Opening Scripture and Prayer

Behold Our God

Who has held the oceans in his hands?
Who has numbered every grain of sand?
Kings and nations tremble at his voice
All creation rises to rejoice.

Behold our God, seated on his throne
Come, let us adore him
Behold our king, nothing can compare
Come, let us adore him.

Who has given counsel to the Lord?
Who can question any of his words?
Who can teach, the one who knows all things?
Who can fathom all his wondrous deeds? (refrain)

Who has felt the nails upon his hands?
Bearing all the guilt of sinful man
God eternal, humbled to the grave
Jesus, Savior, risen now to reign. (refrain)

You will reign forever (let Your glory fill the Earth)
You will reign forever (let Your glory fill the Earth)
You will reign forever (let Your glory fill the Earth)
You will reign forever (let Your glory fill the Earth)
(refrain)

Prayer of Confession

Our great God, we confess before you the pride which dominates much of our lives. Like the disciples, we cannot help comparing ourselves to others. We inwardly boast that our own sin is not as bad as another’s. We outwardly gossip and disparage our neighbors. We are prone to favoritism; easily forgiving those most like us, and condemning others. O God, may your awesome holiness humble us to the dust. Fill our vision with Christ crucified, and by your Spirit help us to love others as you have loved us in Christ. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: 1 John 4:9–10

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take him at his word;
Just to rest upon his promise; just to know, thus says the Lord.

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him, how I’ve proved him o’er and o’er,
Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus! O for grace to trust him more.

O how sweet to trust in Jesus, just to trust his cleansing blood;
Just in simple faith to plunge me, 'neath the healing, cleansing flood. (refrain)

Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus, just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking life, and rest, and joy, and peace. (refrain)

I’m so glad I learned to trust him, precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that he is with me, will be with me to the end. (refrain)

Prayer

Scripture Reading: Luke 3:1-20

1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” 7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.” 15 As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, 16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 18 So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. 19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.

Sermon: Introducing Jesus Dr. Liam Goligher

Power of the Cross

Oh, to see the dawn of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men, torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

This, the power of the cross:
Christ became sin for us,
Took the blame, bore the wrath:
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain written on your face
Bearing the awesome weight of sin;
Every bitter thought, every evil deed
Crowning your bloodstained brow. (refrain)

Now the daylight flees, now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows his head.
Curtain torn in two, dead are raised to life;
‘Finished!’ the victory cry. (refrain)

Oh, to see my name written in the wounds,
For through your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death, life is mine to live,
Won through your selfless love.

This, the power of the cross:
Son of God, slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Benediction

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