An Unsure Teenager — Interactive Order of Worship

Pastor Andy Searles

Church Together

Part of A Stable Place—Finding Stability in an Unstable World

December 12, 2021

Opening

Thank you for joining us as we continue our Advent sermon series, A Stable Place!

Today, we will focus on Mary, the unsure teenager, with a scripture focus from Luke 1:26-38.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

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 angelic hosts proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!

Christ by highest Heav’n 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 man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!

Hail the Heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris’n 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!

O Little Town of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by
yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight

For Christ is born of Mary
and, gathered all above
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wond’ring love
O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth
and praises sing to God the King
and peace to all the earth

How silently, how silently
the wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heav’n
No ear may hear his coming
but in this world of sin
where meek souls will receive him, still
the dear Christ enters in

O holy Child of Bethlehem
descend to us, we pray
cast out our sin and enter in
be born in us today
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
our Lord Immanuel!

JUMP Kids Dismissal

Today, our kids will hear the story of Jesus’ birth, considering the miracle of our Savior coming near to us as a baby.

Born Is The King (It’s Christmas)

Artist: Hillsong Worship

Born unto us this day a Savior
Gifted from heaven to a manger
The hope of the world
A light for all mankind
All of the earth rejoice
It’s Christmas time

So lift up your voice and sing out His praise
It’s Christmas
Born is the King, rejoice in the day
It’s Christmas
Make a joyful sound
It’s Christmas
Let His praise resound
It’s Christmas

Good will to all the earth
And peace divine
All of the earth rejoice
It’s Christmas time
It’s Christmas time

So lift up your voice and sing out His praise
It’s Christmas
Born is the King, rejoice in the day
It’s Christmas
Make a joyful sound
It’s Christmas
Let His praise resound
It’s Christmas

It’s Christmas

Prayer

Please take this time to be still and pray with us.

A Stable Place: An Unsure Teenager

Scripture Focus: Luke 1:26-38 (HCSB)

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, favored woman! The Lord is with you.” But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be. Then the angel told her:

Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Now listen:
You will conceive and give birth to a son,
and you will call His name Jesus.
He will be great
and will be called the Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give Him
the throne of His father David.
He will reign over the house of Jacob forever,
and His kingdom will have no end.

Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not been intimate with a man?”

The angel replied to her:

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore, the holy One to be born
will be called the Son of God.

And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. For nothing will be impossible with God.”

“I am the Lord’s slave,” said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

Sermon Notes

Picked for a Purpose (26-30)
• Mary reminds us that it is possible to be HIGHLY FAVORED and DEEPLY TROUBLED at the same time. Let’s remember though that our value is determined from who is above us, not what’s going on around us.
• As God invites us on the journey, we must go along for the ride – and what a ride it is!

Jesus is Our Purpose (31-33)
• “The Chief end of Man is the glorify God and enjoy him forever” – Westminster Catechism
• As Joshua was led to the promised land, Jesus leads us to heaven’s lands.
• When the “upper world” invades the “lower world”, a redeemed world is created.

There is a Plan for God’s Purpose (34-38)
• In Scripture, whenever the Holy Spirit comes upon someone, it reveals and expresses the plans and purposes of God.
• Many of us pray to God, “thy will be changed”, but Mary prayed, “thy will be done”. Let’s pray that as God’s will is done, our way will be changed.

The First Noel

The first Noel
the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds
in fields as they lay
In fields where they
lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter’s night
that was so deep

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel

They looked up
and saw a star
Shining in the east
beyond them far
And to the earth
it gave great light
And so it continued
both day and night

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel

Then let us all
with one accord
Sing praises to
our heav’nly Lord
That hath made heaven
and earth of naught
And with His blood
mankind hath bought

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel

Announcements

Offerings & Tithes

We’re grateful for how your tithes and offerings to God help us reflect the purpose of God in this world! Baskets are by the door or you can give online.

Christian HELP: Give the Gift of Serving for the Holidays

Help serve the wonderful ministry of Christian HELP this holiday season. See Tracie Searles or Adeemir Dacenay for more details.

Community Christmas Caroling

Join us on Sunday, December 19 at 5PM right here at the rec center as we go caroling in our community!

Youth Christmas Party

Our Youth Christmas Party will be held on Sunday, December 19 from 1-3PM. See Adeemir for more details.

Save the Date: Christmas Eve in the Park

Our annual “Christmas Eve in the Park” service will be held on Friday, December 24 at 5PM. Help us promote it by taking some flyers and sharing them with your family, friends, colleagues, and local places that you frequent. If you plan to attend, please bring some baked goods with you!

Sunday, December 26 - No Service Will Be Held

In order to put our energy into Christmas Eve, give our staff and volunteers some rest and the opportunity to spend time with their families, we will not be meeting on Sunday, December 26. We will start the new year together on the following Sunday, January 2.

After Service Fellowship

Join us after worship for snacks and fellowship!

Closing & Benedicition

The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace. — Numbers 6:24-26

Go in peace and have a blessed week!

Joy to the World

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King
let ev’ry heart prepare him room
and heav’n and nature sing
and heav’n and nature sing
and heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing

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

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

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