

Exodus 20:1-17

Confession of Sin

Confess your sins to God

O Lord, I do not deserve a glimpse of heaven, and I am unable with my works to redeem myself from sin, death, the devil, and hell. Nevertheless, you have given me your Son, Jesus Christ, who is far more precious and dear than heaven, and much stronger than sin, death, the devil, and hell. For this I rejoice, praise, and thank you, O God. Without cost and out of pure grace you have given me this boundless blessing in your dear Son. Through him you take sin, death, and hell from me, and do grant me all that belongs to him. Amen.

~Martin Luther~

Assurance of Pardon

Receive these words of comfort from God

Isaiah 53:4-6

Nicene Creed

Confess what you believe about the Christian faith

I 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 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 living and the dead;

whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, 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.

And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.

I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins;

and I look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Praise

Say or sing this praise to God

Glory be to the Father,

and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit:

As it was in the beginning,

is now and ever shall be,

world without end. Amen.

~Gloria Patri~

Catechism

Receive this instruction from the Heidelburg Catechism:

Q. 18. Then who is this mediator – true God and at the same time a true and righteous man?

A. Our Lord Jesus Christ, who was given to us for our complete deliverance and righteousness.

Prayer for Illumination

As you read his word, ask God to enlighten your mind and heart.

Almighty God, enter our hearts, and so fill us with your love, that, forsaking all evil desires, we may embrace you, our only good. Show unto us, for your mercies’ sake, O Lord our God, what you are unto us. Say unto our souls, “I am your salvation.” So speak that we may hear. Our hearts are before you; open our ears; let us hasten after your voice and take hold of you. Amen.

~Augustine~

Scripture Reading

Read this portion of God’s word

2 Samuel 7:1-16

Praise

Say or sing this praise to God

Phos Hilaron

O radiant light, O sun divine

Of God the Father’s deathless face,

O image of the light sublime

That fills the heav’nly dwelling place.

O Son of God, the source of life,

Praise is your due by night and day;

Our happy lips must raise the strain

Of your esteemed and splendid name.

Lord Jesus Christ, as daylight fades,

As shine the lights of eventide,

We praise the Father with the Son,

The Spirit blest, and with them one.

~Anonymous~

Prayer of Intercession

As you make your requests to God, pray this prayer.

Give us faith in all the truths of your Word; may we be daily warned by the terrors of the Lord, and invited by your mercy. May we meditate on the awful punishments denounced against the wicked, and call to mind the reward which you have promised unto those who please you by patient continuance in well-doing. And thus may we be prepared to make every sacrifice to which you may be pleased to call us. May we cut off the right hand, and pluck out the right eye, when you require us to do it. And may we consider all our interests in this life as of no value compared with the eternal welfare of our souls. May we seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, trusting that all things which are needful for the body shall be added unto us. Amen.

~Henry Thornton~

Further Petition

Pray for First Baptist Shapleigh

Pray for our missions efforts in Sekenani

Lord’s Prayer

Pray the words that Jesus taught us to pray.

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name;

your kingdom come;

your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For yours is the kingdom, and the power,

and the glory, forever. Amen.

Benediction

Receive by faith this blessing from God.

2 Peter 1:2

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the full knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

Postlude

In closing, say or sing this praise to God.

His Name forever shall endure,

last like the sun it shall;

Men shall be blessed in Him,

and blessed all nations shall Him call.

Now blessed be the Lord, our God,

the God of Israel,

For He alone does wondrous works,

in glory that excel.

And blessed be His glorious Name

to all eternity;

The whole earth let His glory fill.

Amen, so let it be.

~based on Psalm 72:17-19~