Description
Matthew 3:1-12
John the Baptist prepared the way for the prophesied Root of Jesse, the Messiah. He baptized the repentant proclaiming the One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. Jesus Christ will come again separating the righteous from the evil. Are you ready?
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
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
*Come, Now Is The Time To Worship partnered with O Come, All Ye Faithful
Brian Doerksen, ©1998 Vineyard Songs
*adapt text to “gladly serve You now…”
Days of Elijah
Robin Mark, ©1997 Daybreak Music, Ltd.
[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, O Precious Ransom
LBW 24; LSB 350; LW 34
Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates
BH 91 128; CHH 129; EH 436; HFG 239; LBW 32; LSB 340/341; LW 23/24; NCH 117; PH 8; UMH 213; WAR 176
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Welcome all! The Lord is coming soon!
Worshipers
Jesus Christ will return again!
Pastor / Worship Leader
We don’t know the day, hour, or minute, but we hold fast to the promise of His second coming with minds remembering what was prophesied and hearts filled with hope for the future reign of our Lord and King Jesus Christ. Let us pray together.
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
Jesus, we yearn to meet You face to face. We long to be in Your presence, bowing at Your feet in worship and adoration. You are the King of Kings. You are worthy of all honor, glory, and praise. We will proclaim Your name to the nations! We will shout it from the rooftops- Jesus Christ is Lord! He is coming soon!
Worshipers
We await Your blessed return. We praise You. In the name of Jesus, we pray, amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Forgive us, Lord, we ask.
Worshipers
We have sinned so deeply- how can You love us, Lord?
Pastor / Worship Leader
We repent of the sin that keeps us hiding, believing the lies of the enemy and living enslaved in his snares.
Worshipers
We ask for Your holy protection from the enemy, Jesus. We need Your forgiveness and Your love and Your light.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We accept Your lovingkindness and forgiveness of sins through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Thank you, Lord.
Worshipers
Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Isaiah 11:1-10
The hope of the world, Jesus Christ, was the promised Messiah. He was prophesied as the Root of Jesse. We will experience the promised peace when Jesus reigns once and for all.
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 and 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.
