Description
Luke 3:1-14 (15-20)
For hundreds of years, the world waited and ached for the up-and-coming promised Messiah. But before Jesus entered into His ministry, John the Baptist was called to prepare the way for Him. He brought a message of repentance to a crooked world, softening hearts to receive the gift of salvation that would come through Jesus. He baptized with water, preparing them for the Lord’s baptism of the Holy Spirit and of fire. As we enter this Advent season, may our anticipation of our coming King build in joyous expectation as we wait.
We Lift Our Hearts in Worship
[Preservice options include video countdowns, worship song videos, welcomes), CDs, or live music.]
Welcome & Time of Greeting
Time of Praise and Worship
Waiting Here for You
Chris Tomlin, Martin Smith, & Jesse Reeves, ©2011 sixsteps Music / worshiptogether.com Songs / Vamos Publishing (Admin. at EMICMGPublishing.com) (ASCAP) / Curious? Music UK (PRS) (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
This Is Love / Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Paul Baloche & Kathryn Scott, ©2013 Integrity Worship Music/Leadworship Songs/ASCAP (adm worldwide by Integrity Music via CapitolCMGPublishing.com excluding the UK which is adm at Integritymusic.com [email protected]) & Fuel Music Publishing
Hark the Herald (with King of Heaven)
Paul Baloche, Jason Ingram, Charles Wesley, & Felix Mendelssohn, ©2013 Integrity Worship Music/Leadworship Songs/ASCAP (adm at CapitolCMGPublishing.com excluding the UK which is adm at Integritymusic.com, [email protected])
[Traditional Options]
Savior Of The Nations Come
EH 54; ELW 263; LBW 28; LSB 332; LW 13; PH 14; RS 480; WC 138; UMH 214; WAR 168
On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry
EH 65; ELW 249; LBW 36; LSB 344; LW 14; NCH 115; PH 10; RS 490; WC 136; WAR 156
The Advent of Our King
LBW 22; LSB 331; LW 12
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
We shout for joy to God, the awesome and wonderful Lord!
Worshipers
How great is His power; how many are His deeds! We sing praise to the King of Kings!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Praise You, God, for all that you’ve done. We are Your people; may our praises lift high and be pleasing to Your ears. You are constant, unchanging, and faithful in all You do. You love us so well and keep Your promises to restore us, redeem us through Jesus, and to rescue us from sin. We love you, God.
Worshipers
Be near us now as we enter into Your presence in worship, glory, honor, and praise. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Although we may stray far away,
Worshipers
The Lord call us to return to Him.
Pastor / Worship Leader
No matter what sins we’ve committed,
Worshipers
He invites us back into His presence to confess of our sins.
Pastor / Worship Leader
So now we return to the Lord’s feet in humble repentance and in need of His forgiveness.
Worshipers
We confess of our wayward paths, our sinful actions, and our rebellion. We ask for Your complete and total fresh forgiveness and mercy.
Pastor / Worship Leader
And we receive this blood-bought forgiveness that is given to us through Jesus Christ alone.
Worshipers
Yes, we receive the forgiveness offered to us in Christ Jesus. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Malachi 3:1-7b
Years before John the Baptist was born, his coming and purpose was prophesied. The Lord does not change; He is our constant, always refining, always purifying, and always inviting us to return to Him. As we wait for Jesus, let us return to the Lord and live for Him.
“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years. “So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the Lord Almighty. “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, “Says the Lord Almighty.
