Call To Worship
We confess the supremacy of God in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Call to Worship
Reading from Isaiah 9:2 (NRSV) and the Worship Sourcebook
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world;
the one who follows me will not walk in darkness
but have the light of life.”
We light this candle as a sign of the coming light of Christ.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
Let us praise our Lord Jesus Christ.
Alleluia! Jesus is coming!
At Christmas Jesus came as a baby.
Alleluia! Jesus is coming!
He came to be like us because he loves us.
Alleluia! Jesus is coming!
He came to save us from our sin.
Alleluia! Jesus is coming!
He died, rose from the dead, and lives in heaven.
He will come again because he loves us.
Alleluia! Jesus is coming!
We praise Jesus, who came as a baby
and will come again at the end of time.
Alleluia! Jesus is coming!
Our Sung Call to Worship
Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Advent Prayer of Longing
Readings from “the Great Antiphons” (circa 6th century, English translations from “Common Worship”). Song verses by John Mason Neale. Tune, “Veni Emmanuel” (15th century).
O Wisdom, who proceeds from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching out mightily from end to end
and sweetly arranging all things:
Come to teach us the way of prudence.
(Sing) O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
And order all things far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And cause us in her ways to go.
O Mighty Lord, and leader of the house of Israel,
who appeared to Moses in the burning bush,
and on Sinai gave him the law:
Come to redeem us with outstretched arm.
O come, O come, Thou Lord of Might!
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times did give the law,
In cloud and majesty and awe.
O Root of Jesse, who stands as a sign for the people,
kings stand silent in your presence,
whom the nations will worship:
Come to set us free, and delay no longer.
O come, Thou Root of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o’er the grave.
O Key of David, and scepter of the house of Israel,
you open, and no one shuts, you shut, and no one opens:
Come, and lead the prisoner from jail,
seated in darkness and in the shadow of death.
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
O Rising Sun,
splendor of eternal light, and sun of justice:
Come, and shine on those, seated in darkness
and in the shadow of death.
O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine Advent here:
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
O King of the Nations, and the one they desired,
keystone, who makes both peoples one:
Come and save mankind,
whom you shaped from the mud.
O come, Desire of nations, bind,
All peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease;
Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.
O Emmanuel, our king and lawgiver,
the one awaited by the Gentiles, and their Savior:
Come to save us, Lord our God.
O Come, O come Emmanuel!
And ransom captive Israel;
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Song Intermingled with the Advent Prayer
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Assurance and Peace
We profess our assurance of salvation and peace in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Remember the Gospel
Based on Galatians 4:4-5 (NASB)
When the fullness of the time came,
God sent forth his Son,
born of a woman, born under the Law,
so that He might redeem those who were under the Law,
that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Who is this Son of God?
He is Jesus Christ the Lord—
true God and true man,
perfect in righteousness,
crucified for our sins,
raised from the dead,
ascended into heaven,
and returning to make all things new!
Alleluia! Thanks be to God!
Our Sung Profession of Assurance
What Child Is This?
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.
On the first Sunday of each month we have two offerings—one for the general fund and a second one for the benevolence ministry of our church.
You may give electronically at gabcames.org/giving/.
We Give Thanks in Song
King of Kings
Scripture Reading
Isaiah 7:1-17
1In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not yet mount an attack against it. 2 When the house of David was told, “Syria is in league with Ephraim,” the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.
3 And the LORD said to Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer’s Field. 4 And say to him, ‘Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah. 5 Because Syria, with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has devised evil against you, saying, 6 “Let us go up against Judah and terrify it, and let us conquer it for ourselves, and set up the son of Tabeel as king in the midst of it,” 7 thus says the Lord GOD: “‘It shall not stand, and it shall not come to pass. 8 For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. And within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered from being a people. 9 And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.’”
10 Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz: 11 “Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.” 13 And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 He shall
eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. 17 The LORD will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father’s house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria!”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
Sermon
Isaiah 7:14-15 – The Triumph of Grace: God with Us – Pastor Michael Felkins
The Lord’s Supper
This morning we will be observing the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is a covenant meal for the people of God whereby we remember the person and work of Christ on the cross to redeem us from our sin. It is a time to reflect, remember and repent. It is also the application of the sermon whereby we confess our sin and continually turn to Jesus for grace.
If you have trusted Christ as your Lord and Savior, have been baptized by immersion and are a member in good standing of a local church we invite you to share in this covenant meal with us.
We also ask that everyone who takes this covenant meal with us remember the warning given by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29, “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.” So we ask that you examine your heart and your relationship with God through the person and work of Christ.
If you are not able to receive the Lord’s Supper with us, please use this time to meditate on one of the following prayers.
A PRAYER FOR THOSE SEARCHING FOR THE TRUTH
Lord Jesus, You claim to be the Way, the Truth and the Life. If what You claim is true, please guide me, teach me and open me to the reality of who You are. Grant that I might be undaunted in my pursuit of knowing You. Give me an understanding of You that is coherent and convincing, and that leads me to the life in You. Amen.
A PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO CONFESS FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST
Lord Jesus I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever dared admit, but through You I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank You for paying my debt on the cross, taking what I deserve in order to purchase my complete forgiveness. Knowing that You have been raised from the dead, I turn from my sins and receive You as My Savior and Lord. Amen.
A PRAYER OF COMMITMENT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE CONFESSED FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST
Lord Jesus, You have called us to follow You in baptism and in a life of committed discipleship in Your church. Grant that I may take the necessary steps to be one with Your people, and live in the fullness of Your Spirit in a local community of Christ followers. Amen.
adapted from D. A. Carson, ed., Worship by the Book (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002)
Gluten Free Lord’s Supper: The elements of our Lord’s Supper are gluten free.
Please dispose of your Lord’s Supper cup in the waste receptacles near the doors or put them in the cup holders of the chairs with book racks under them.
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
O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Last Verse)
Introduction of New Member