Description
Matthew 3:1-12
John the Baptist, as prophesied by the Prophet Isaiah, prepares the way for the Lord. He preaches a message of confession and repentance. People come to him from throughout Judea and are baptized by him in the Jordan River. He warns the Pharisees and Sadducees with harsh words and tells of the one, Jesus, who will arrive soon to baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.
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, www.MusicNotes.com
Sing To The King
Billy James Foote, ©2003 worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
This Is Our God
David Moffitt, Sue C. Smith, & Travis Cottrell, © 2006 CCTB Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.) New Spring (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.) First Hand Revelation Music (Admin. by The Loving Company) (Admin. by The Loving Company (Mechanical)
[Traditional Options]
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
BH 75 78; BH 91 76; CH 245; CHH 119; EH 56; ELW 257; HWC 123; HFG 169; HLC 100; HGP 73; LBW 34; LSB 357; LW 31; NCH 116; PH 9; RH 117; RS 493; STTL 163; WC 133; UMH 211; WAR 154; WHM 120; WIS 171
Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord
ELW 395; LBW 163; LSB 497; LW 154
Christ is Surely Coming
LSB 509
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
The Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.
Worshipers
In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Worshipers
Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
Pastor / Worship Leader
I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
Worshipers
Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Amen!
Worshipers
Amen!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Heavenly Father, as we come before you today, we are reminded of the miracles you have performed. Miracles of creation and rescue and redemption. We read the prophecies of your son, Jesus, of his righteousness and faithfulness. Of his coming and of his birth. We are thankful Lord as we can see a day of hope and peace, of rest and glory. Jesus, you are our savior, our redeemer. We know that you save and that you live. We praise you Jesus, and we love you. And we pray in Your Holy Name. Amen.
Worshipers
Amen!
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Lord, we confess.
Worshipers
We confess that we have forgotten your miracles, your promises. We have trusted in ourselves first.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We confess that we do not seek you.
Worshipers
We confess that we do not keep our eyes, our hearts, and minds on You Jesus. We confess that we forget that you sit at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us, even now.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We confess that our focus is on our earthly circumstances instead of eternity. We confess and repent of our ways Lord, ways that do not include you first in our lives.
Worshipers
Forgive us Lord for our sins.
Pastor / Worship Leader
Have mercy on me Lord, a sinner.
Worshipers
Amen!
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Isaiah 11:1-10
Isaiah prophecies of the Messiah, who rises up from the lineage of Jesse (and David). He will judge by righteousness with wisdom and understanding. He will judge with righteousness the poor and needy- and the wicked of the earth. He prophesies of a child leading and a day of peace, rest, knowledge, and glory.
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips, he will slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. 6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf, the lion, and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. 7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. 9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. 10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.
