Description
Matthew 24:36-44
Jesus says that the day and hour of His return is unknown to men and also to angels, and only to Father God. On that day, many will be living their lives as usual and His return will catch them off guard. Therefore, we must be expectant, on guard, and watchful for the return of Christ, our Savior.
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
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
Charles Wesley, John Wasson, & Rowland Hugh Prichard, ©2005 praisecharts.com
Even So Come
Chris Tomlin, Jess Cates, Jason Ingram
2015 sixsteps Sonngs, Worship Together, S.D.G. Publishing, Go Mia Music, Chrissamsongs Inc. (Admin Capitol CMG) Open Hands Music, Sony/ATV Timber Publishing (Admin Sony ATV), Vistaville Music
Open Up the Heavens
Andi Rozier, James McDonald, Jason Ingram, Meredith Andrews, & Stuart Garrard, ©2012 Word Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) HBC Worship Music (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing) Open Hands Music (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing) Sony/ATV Timber Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing) Stugio Music Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing)
[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
Angels from the Realms
BH 75 87; BH 91 94; CH 259; CHH 149; EH 93; ELW 275; HWC 131; HFG 190; HLC 110; HGP 62; HSP 333; LBW 50; LSB 367; LW 50; NCH 126; PH 22; RH 135; RS 508; STTL 192; WC 174; UMH 220; WAR 189; WHM 155; WIS 163
Invocation
Pastor / Worship Leader
Family and friends, the Lord brings us peace through His Word and great, great news that Jesus Christ will one day return. Do you feel a thump in your chest, a racing of your heart, and a joy unexplainable because the Lord is coming soon? No one knows the day or the hour, but the blessed hope of His return sustains us.
Worshipers
The Lord is coming soon!
Opening Prayer / Theme Introduction
Pastor / Worship Leader
O Father in heaven, awaken us! We don’t want to be asleep, trapped in a dream state, or sleepwalking when you return. We want to be alert, expectant, and filled with hope because You promise to return. So right now, stir in us the anticipation of Your coming.
Worshipers
We wait for you, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Time of Confession and Forgiveness
[Alternate location: following Message]
Pastor / Worship Leader
Father, in a world of evil and deception, we look for the good. We confess while searching, we turn our eyes to the good in people around us or a strong leader who makes positive changes. We praise the deeds of others and place them on pedestals. Lord, we are so wrong in our actions. Forgive us.
Worshipers
For it is the Lord, the one true God, who is truly good. He is our strong tower, our deliverer, and the God in whom all trust and hope belongs. He is the only standard we should follow. Forgive us, Lord, of the worship of idols. You alone belong on the throne of our hearts.
Pastor / Worship Leader
We accept the forgiveness offered to us only through the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ. All honor, glory, power, and praise belongs to God. In Jesus’ name.
Worshipers
Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]
First Reading Isaiah 2:1-5
The prophet Isaiah saw a vision of the last days when the Lord’s temple would be established. In those days, the Lord will judge the nations and teach His people the right paths on which to walk.
This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: 2 In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it. 3 Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 4 He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.
