Preparing For The Lord's Day

preparing

Preparing for the Lord's Day

This Advent season we have focused our attention on the theme of waiting. We have seen that we are to wait with hope and with peace, and this week we will look at how we are to wait with joy. Psalm 97 begins and ends with a command to rejoice. To give praise to the Lord with gladness and joy. And this command is rooted in the reality of the Lord’s control over all the earth. As verse 1 of the Psalm says, “The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice.” This is the key to waiting with joy, to know that the Lord reigns. All the hardships and struggles of life are brought into their proper perspective when we come to this one orienting truth. We live in a time of deep confusion and nihilism and in a culture of deep skepticism. To the unbelieving world, there is no meaning to the events of life and therefore no purpose. The only joy that can be found is in momentary pleasures. Nevertheless, those who know that the Lord reigns, knows that all of life has a purpose. That there is meaning in every action and thought. And this means that we can have joy because God is working all things toward a purpose, the glory of His name. As we wait for this purpose to be brought to full completion we can wait with joy because we know that it will truly come to pass. To come prepared for worship take time this week to read and meditate upon Psalm 97, Exodus 15:18, 1 Chronicles 16:31, Psalm 93:1; 96:10, Isaiah 52:7, Matthew 17:1-8, and Westminster Confession of Faith 3

As we gather this third Sunday of Advent, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Hymn of Praise “Joy to the World, the Acclamation of Praise “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates!, and the Hymn of Response “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”. During the  Anthem for Preparation for the Word in the 8:00 service, New Song will be singing, "Christmas Canon of Peace." For our Offertory Anthem, we will hear from the String Quartet, "What Child Is This? / It Came Upon the Midnight Clear / The First Noel." Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear God’s Word, to receive it in faith, to love and treasure it in our hearts, and to practice it in our lives that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him. 

Sermon Information:

Text: Psalm 97 

Title: Waiting with Joy

Outline: 

We Must Know the Lord's Advent (vv. 1-5)

We Must Know the Lord's Glory (vv. 6-9)

We Must Know the Lord's Salvation (vv. 10-12)

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