Sunday, December 21
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
Angels from the Realms of Glory
Welcome/Announcements
Read the Word / Pray the Word
John 1:1-5; 14-18
Sing the Word
Reading: Psalm 96:1–3, 11-13
O Come, All Ye Faithful
Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:9
Thou Who Wast Rich
In the Fullness of Time
Reading: Belgic Confession, articles 10, 18
Come Adore the Humble King
Preach the Word
The Man Christ Jesus | 1 Timothy 2:5
Hymn of Response
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
Benediction
This Sunday’s Sermon
The Man Christ Jesus | 1 Timothy 2:5 | Manny Pereira
The deepest abiding wonder of Christmas centers on the man Christ Jesus. The message of God’s gracious and merciful love is realized in a Mediator. Scripture declares that human sin irrevocably separates man from God. No one in heaven or on earth, whether divine or created, could reconcile the righteous God and rebellious man. Yet reconciliation was necessary for the praise of God’s glorious grace and our salvation. In man’s hopeless condition, the eternal Son freely came, taking a body prepared for Him, assuming our nature into union with His divine person. In this way, Christ Jesus as the only God-man, truly God and truly man, became uniquely fit to stand between God and sinners to offer just satisfaction for sin. Christmas, then, is the celebration of this holy undertaking: the incarnation of the one Mediator, whose humble coming affords the only possibility of reconciliation with God and invites faith to behold the excellencies of His glory.
What We Believe
Excerpt from the Belgic Confession (Articles 10, 18):
What do we believe about Jesus Christ?
We believe that Jesus Christ, according to his divine nature,
is the only Son of God— eternally begotten,
not made or created, for then he would be a creature.
He is one in essence with the Father; coeternal;
the exact image of the person of the Father and the "reflection of God's glory,"
being like the Father in all things.
The Son took the "form of a slave" and was made in "human form,"
truly assuming a real human nature, with all its weaknesses,
except for sin;
And Christ not only assumed human nature as far as the body is concerned
but also a real human soul, in order to be a real human being.
For since the soul had been lost as well as the body
Christ had to assume them both to save them both together.
In this way Christ is truly our Immanuel— that is: "God with us."
So then, he is the true eternal God,
the Almighty, whom we invoke, worship, and serve.
– Based on Belgic Confession, articles 10, 18 (1561)
Featured Song
Today’s Song Lyrics
Angels from the Realms of Glory
Verse 1
Angels, from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
(Refrain)
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!
Verse 2
Shepherds, in the fields abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing;
Yonder shines the Infant Light:
(Refrain)
Verse 3
Though an Infant now we view Him,
He shall fill His Father’s throne,
Gather all the nations to Him;
Every knee shall then bow down:
(Refrain)
Verse 4
All creation join in praising
God, the Father, Spirit, Son.
Evermore your voices raising
To the eternal Three in One.
(Refrain)
Words: Sts. 1–3, James Montgomery, 1816; st. 4, Salisbury Hymn-Book, 1857 | Music: Henry Smart, 1866
O Come, All Ye Faithful
Verse 1
O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of angels:
(Chorus)
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord.
Verse 2
True God of true God,
Light from Light eternal;
Humbly, He enters the virgin’s womb.
Son of the Father,
Begotten not created:
(Repeat Chorus)
Verse 3
Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;
Glory to God, all
Glory in the highest:
(Repeat Chorus)
Verse 4
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
O Jesus, to Thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing:
(Repeat Chorus)
Words: John Francis Wade, ca. 1746; tr. Frederick Oakeley, ca. 1841 | Music: John Francis Wade, ca. 1746; harm. William H. Monk, 1861 © Public Domain
Thou Who Wast Rich
Verse 1
Thou who wast rich beyond all splendor,
All for love’s sake becamest poor;
Thrones for a manger didst surrender,
Sapphire paved courts for stable floor.
Thou who wast rich beyond all splendor,
All for love’s sake becamest poor.
Verse 2
Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love’s sake becamest man;
Stooping so low, but sinners raising,
Heavenward by Thine eternal plan.
Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love’s sake becamest man.
Verse 3
Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Savior and King, we worship Thee.
Emmanuel, within us dwelling,
Make us what Thou wouldst have us be.
Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Savior and King, we worship Thee.
Words: Frank Houghton | Music: French Carol Quelle Est Cette Odeur Agreable © 1934 OMF International (UK); UBP CCLI License #249042
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
Come Adore the Humble King
Verse 1
Come adore the humble King,
Lowly in the manger;
Fall before His majesty,
Hail the little Savior.
Hope what hope no tongue could tell,
God has come with us to dwell;
His name is Emmanuel,
O praise the humble King.
Verse 2
Come adore in humble state,
He the song of angels;
Join the wise who call His name
And with all creation.
Who oh who would condescend,
God unknown now calls us friend;
Love that none could comprehend,
O praise the humble King.
Verse 3
Come adore the King who came
To our world to save us;
Born to heal our prideful race,
Crown us with forgiveness.
Fall oh fall before the One
Who in mercy left His throne.
Christ the Lord, God’s only Son;
His glories now we sing,
O praise the humble King.
TAG:
Come adore, come adore,
Come adore the King.
Bow before, come adore
The Name above all names.
Words & Music: Matt Papa and Matt Boswell © 2018 Getty Music Publishing, Messenger Hymns, Love Your Enemies Publishing; UBP CCLI License #249042
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
Verse 1
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King,
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem.”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Verse 2
Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb!
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see:
Hail, the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Verse 3
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Verse 4
Come, Desire of Nations, come!
Fix in us Thy humble home:
Rise, the woman’s conquering seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Adam’s likeness now efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Words: Charles Wesley, 1739 | Music: Felix Mendelssohn, 1840 © Public Domain
