Description
Matthew 11:2-15
A great promise is awaiting you and me in this Advent season. The promise is so radical that even the least person in the Kingdom of God is considered greater than John the Baptist. This promise is what the Advent expectation encompasses- that Jesus Christ will transform our lives with His hope. He is our true salvation, the answer to our brokenness, and the fulfillment of God’s great promise to us.
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
O, Come, All Ye Faithful
John Francis Wade, ©several publishers
Available on www.PraiseCharts.com, www.LifewayWorship.com
The Way
Ben Smith | Daniel Bashta | Pat Barrett, © Heritage Worship Publishing (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing) Capitol CMG Genesis (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Housefires Sounds (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Go Forth Sounds (Admin. by Heritage Worship Publishing) Bread & Wine Sounds (Admin. by Watershed Music Group)
Your Grace Is Enough
Matt Maher, ©2003 Spiritandsong.com; Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
[Traditional Options]
O Come, All Ye Faithful
BH 75 81; BH 91 89; CH 249; CHH 148; EH 83; ELW 283; HWC 145; HPW 20; HFG 193; HLC 103; HGP 78; HSP 332; LBW 45; LSB 379; LW 41; NCH 135; PH 41; RH 133; RS 499; STTL 175; WC 173; UMH 234; WAR 182; WHM 133; WIS 178
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
From Heaven Above to Earth I Come
CH 146; EH 80; ELW 268; HLC 111; LBW 51; LSB 358; LW 37; NCH 130; PH 54
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Greetings in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ!
Worshipers
Greetings in the name of God’s only begotten Son, Jesus.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Let us fix our eyes on Heaven and patiently wait for the Lord to return. He is coming soon!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord Jesus Christ, we are honored to be in Your presence. Spirit of God, You are welcome in this place and in our hearts. Be seated on the throne and honored by our words, our praises, and our actions. We look forward to the day we will meet You face to face. Be with us now by Your power and grace. In Jesus’ holy name we pray, amen.
Worshipers
Amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Father in Heaven, we look to You as our standard of holiness. You are perfect, we are sinful. We desperately need Your forgiveness and redemption. We cannot live with You.
Worshipers
We broke Your perfect covenant when humanity chose sin over obedience. Still today, we struggle with disobedience, impatience, and faithlessness. We stumble over our own pride. Forgive us, Father, for we have sinned.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Through Jesus Christ, You call us out of darkness into Your marvelous light. You call us Your children when we were orphans. You call us found when we were lost. Thank you for your forgiveness and acceptance and love. We love you, Jesus.
Worshipers
Thank You for loving us. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Isaiah 35:1-10
God will bring a beautiful restoration after His judgment. He will not only restore the land, but also the hearts of people to peace, joy, and gladness.
The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, 2 it will burst into bloom it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God. 3 Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; 4 say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” 5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. 7 The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. 8 And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. 9 No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, 10 and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
