Download: Readings and Song Lyrics for December 7, 2025
Pre-service Song
House of God Forever
God is my shepherd, I won’t be wanting, I won’t be wanting.
He makes me rest in fields of green, with quiet streams.
Even though I walk through the valley of death and dying,
I will not fear ‘cause You are with me, You are with me.
Chorus
Your shepherd’s staff comforts me.
You are my feast in the presence of enemies.
Surely goodness will follow me, follow me
In the house of God, forever.
God is my shepherd. I won’t be wanting, I won’t be wanting.
He makes me rest in fields of green, by quiet streams.
Even while I’m walking through the valley of death and dying,
I will not fear ‘cause You are with me.
I will not fear ‘cause You are with me, You’re always with me. (Chorus)
In the house of God forever.
In the house of God forever.
By Jon Foreman
© 2008 Rubadub Rublishing Publishing
Call To Worship
We confess the supremacy of God in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Advent Reading and Candlelighting
Psalm 27:1, 13-14 (ESV); Advent readings adapted from The Worship Sourcebook
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living!
Wait for the LORD;
be strong, and let your heart take courage.
Wait for the LORD!
Our Sung Call to Worship
O Come All Ye Faithful
O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of angels!
Chorus
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!
Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
O sing, all ye bright hosts of heav’n above!
Glory to God,
All glory in the highest! (Chorus)
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv’n;
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing! (Chorus)
By John Francis Wade
©Public Domain
Confession
We confess our need for mercy through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Confession
1 John 1:8-9, 2:1-2 (ESV)
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.
But if anyone does sin,
we have an advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous one.
He is the propitiation for our sins,
and not for ours only
but also for the sins of the whole world.
Time of silent confession.
Our Sung Response
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r when we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy.
O tidings of comfort and joy.
From God our heavenly Father a blessed angel came
And unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same
How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy.
O tidings of comfort and joy.
Fear not, then said the angel, let nothing you affright.
This day is born a Savior of a pure virgin bright.
To free all those who trust in Him from Satan’s pow’r and might.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy.
O tidings of comfort and joy.
Now to the Lord sing praises, all you within this place
And with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace
This holy tide of Christmas all others doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy.
O tidings of comfort and joy.
Traditional English 18th Century Carol
©Public Domain
Assurance and Peace
We profess our assurance of salvation and peace in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Remember the Gospel
Romans 3:23-24; Psalm 18:2, 46 (ESV)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
and are justified by his grace as a gift,
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock,
and exalted be the God of my salvation.
Our Sung Profession of Assurance
Praise to the Lord the Almighty
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O, my soul, praise Him for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration.
Praise to the Lord, Who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen, how thy desires e’er have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?
Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee.
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew, what the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.
Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him.
Let the amen, sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye we adore Him.
Words by Joachim Neander; translated by Catherine Winkworth. Music by Stralsund Gesanguch
©Public Domain
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
Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
This is the word of the Lord.
The grass withers and the flower falls
but the word of the Lord endures forever.
Sermon
Psalm 23 – “The Shepherd King“ – 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
Goodness of God
I love You, Lord.
Oh, Your mercy never fails me.
All my days I’ve been held in Your hands.
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head,
I will sing of the goodness of God.
Chorus:
All my life You have been faithful.
All my life You have been so, so good.
With ev’ry breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of God.
I love Your voice.
You have led me through the fire.
In darkest night, You are close like no other.
I’ve known You as a father,
I’ve known You as a friend.
I have lived in the goodness of God. (Chorus)
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me.
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me.
With my life laid down, I’m surrendered now;
I give You ev’rything.
Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me. (Repeat)
All my life You have been faithful.
All my life You have been so, so good.
With ev’ry breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of God.
I will sing of the goodness of God.
By Jenn Johnson, Ed Cash, Jason Ingram, Ben Fielding and Brian Johnson
© 2018 Capitol CMG Paragon; Fellow Ships Music; So Essential Tunes; SHOUT! Music Publishing Australia; Bethel Music Publishing
Blessing
Hebrews 13:20-21 (ESV)
Now may the God of peace
who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great shepherd of the sheep,
by the blood of the eternal covenant,
equip you with everything good that you may do his will,
working in us that which is pleasing in his sight,
through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.
Amen.
Scripture text for next Sunday: Psalm 24