Sunday, December 14
As stewards of God’s words and works, it is with delight that we have the opportunity to gather as His people in worship by way of a reminder of the truth, power, and goodness of the sacred Scriptures. May we gather in His name and for His glory as we endeavor to make much of Christ through scripture, prayer, song, and the preaching of His Word. We look forward to gathering together this Lord’s day – For Christ, to God’s Glory, and Man’s Joy!
Order of Service
Preservice:
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Welcome/Announcements
Read the Word & Pray the Word
Luke 1:46–55
(Jonathan Henthorn)
Sing the Word
Reading: Psalm 98:1-4
Of the Father’s Love Begotten
Joy to the World
In the Fullness of Time (Children’s Choir)
What Child Is This
From the Squalor of A Borrowed Stable (Immanuel)
Preach the Word
Witnessing the Worth of Christ | Acts 7:54-60
(Manny Pereira)
Hymn of Response
He Who Is Mighty
Benediction
This Sunday’s Sermon
Witnessing the Worth of Christ | Acts 7:54-60 | Manny Pereira
More than an example of bold and courageous Christian witness, Stephen embodies a prophetic and pivotal role for the proclamation of Christ. By him the most direct and Christ-centered indictment is delivered to Israel. Stephen stands in a legacy of messengers who have seen the manifest glory of God. But unlike those who came before him, a new depth of vision is revealed. The presentation and presence of God are now personally witnessed in the resurrected and reigning Christ. The first Christian martyr is marked supremely as one witnessing the worth of Christ at the cost of his life.
Featured Song
Today’s Song Lyrics
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Verse 2
Come, O promised star of Jacob,
Rise upon this harrowed earth;
Fill the silence of our waiting
With the cry of holy birth.
Son of heaven, son of Mary,
Hear the song of angels tell
Thou hast come to save Thy people,
God with us, Emmanuel.
Verse 3
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King;
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious Kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit,
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Words: Sts.1,3, Charles Wesley, 1745; st. 2, Kristyn Getty | Music: Rowland Prichard, 1830; harm. adapt. from Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906 © 2025 Getty Music Publishing; UBP CCLI License #249042
Of the Father’s Love Begotten
Verse 1
Of the Father’s love begotten,
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the Source, the Ending He.
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see:
Evermore and evermore!
Words: Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, c. 348–413; tr. sts. 1–2, J. M. Neale, 1855, alt.; sts. 3–4, Henry W. Baker, 1861 | Music: Plainchant, 12th c. © Public Domain
Joy to the World
Verse 1
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
Verse 2
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods,
Rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
Verse 3
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make
His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.
Verse 4
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders of His love.
Words: Isaac Watts, 1719 | Music: Psalmodia Britannica, vol. 4, ca. 1831, alt. Lowell Mason, 1848 © Public Domain
In the Fullness of Time
Verse 1
In the fullness of time God sent His Son.
Immanuel, now behold incarnate Love.
A virgin and her child, the Savior meek and mild,
The star became the sign
In the fullness of time.
Verse 2
Prophets long they foretold the promised dawn.
Hail God of God, Light of Light, begotten One
By Whom all things were made, there in a manger laid,
Now born to us this night
In the fullness of time.
(Chorus 1)
Holy, holy, holy moment
God has come to dwell with us.
Glory to the Lamb, the great I AM who came
On that night divine,
In the fullness of time.
Verse 4
Hosts of angels resounded at His birth,
And hosts of angels will endless tell His worth,
And He shall come again, His kingdom has no end.
All things made new, made right
In the fullness of time.
(Repeat Chorus 1)
(Chorus 2)
Holy, holy, holy moment
God has come to dwell with us.
Glory to the Lamb, the great I AM
Holy, holy, holy moment
God has come to dwell with us.
Glory to the Lamb, the great I AM who came
On that night divine,
In the fullness of time.
In the fullness of time,
In the fullness of time.
TAG:
Holy, holy, holy
In a manger lowly.
Christ the Son now veiled in flesh
In our humanity.
Kingdoms bow before Him,
Heav’n and earth adore Him.
God here in person,
Hail His majesty.
Words & Music: Matt Papa & Matt Boswell © 2023 Getty Music Hymns and Songs, Getty Music Publishing, Love Your Enemies Publishing, Messenger Hymns; UBP CCLI License #249042
What Child Is This
Verse 1
What child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Verse 2
Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and lamb are feeding?
Good Christian, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Verse 3
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe the Son of Mary.
Words: William C. Dix, 1868 | Music: English melody, 16th c.; harm. John Stainer, 1868 © Public Domain
From the Squalor of A Borrowed Stable (Immanuel)
Verse 1
From the squalor of a borrowed stable,
By the Spirit and a virgin’s faith,
To the anguish and the shame of scandal,
Came the Savior of the human race.
But the skies were filled
With the praise of heav’n,
Shepherds listen as the angels tell
Of the Gift of God come down to man,
At the dawning of Immanuel.
Verse 2
King of heaven now the friend of sinners,
Humble servant in the Father’s hands,
Filled with power and the Holy Spirit,
Filled with mercy for the broken man.
Yes, He walked my road
And He felt my pain,
Joys and sorrows that I know so well;
Yet His righteous steps give me hope again.
I will follow my Immanuel.
Verse 3
Through the kisses of a friend’s betrayal,
He was lifted on a cruel cross.
He was punished for a world’s transgressions;
He was suffering to save the lost.
He fights for breath, He fights for me,
Loosing sinners from the claims of hell;
And with a shout our souls are free;
Death defeated by Immanuel.
Verse 4
Now He’s standing in the place of honor,
Crowned with glory on the highest throne,
Interceding for His own beloved
Till His Father calls to bring them home.
Then the skies will part as the trumpet sounds,
Hope of heaven or the fear of hell.
But the Bride will run to her Lover’s arms,
Giving glory to Immanuel.
Words & Music: Stuart Townend © 1999 Thankyou Music Ltd (Capitol CMG Publishing / www.capitolcmgpublishing.com); UBP CCLI License #249042
He Who Is Mighty
Verse 1
Oh, the mercy our God has shone
To those who sit in death’s shadow.
The sun on high pierced the night;
Born was the Cornerstone.
Unto us a Son is given,
Unto us a Child is born.
(Chorus)
He Who is mighty
Has done a great thing;
Taken on flesh, conquered death’s sting,
Shattered the darkness and lifted our shame.
Holy is His name.
Verse 2
Oh, the freedom our Savior won;
The yoke of sin has been broken.
Once a slave, now by grace
No more condemnation.
Unto us a Son is given,
Unto us a Child is born.
(Repeat Chorus)
(Bridge)
Now my soul magnifies the Lord;
I rejoice in the God Who saves,
I will trust His unfailing love,
I will sing His praises all my days.
(Repeat Chorus)
Words & Music: Rebecca Elliot & Kate DeGraide © 2014 Sovereign Grace Praise; UBP CCLI License #249042
