Service Program

“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”

Welcome

Responsive Reading Call to Worship Psalm 118:19-24

Leader: Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.

Congregation: This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.

Leader: I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.

Congregation: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

Leader: This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

All: This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

“Joy to World / Our God Saves”

Prayer of Invocation and Confession of Sin

Scripture Reading Matthew 2:1-12

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” 7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

“Rejoice, The Lord is King” (#370)

Pastoral Prayer

“Noel”

Prayer of Illumination

Sermon: "Joy", Dr. Mike Campbell

Luke 2:10-11

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Confession of Faith The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hades. The third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

“Star of Wonder”

Communion

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.

Doxology

Luke 2:10-11:

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

1. The Power of Joy

John Piper: “Christian joy is a good feeling in the soul.”

Verse 9: And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

Verse 10a: And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy

2. The Source of Joy

Verse 10a: I bring you good news of great joy

Verse 11: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord always

3. The Gift of Joy

Verse 10b: I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

C.S. Lewis: “Joy is the serious business of heaven.”