Download: Readings and Song Lyrics for December 15, 2024
Pre-service Scripture
Micah 5:1-5a (ESV)
1 Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops;
siege is laid against us;
with a rod they strike the judge of Israel
on the cheek.
2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.
3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of his brothers shall return
to the people of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth.
5 And he shall be their peace.
Call To Worship
We confess the supremacy of God in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Call to Worship – Advent Reading/Candle Lighting
Luke 1:68-75; 2:10-11 (ESV)
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.”
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold,
I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,
who is Christ the Lord.”
We light these candles as a sign of the joy of Christ.
Singing Glory Be to Jesus – Christmas Vocal Ensemble
By Rawn Harbor arranged by Keith Hampton
Good Christmas Men Rejoice – Christmas Vocal Ensemble & Congregation on Last Verse
Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice!
Give ye heed to what we say:
Jesus Christ is born today.
Man and beast before him bow,
And He is in the manger now:
Christ is born today,
Christ is born today.
Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice!
Now ye hear of endless bliss:
Jesus Christ was born for this.
He has opened heaven’s door,
And man is blest forevermore.
Christ was born for this,
Christ was born for this!
Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul and voice!
Now ye need not fear the grave:
Jesus Christ was born to save;
Calls you one and calls you all,
To gain His everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save,
Christ was born to save!
Words: Medieval Latin Carol, Music:Traditional German Carol
©Public Domain
Confession
We confess our need for mercy through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Confession
2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1 (CSB)
Hear the word of the Lord:
“What agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, as God said:
I will dwell and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord;
do not touch any unclean thing,
and I will welcome you.
And I will be a Father to you,
and you will be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.
So then, dear friends, since we have these promises,
let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit,
bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.”
Forgive our sins, Father, for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ,
and cleanse us from every impurity of the flesh and spirit
so that we may delight in your will
and walk in your ways
to the glory of your holy name.
Amen.
Time of silent confession.
Assurance and Peace
We profess our assurance of salvation and peace in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Remember the Gospel
Titus 3:3-7 (CSB)
Remember the Gospel!
For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived,
enslaved by various passions and pleasures,
living in malice and envy,
hateful, detesting one another.
But when the kindness of God our Savior
and his love for mankind appeared, he saved us—
not by works of righteousness that we had done,
but according to his mercy—
through the washing of regeneration
and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly
through Jesus Christ our Savior so that,
having been justified by his grace,
we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.
Our Sung Profession of Assurance
In Christ Alone (Distribution Song)
In Christ alone, my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone, who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For every sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain.
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow’r of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand.
By Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
© 2001 Thankyou Music
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
Infant holy, infant lowly,
For His bed a cattle stall:
Oxen lowing, Little knowing
Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Angels winging, Praises singing
Noels ringing, Tidings bringing:
Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
Flocks were sleeping, Shepherds keeping
Vigil till the morning new
Saw the glory, Heard the story,
Tidings of a gospel true.
Thus rejoicing, Free from sorrow,
Praises voicing Greet the morrow:
Christ the Babe was born for you!
Words and Music: Polish Carol
©Public Domain
Come Adore the Humble King
Come adore the humble King,
lowly in the manger;
Fall before His majesty,
Hail the little Savior.
Hope what hope no tongue could tell,
God has come with us to dwell;
His name is Emmanuel,
O praise the humble King.
Come adore in humble state,
He the song of angels;
Join the wise who call His name
and with all creation.
Who oh who would condescend,
God unknown now calls us friend;
Love that none could comprehend,
O praise the humble King.
Come adore the King who came
to our world to save us;
Born to heal our prideful race,
crown us with forgiveness.
Fall oh fall before the One
who in mercy left His throne.
Christ, the Lord, God’s only Son;
His glories now we sing,
O praise the humble King.
Come adore, come adore, come adore the King.
Bow before, come adore the Name above all names. (Repeat)
By Matt Papa and Matt Boswell
© 2018 Getty Music Hymns and Songs; Getty Music Publishing; Love Your Enemies Publishing; Messenger Hymns
Thanksgiving and Petition
We Give Thanks in Prayer and Offer Petitions to God
We express our gratitude to God our Father for Christ’s work on the cross for us and bring our requests before him. In bringing our requests, we confess that we believe God truly is a good father, who cares about our needs and gives us what he knows is best.
We Give Thanks by Giving
We give financial offerings to support the work of the church because of our gratitude to God. By giving we confess we are trusting in God’s provision for us as well.
You may give electronically at gabcames.org/giving/ or place your offering in the boxes at the back of the sanctuary or send a check in the mail.
Scripture Reading
Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV)
6 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.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end, on the throne of David
and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Luke 2:8-20 (ESV)
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace
among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
This is the word of the Lord.
The grass withers and the flower falls
but the word of the Lord endures forever.
Sermon
Isaiah 9:6-7, Isaiah 42:6-9, Luke 2:8-14 – The Pronouncement – Pastor Michael Felkins
Sermon Discipleship Questions
1. What encouraged you?
2. What convicted you?
3. Is there anything in your life that needs to change?
Sending
Having heard and confessed the Gospel, we are sent into the world on mission in Christ, which we express in both song and spoken word.
Sending Song
See to Us A Child is Born – Christmas Vocal Ensemble
See, to us a Child is born
Glory breaks on Christmas Morn!
Now to us a Son is giv’n
Praise to God in highest heav’n.
On His shoulder rule shall rest
In Him all the earth be blest!
Wise and wonderful His name
Heaven’s Lord in human frame!
Mighty God, who mercy brings
Lord of lords and King of kings!
Father of eternal days
Ev’ry creature sing His praise!
Everlasting Prince of Peace
Truth and righteousness increase!
He shall reign from shore to shore
Christ is King forevermore!
By Timothy Dudley-Smith and William Henry Monk
© 1983 Hope Publishing Company
Blessing
Romans 15:13 (CSB)
Now may the God of hope fill you
with all joy and peace as you believe
so that you may overflow with hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Scripture text for next Sunday: Isaiah 53:1-11, Luke 2:24-32