December 11, 2022
Call to Worship
Luke 2:8-14
Leader: And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them,
All: "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a 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.
Leader: 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,
All: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
1739, Charles Wesley, adapted by George Whitefield. Based on Luke 2:14
Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled
Joyful all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies
With th'angelic hosts proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King
Christ by highest heav'n adored, Christ the everlasting Lord
Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail th'incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel
Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King
Hail the heav'n born Prince of Peace, Hail the Sun of righteousness
Light and life to all He brings, Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth
Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King
Behold
Phil Wickham and Anne Wilson
Behold the King has come; Divinity incarnate
Creator of the world breathing our air
Behold what light has come and the dark cannot contain it
The Savior of the world is finally here
Chorus: Oh, come, let us adore Him; Come, let us adore Him
For He alone is worthy Christ the Lord
Behold, the Father's love beyond all comprehension
He gave His only Son to die in our place
Go and see that empty tomb He's not there, for He is risen
Every heart prepare Him room; Jesus Christ, the King of Heaven
Bridge:
We give You all the glory, we give You all the glory
We give You all the glory, Christ the Lord
We give You all the glory, we give You all the glory
We give You all the glo-ry, Christ the Lord
We praise Your name forever, we praise Your name forever
We praise Your name fore - ver, Christ the Lord
Christ the Lord; He is Christ the Lord
Prayer of Confession
Isaiah 40:1-5, 53:6
Leader: Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
All: A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.
Leader: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
All: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;
Silent Prayers
God’s Assurance of Forgiveness
Isaiah 53:2-6, 40:11
Leader: [Of God’s Servant, the Messiah] For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.
All: He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
Leader: But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.
All: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Leader: He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
How Marvelous
By Charles Hutchinson Gabrie
I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene
And wonder how He could love me
A sinner, condemned, unclean
Chorus:
How marvelous! How wonderful!
And my song shall ever be
How marvelous! How wonderful!
Is my Savior's love for me!
He took my sins and my sorrows
He made them His very own
He bore the burden to Calvary
And suffered and died alone
When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see
'Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me
Family Life
† During a brief intermission, children can go with their teachers for a lesson.
The musicians will call us back with a song reprised.
Sermon Passage
Luke 13:6-30
6 And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?' 8 And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"
10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your disability." 13 And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. 14 But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day." 15 Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? 16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?" 17 As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.
18 He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches." 20 And again he said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened."
22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them, 24 "Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us,' then he will answer you, 'I do not know where you come from.' 26 Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' 27 But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!' 28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."
Pastor: The grass withers and the flower fades...
All: ...but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)
Sermon
"What is the Kingdom of God Like?"
Pastor Mike McBride
CLICK HERE TO TAKE SERMON NOTES ONLINE.
Behold the Lamb of God
Andrew Peterson, 2004
We who walk in darkness deep
Now see the light of morning
The Mighty God, the Prince of Peace
A child to us is born
Chorus:
Behold, the Lamb of God
Who takes away our sin
Behold, the Lamb of God
The life and light of men
Behold, the Lamb of God
Who died and rose again
Behold the Lamb of God who comes
To take away our sin
Wanderers in the wilderness
O hear a voice is crying
Prepare the way, make straight the path
Your King has come to die
Bridge:
Son of God (Emmanuel)
Son of Man (We praise You)
Behold (Behold) the Lamb
The hope (the hope) of man
Behold the Lamb
The Lord’s Supper
† Receive bread and juice from one of our section leaders near you. Gluten free options are available at the front table.
Go Tell It On the Mountain
African-American spiritual. Compiled by John Wesley Work Jr., dating back to at least 1865.
Chorus:
Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the moun-tain
That Jesus Christ is born
While shepherds kept their watching
Over silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light
The shepherds feared and trembled
When, lo! Above the Earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savior's birth
Down in a lowly manger
Our humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation
On blessed Christmas morn’
That Jesus Christ is born; That Jesus Christ is born
Benediction
† We invite you to stretch out your hands as you receive the Lord’s blessing.
