Preparing for the Lord's Day
THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Giving thanks to God for His goodness to us in all things is always appropriate for Thanksgiving and Advent. I pray that each of you will ponder Jesus Christ in all His beauty and love as you walk through this Thanksgiving. Enjoy God’s provision and celebrate His grace!
As we look to this coming Lord’s Day, we enter the Advent Season, praising God for the blessing of our hope in Christ. And yet we realize that the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons are not always easy. We navigate family relationships and remember those whom we have lost. We embrace the beauty of the coming of Christ yet couple His birth with the reality of His life and death for our salvation. Biblical contrasts demonstrate how the advent of God’s Son into this world speaks hope and joy for abundant life, while recognizing the great cost to our Savior for our wholeness.
This Sunday, in our sermon entitled, “The Transforming Power of Scripture,” we’ll continue our journey through our mission, vision, and value statements by examining 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Our value for this Lord’s Day: “God uses Scripture to conform us to the image of Christ (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Therefore we value teaching God’s Word fully (Acts 20:27), accurately (2 Tim. 2:15), and with conviction (1 Thess. 1:5) in every setting. We seek to provide teaching with relevant and specific application that encourages active faith and obedience (James 2:14-17) while confronting unbelief.”
As we abide in Christ and His love, Scripture remains a vital foundation for life, hope, and ministry. In all the seasons of life and community, God’s word provides security and direction. We’ll see how we cannot separate the experience of God’s grace and steadfast hope apart from the Christ of Scripture. He is the loving Savior and almighty King. To enjoy all the benefits of being His, we embrace an intimate relationship with Jesus as His changes and shapes our hearts according to His image by the power of His word.
To come prepared for worship, please be in prayer! Meditate upon 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and read the context of the entire chapter. As you open your Bible, also enjoy these verses: Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:1-3, Psalm 19:7-11, Psalm 119:9, Psalm 119:105, Isaiah 55:8-11, John 17:17, Colossians 3:16, and Hebrews 4:12-14. Review the first chapter of the Westminster Confession of Faith, Holy Scripture. Spend some time in prayer, giving thanks for the ways that God’s word has shaped your relationship with Christ and the course of your life.
The hopeful expectation and anticipation of the Advent of the Lord Jesus is captured in our singing the Hymn of Praise “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” the Acclamation of Praise “Joy to the World! The Lord is Come,” and the Hymn of Response, “O Come, All Ye Faithful. We will celebrate the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper during our worship service. As we receive the elements of bread and wine look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ. For as we physically receive the signs of the Lord’s body and blood, spiritually we feed upon him and all his benefits. Come this Lord’s Day, ready to have the hope of the gospel poured into your lives.
SERMON TEXT: 2 Timothy 3:16-17
THE SERMON: “The Transforming Power of Scripture”
SERMON OUTLINE: As Scripture is….
- Breathed out by God, we submit to Scripture’s authority and trustworthiness.
- Profitable in righteousness, we commit to Scripture’s purposes for life.
- Sufficient to equip, we embrace Scripture for maturity and ministry in Christ.