We Mourn the Reality of Sin
Hymn of Confession - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
God rest ye merry, gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ our Savior, was born on Christmas day,
To save us all from Satan’s power, 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
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 does deface
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy
Confession and Assurance of Pardon: ADVENT Week #4: “LOVE”
Take a moment to consider: where do you find it difficult to give of yourself to serve others? Where do you struggle to walk in the good works of faith which the Lord desires of you?
[Pause for a moment of silent reflection and confession to the Lord].
Jesus: we thank you for the love you first showed us by being born for us, by living for us, by dying for us, and by rising for us. Thank you for saving us from our imperfect ability to love. By the power of your Holy Spirit, please strengthen us this morning. Cause us to remember the great sacrifices you made for us…and lead us to be more willing and able to sacrifice for others as you lead. I pray these things in your matchless and powerful name – AMEN!
Hymn of Redemption: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new born King:
Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies;
with angelic hosts proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King."
Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold him come, Offspring of the Virgin’s womb:
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King."
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings, Risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by, Born that we no more may die,
Born to raise us from the earth, Born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King."
In addition to taking children to Ridge Kids & Blaze classes and using the restroom, take time to meet/greet one another.
Scripture Reading: “Titus 2:11-14”
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Sermon: “Advent, Week #4: Love (defined by Jesus)”
Davis Lacey - Titus 2:14
Jesus defines love for us!
#1: Love SACRIFICES
John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
Philippians 2:5-7: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”
Hebrews 4:15: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
#2: Love SAVES
Genesis 3:4-5: “But the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’”
Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
2 Corinthians 5:21: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Romans 10:17: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
#3: Love SANCTIFIES
Hebrews 9:13-14: For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
1 Corinthians 13:5: “[Love] does not insist on its own way…”
#4: Love SURRENDERS
Matthew 22:37-40: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 10:38-39: “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
