Download: Readings and Song Lyics for December 14, 2025
Pre-service Scripture Reflection
Luke 2:10-14 (ESV)
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.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,
who is Christ the Lord.
And this will be a sign for you:
you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host
praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Call To Worship
We confess the supremacy of God in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Advent Reading and Candle Lighting
Isaiah 9:2, 11:1-3 ESV
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him.
His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD.
Christmas Ensemble Song
African Noel
Traditional African Carol, arranged by Victor Johnson
©1996 Heritage Music Press
Confession
We confess our need for mercy through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Confession
New City Catechism Q14, 16, 18, 19 (Romans 5:12, 1 John 3:4, Ephesians 5:5-6, Isaiah 53:10-11)
Did God create us unable to keep His law?
No, but because of disobedience of Adam and Eve,
we are all born in sin and guilt,
unable to keep God’s law.
What is sin?
Sin is rejecting or ignoring God in the world he created,
not being or doing what He requires in His law.
Will God allow our disobedience and idolatry
to go unpunished?
No, God is righteously angry with our sins,
and will punish them both in this life,
and in the life to come.
Is there any way to escape punishment and
be brought back into God’s favor?
Yes, God reconciles us to himself by a redeemer,
the Lord Jesus Christ.
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
Galatians 4:4-7 (ESV)
Remember the Gospel!
When the fullness of time had come,
God sent forth his Son,
born of woman, born under the law,
to redeem those who were under the law,
so that we might receive adoption as sons.
And because you are sons,
God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
crying, “Abba! Father!”
So you are no longer a slave, but a son,
and if a son, then an heir through God.
Christmas Ensemble Song’
He is Born
He is born, the holy Child;
Play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
He is born, the holy Child;
Sing we all of the Savior mild.
Thro’ long ages of the past,
Prophets have foretold His coming;
Thro’ long ages of the past,
Now the time has come at last!
He is born, the holy Child;
Play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
He is born, the holy Child;
Sing we all of the Savior mild.
O how lovely, O how pure
Is this perfect Child of heaven;
O how lovely, O how pure,
Gracious gift to humankind!
He is born, the holy Child;
Play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
He is born, the holy Child;
Sing we all of the Savior mild.
Jesus, Lord of all the world,
Coming as a Child among us;
Jesus, Lord of all the world,
Grant to us Thy heav’nly peace.
He is born, the holy Child;
Play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
He is born, the holy Child;
Sing we all of the Savior mild.
Traditional French Carol, arranged by Mark Blankenship
©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 24 (ESV)
A Psalm of David.
1The earth is the LORD’S and the fullness thereof,
the world and those who dwell therein,
2 for he has founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
3 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully.
5 He will receive blessing from the LORD
and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah
7 Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle!
9 Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
he is the King of glory! Selah
This is the word of the Lord.
The grass withers and the flower falls
but the word of the Lord endures forever.
Sermon
Psalm 24 – “ The Sovereign 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?
King of Kings/Gloria in Excelsis Deo (Distribution Song)
In the darkness we were waiting
Without hope, without light,
Till from heaven You came running,
There was mercy in Your eyes.
To fulfill the law and prophets,
To a virgin came the Word,
From a throne of endless glory,
To a cradle in the dirt.
Chorus
Praise the Father,
Praise the Son,
Praise the Spirit, three in one.
God of Glory, Majesty,
Praise forever to the King of Kings
To reveal the kingdom coming
And to reconcile the lost,
To redeem the whole creation,
You did not despise the cross.
For even in Your suffering,
You saw to the other side.
Knowing this was our salvation,
Jesus, for our sake You died. (Chorus)
And the morning that You rose,
All of heaven held its breath,
Till that stone was moved for good,
For the Lamb had conquered death.
And the dead rose from their tombs,
And the angels stood in awe,
For the souls of all who’d come,
To the Father are restored.
And the Church of Christ was born,
Then the Spirit lit the flame.
Now this Gospel truth of old,
Shall not kneel, shall not faint.
By his blood and in His name,
In His freedom I am free
For the love of Jesus Christ,
Who has resurrected me.
Chorus
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Chorus
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
Gloria, in excelsis Deo
By Brooke Ligertwood, Jason Ingram, and Scott Ligertwood, Gloria: Traditional French Carol
© 2019 Fellow Ships Music; So Essential Tunes; Hillsong Music Publishing Australia
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
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
Christmas Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy)
Holy, holy, holy, in a manger lowly;
Christ the Son now veiled in flesh in our humanity.
Kingdoms bow before him, heav’n and earth adore him.
God here in person, hail his majesty.
Holy, holy, holy, sings the virgin Mary;
For he shall deliver us from sin’s captivity.
Born to heal the nations, born for our salvation,
Oh, magnify him, Christ the Prince of Peace.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Heaven’s angels sound his praise with earth and sky and sea!
Join the song of triumph, glory in the highest!
Let all creation crown him King of kings.
Let all creation crown him King of kings.
Words by Matt Boswell, Matt Papa Music by John B. Dykes
© Getty Music Hymns and Songs; Getty Music Publishing; Love Your Enemies Publishing; Messenger Hymns
Blessing
Romans 15:13 (ESV)
May the God of hope fill you
with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit
you may abound in hope.
Amen.
Scripture text for next Sunday: Psalm 25