
Welcome to Worship
December 17, 2023
8:30am
The Third Sunday of Advent
I will be glad and rejoice in your love. —(Psalm 31:7)
Welcome to Worship: Rev. Bill Archer
Lighting the Advent Wreath: The Angel’s Candle: Love
The Lee Family
Worship Song: O Come, All Ye Faithfull
Prayer: Rev. Bill Archer
Musical Praise: Angels and the Shepherds
Waves of Grace Handbells
Redland Happenings and Welcome: Rev. Bill Archer
Children’s Moment: Lisa Jenkins
Worship Song: Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Christmas Offering for International Missions Video: We Will Reach the Lost
Anna Farmer, West Africa
Ministry and Mission Moment: Erin Toomey
Musical Meditation: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel with Even So Come
Waves of Grace Choir
Scripture: Luke 2:1-7; Philippians 2:5-11
Sermon Series: Behold: A Savior is Born
Sermon Title: The Servant Love of Jesus
Rev. Kevin Freeman
Sermon Notes:
Christmas is the fulfillment of hundreds of years of prophecy about the coming of the Messiah who would change the world. God’s people waited for a Savior who would come to rescue and restore a broken creation. They held onto the hope that God would stay true to His promise. With joy, they anticipated Christ’s arrival. As a humble servant, Jesus loved all whom he encountered from the cradle to the cross. Behold, our Savior is born. The world will never be the same.
Paving the Way
Christ’s humility paved the way for ours.
For those who would learn God’s ways, humility is the first thing, humility is the second, humility is the third. —Augustine of Hippo
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. —Philippians 2:5–11 ESV
1.)
Your
3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. —Isaiah 40:3 ESV
2.)
Christlike
1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. —Luke 2:1–7 ESV
Because Christ Jesus came to the world clothed in humility, he will always be found among those who are clothed with humility. He will be found among the humble people. —A. W. Tozer
3.)
Our Lord’s
Time of Decision and Commitment: Let Us Adore
Benediction: Rev. Kevin Freeman