Description

Luke 3:1-14 (15-20)

John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus to come by preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  His coming was prophesied several hundred years before by the prophet Isaiah. The people wondered if John could be the Messiah, but he assured them that the Messiah was coming to baptize them with the Holy Spirit and fire.  John’s fervor for proclaiming the Good News landed him in prison and eventually his death.  As the Lord’s refining fire purifies our hearts, let us reflect an even better picture of Him and continue proclaiming the Good News to those around us and into the world.

 

…  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

Prepare Ye The Way

Michael W. Smith, ©2008 Smittyfly Music (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) Word Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)

Song of Hope (Heaven Come Down)

Chase Jenkins, Dan Hamilton, Robbie Seay, Ryan Owens, Taylor Johnson, Tedd Tjornhom, ©2007 Birdwing Music (a div. of EMI Christian Music Publishing) Meaux Hits (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Tedasia Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)

Fullness

Steven Furtick, Chris Brown, Matthews Ntele, © 2016 Elevation Worship Publishing (Admin by Essential Music Publishing)

 

[Traditional Options]

The Advent of Our King

LBW 22; LSB 331; LW 12

Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending

BH 91 199; CH 754; EH 57; ELW 435; HS98 802; HWC 241; HFG 306; HLC 185; HGP 146; LBW 27; LSB 336; LW 15; PH 6; RH 659; STTL 278; UMH 718; WAR 318; WHM 278; WIS 192

The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came

EH 265; ELW 265; HS 98 805; LSB 356; PH 16; WOV 632; WAR 169

 

 

Invocation

Pastor               Come and hear all the Lord has done! 

ALL                  We are here and eager to know. 

Pastor               He has sent His Son to baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire!

ALL                  He has sent His Son to save the world. 

Pastor               Jesus, the Messiah, has come and will come again.

ALL                  Hallelujah to the King!  Until He returns we will be purified with His fire.  We

                          will reflect the love of our Savior.       

Pastor               Amen.

 

Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction

   Pastor/Worship Leader speaks

 

Pastor              O Great King of Kings, we are amazed by You.  How can you love us?  How can you

                          desire us to be Your Kingdom inheritance?  We are wretched sinners, yet You purify us

                          with Your refining fire.  Fill us with righteousness.  Teach us Your perfect ways.  We are

                          eager to be more like You.                      

ALL                  In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit we pray, amen.

 

Time of Confession and Forgiveness

[Alternate location:  following Message]

 

Pastor               Forgiving God, we bow before Your mercy seat with hearts humbled because You  deserve all the glory.  You have the power to judge and

                           to cast out and grant grace, and to cover our sins with the precious blood of Jesus.   

ALL                 Lord, where we cherish sin in our hearts, rid us of wickedness and evil!  Where weharbor darkness, shine your piercing light.                                  We need You now.

Pastor               Forgive us, Lord Jesus.  You alone have the power to wash us white as snow remember our sins no more. 

ALL                  Grant us the strength and grace to turn away from sin and walk in righteousness with You all the days of our lives.

Pastor               By the blood of Jesus we are forgiven and free! 

ALL                  Amen.

 

…  We Hear God’s Word  …

[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]

First Reading                                  Malachi 3:1-7b

Malachi prophesied of the coming messenger who would be like a refining fire, purifying the Levites.  This messenger was Jesus.

“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. 2 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. 3 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, 4 and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years. 5 “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. 6 “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.7 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. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’