Service Program

“O Come, All Ye Faithful”

Welcome

Call to Worship Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Prayer of Invocation and Confession of Sin

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

“Angels We Have Heard on High”

Scripture Reading John 3:16-21

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Confession of Faith The Heidelberg Catechism Question 31

Question: Why is he called “Christ,” meaning “anointed”?

Answer: Because he has been ordained by God the Father and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit to be our chief prophet and teacher who fully reveals to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our deliverance; our only high priest who has delivered us by the one sacrifice of his body, and who continually pleads our cause with the Father; and our eternal king who governs us by his Word and Spirit, and who guards us and keeps us in the freedom he has won for us.

“Light of the World (Sing Hallelujah)”

Pastoral Prayer

“Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” (#244)

Prayer of Illumination

Sermon: “Gift”, Dr. Mike Campbell

2 Corinthians 9:15

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

“What Child Is This?” (#281)

Benediction Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Gloria Patri

2 Corinthians 9:15:

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Sermon Introduction:

C.S. Lewis: “shafts of glory”

1. A Gracious Gift

2 Corinthians 9:15: Thanks be to God….

2 Corinthians 9:14b-15: the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks [Grace] be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Andrew Murray: “Grace in God is his compassion on the unworthy.”

2. An Inexpressible Gift

2 Corinthians 9:15: Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Alexander Maclaren: “There is but one of God’s many mercies which is worthy of being thus singled out. There is one blazing central sun which shines out amidst all the galaxy of lights which fill the heavens. There is one gift which, beyond all others, merits the designation of ‘inexpressible’.”

John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

3. A Transformative Gift

2 Corinthians 8:1-9: We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. 8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 9:11-15: You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!