Luke 2:8-14
Leader: And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them,
All: "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a 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.
Leader: 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,
All: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
1739, Charles Wesley, adapted by George Whitefield. Based on Luke 2:14
Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled
Joyful all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies
With th'angelic hosts proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King
Christ by highest heav'n adored, Christ the everlasting Lord
Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail th'incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel
Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King
Hail the heav'n born Prince of Peace, Hail the Sun of righteousness
Light and life to all He brings, Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth
Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King
Behold
Phil Wickham and Anne Wilson
Behold the King has come; Divinity incarnate
Creator of the world breathing our air
Behold what light has come and the dark cannot contain it
The Savior of the world is finally here
Chorus: Oh, come, let us adore Him; Come, let us adore Him
For He alone is worthy Christ the Lord
Behold, the Father's love beyond all comprehension
He gave His only Son to die in our place
Go and see that empty tomb He's not there, for He is risen
Every heart prepare Him room; Jesus Christ, the King of Heaven
Bridge:
We give You all the glory, we give You all the glory
We give You all the glory, Christ the Lord
We give You all the glory, we give You all the glory
We give You all the glo-ry, Christ the Lord
We praise Your name forever, we praise Your name forever
We praise Your name fore - ver, Christ the Lord
Christ the Lord; He is Christ the Lord
Prayer of Confession
Isaiah 40:1-5, 53:6
Leader: Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
All: A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.
Leader: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
All: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;
Silent Prayers
God’s Assurance of Forgiveness
Isaiah 53:2-6, 40:11
Leader: [Of God’s Servant, the Messiah] For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.
All: He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
Leader: But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.
All: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Leader: He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
How Marvelous
By Charles Hutchinson Gabrie
I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene
And wonder how He could love me
A sinner, condemned, unclean
Chorus:
How marvelous! How wonderful!
And my song shall ever be
How marvelous! How wonderful!
Is my Savior's love for me!
He took my sins and my sorrows
He made them His very own
He bore the burden to Calvary
And suffered and died alone
When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see
'Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me
Family Life
† During a brief intermission, children can go with their teachers for a lesson.
The musicians will call us back with a song reprised.
Sermon Passage
Luke 13:6-30
6 And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?' 8 And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"
10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your disability." 13 And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. 14 But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, "There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day." 15 Then the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? 16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?" 17 As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.
18 He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches." 20 And again he said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened."
22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them, 24 "Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us,' then he will answer you, 'I do not know where you come from.' 26 Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' 27 But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!' 28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."
Pastor: The grass withers and the flower fades...
All: ...but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)
Sermon
"What is the Kingdom of God Like?"
Pastor Mike McBride
CLICK HERE TO TAKE SERMON NOTES ONLINE.
Behold the Lamb of God
Andrew Peterson, 2004
We who walk in darkness deep
Now see the light of morning
The Mighty God, the Prince of Peace
A child to us is born
Chorus:
Behold, the Lamb of God
Who takes away our sin
Behold, the Lamb of God
The life and light of men
Behold, the Lamb of God
Who died and rose again
Behold the Lamb of God who comes
To take away our sin
Wanderers in the wilderness
O hear a voice is crying
Prepare the way, make straight the path
Your King has come to die
Bridge:
Son of God (Emmanuel)
Son of Man (We praise You)
Behold (Behold) the Lamb
The hope (the hope) of man
Behold the Lamb
The Lord’s Supper
† Receive bread and juice from one of our section leaders near you. Gluten free options are available at the front table.
Go Tell It On the Mountain
African-American spiritual. Compiled by John Wesley Work Jr., dating back to at least 1865.
Chorus:
Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the moun-tain
That Jesus Christ is born
While shepherds kept their watching
Over silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
There shone a holy light
The shepherds feared and trembled
When, lo! Above the Earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savior's birth
Down in a lowly manger
Our humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation
On blessed Christmas morn’
That Jesus Christ is born; That Jesus Christ is born
Benediction
† We invite you to stretch out your hands as you receive the Lord’s blessing.
Posted in Worship Guide