:: Download the 12.22.2013 Worship Study Guide & Sermon Notes
:: Download the 12.22.2013 Bulletin
:: Download the 12.22.2013 Parent Bulletin
:: Listen to the 12.22.2013 Sermon Audio
image :: La Nativité à la Torche, Antoine, Louis & Mathieu Le Nain (17th century, French)
Preparation for Worship :: Incarnation
Jesus, equal to the Father in the form of God, became like us in the form of a servant, and refashions us into the likeness of God. The only Son of God, having become the Son of Man makes many sons of men the sons of God. (Augustine of Hippo, “Sermon on the Nativity”, 5th century)
:: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
:: Veiled in Darkness Judah Lay
:: Amen, Amen
:: All Glory Be To Christ
:: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Call to Worship :: Psalm 98:1-3
Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things! His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him. The Lord has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Declaration of Faith :: The Belgic Confession, Article 15 (1561)
We believe that by the disobedience of Adam original sin has been spread through the whole human race. It is a corruption of all nature— an inherited depravity which even infects small infants in their mother’s womb, and the root which produces in man every sort of sin. It is therefore so vile and enormous in God’s sight that it is enough to condemn the human race, and it is not abolished or wholly uprooted even by baptism, seeing that sin constantly boils forth as though from a contaminated spring. Nevertheless, it is not imputed to God’s children for their condemnation but is forgiven by His grace and mercy— not to put them to sleep but so that the awareness of this corruption might often make believers groan as they long to be set free from the “body of this death.”
We Confess Our Sin Together
Lord Jesus Christ, Sin is my malady, my monster, my foe, my viper, born in my birth, alive in my life, strong in my character, dominating my affections, following me as a shadow, intermingling with my every thought, my chain that holds me captive. Yet Your compassions yearn over me, Your heart hastens to my rescue, Your love endured my curse, Your mercy bore my justice, Your incarnation unites God and Man, And in Man crushes the Serpent’s head. Let me walk in humility, cleansed in Your blood, tender of conscience, living in triumph over the world, the flesh and the devil an heir of Your salvation through Your blessed name. Amen.
Words of Encouragement :: Galatians 4:4-7
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.
Sermon :: Ephesians 3:1
For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—
New Testament Reading :: Romans 11:25-7,33-36
Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob, and this will be my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”… Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Advent Musical Offering
“All Glory Be To Christ”, Dustin Kensrue (2012); Traditional Scottish Folk Tune [bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=4004735516 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 t=5]