Advent | Monday – 05 Dec 2022: Psalm 21; Isaiah 24:1-16a; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 ~ Live in a way that pleases God.

Advent | Monday – 05 Dec 2022

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for
our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and
inwardly digest them, that by patience and the comfort of your
holy Word we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope
of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus
Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“Finally, dear brothers and sisters,
we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus
to live in a way that pleases God….”
(1 Thessalonians 4:1)

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Psalms: Psalm 21: (Praise Your Power) (feat. Jeff Deyo) – The Psalms Project

The king will rejoice in Your strength, O Lord
And in Your salvation he finds his joy
For You’ve given him all he asked You for
You’ve welcomed him home with Your favor, Lord

You lavish him with every blessing
Set a crown of gold on his head
He cried out and You granted
Life forever

Be exalted in strength, O my God
We will sing and praise Your power
We will sing and praise Your power

His glory is great in Your victory
You’ve clothed him in splendor and majesty
He joys in Your presence, he trusts in You
In Your perfect love, he will not be moved

Your hand will find all Your enemies
You’ll seize the ones who hate You
You’ll banish them with Your fire
All-consuming

Be exalted in strength, O my God
We will sing and praise Your power
We will sing and praise Your power

Their offspring You will now end
And their descendants from the sons of men
For evil they’ve planned against You, Father
But it’s a plot they cannot perform
You’ll make them flee in fear
You’ll aim Your, You’ll aim Your
Your arrows at their faces
Be exalted, be exalted
You have overcome

Be exalted in strength, O my God
We will sing and praise Your power
We will sing and praise Your power

We will sing and praise Your power
We will sing and praise

Be exalted in strength, O my God
We will sing and praise Your power
We will sing of Your great power
We will sing and praise Your power

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OT Reading: Isaiah 24:1-16a (NLT)

Destruction of the Earth

24:1 Look! The Lord is about to destroy the earth
and make it a vast wasteland.
He devastates the surface of the earth
and scatters the people.
Priests and laypeople,
servants and masters,
maids and mistresses,
buyers and sellers,
lenders and borrowers,
bankers and debtors—none will be spared.
The earth will be completely emptied and looted.
The Lord has spoken!

The earth mourns and dries up,
and the land wastes away and withers.
Even the greatest people on earth waste away.
The earth suffers for the sins of its people,
for they have twisted God’s instructions,
violated his laws,
and broken his everlasting covenant.
Therefore, a curse consumes the earth.
Its people must pay the price for their sin.
They are destroyed by fire,
and only a few are left alive.
The grapevines waste away,
and there is no new wine.
All the merrymakers sigh and mourn.
The cheerful sound of tambourines is stilled;
the happy cries of celebration are heard no more.
The melodious chords of the harp are silent.
Gone are the joys of wine and song;
alcoholic drink turns bitter in the mouth.
The city writhes in chaos;
every home is locked to keep out intruders.
Mobs gather in the streets, crying out for wine.
Joy has turned to gloom.
Gladness has been banished from the land.
The city is left in ruins,
its gates battered down.
Throughout the earth the story is the same—
only a remnant is left,
like the stray olives left on the tree
or the few grapes left on the vine after harvest.

But all who are left shout and sing for joy.
Those in the west praise the Lord’s majesty.
In eastern lands, give glory to the Lord.
In the lands beyond the sea, praise the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.
We hear songs of praise from the ends of the earth,
songs that give glory to the Righteous One!

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The Righteous One | Austin Stone Worship

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NT Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 (NLT)

Live to Please God

4:1 Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another. Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia. Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more.

Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.

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Peace – Bethel Music feat. We The Kingdom | Peace

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Almighty and everliving God, we beg you to strengthen us for witness and ministry through the power of your Holy Spirit. Daily increase in us your manifold virtues of grace: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and true godliness, and the spirit of holy fear, now and for ever. Amen.

+ Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated to you; and then use us, we pray, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

Father God…
Grant us courage and a real willingness
to talk about the love that came down to earth
and walked among us. Amen

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Advent | 2nd Sunday – 04 Dec 2022: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12 ~ “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

Advent*| 2nd Sunday – 04 Dec 2022

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

“I baptize with water
those who repent of their sins and turn to God.
But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am
—so much greater that I’m not worthy even
to be his slave and carry his sandals.
He will baptize you with
the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
(Matthew 3:11)

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Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming | Robinson & Rohe

Indelible Grace Music

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OT Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10 (NLT)

A Branch from David’s Line

11:1 Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot
yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.
And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
He will delight in obeying the Lord.
He will not judge by appearance
nor make a decision based on hearsay.
He will give justice to the poor
and make fair decisions for the exploited.
The earth will shake at the force of his word,
and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.
He will wear righteousness like a belt
and truth like an undergarment.

In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together;
the leopard will lie down with the baby goat.
The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion,
and a little child will lead them all.
The cow will graze near the bear.
The cub and the calf will lie down together.
The lion will eat hay like a cow.
The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra.
Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.
Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,
for as the waters fill the sea,
so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord.

In that day the heir to David’s throne
will be a banner of salvation to all the world.
The nations will rally to him,
and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.

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Psalms: Psalm 72: Justice Shall Flourish | JesComTV

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NT Reading: Romans 15:4-13 (NLT)

15:4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote:

“For this, I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing praises to your name.”

And in another place it is written,

“Rejoice with his people,
you Gentiles.”

And yet again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles.
Praise him, all you people of the earth.”

And in another place Isaiah said,

“The heir to David’s throne will come,
and he will rule over the Gentiles.
They will place their hope on him.”

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

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Jesus Shall Reign – The Enfield Hymn Sessions

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Gospels: Matthew 3:1-12 (NLT)

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

3:1 In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said,

“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
Clear the road for him!’”

John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.

“I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”

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On Jordan’s Stormy Banks – Indelible Grace (feat. Matthew Perryman Jones)

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

In this Advent of expectation
draw us together in service,
that the path we follow
might lead us from a stable
to a glimpse of eternity.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

*The word advent means “coming” or “arrival.” We typically think of Christ’s birth, but the observance of Advent actually points to and causes us to reflect on three arrivals: Christ’s first arrival in Bethlehem, His second coming in the future that we anticipate, and His arrival in each of our hearts personally. In a sense we are always living in Advent, in a time of expectant waiting. The season of Advent invites us to press into this even more deeply. International Anglican Community

Advent | Saturday – 03 Dec 2022: Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Isaiah 40:1-11; John 1:19-28 ~ John the Baptist: “Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!”

Advent*| Saturday – 03 Dec 2022

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is
to restore all things in your well-beloved Son,
the King of kings and Lord of lords:
Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth,
divided and enslaved by sin,
may be freed and brought together
under his most gracious rule;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:
“I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”
(John 1:23)

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Psalms: Psalm 72: “Blessed Be the Lord Our God” – Luke Brodine

Grace Presbyterian Church – Palo Alto, CA.

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OT Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11 (NLT)

Comfort for God’s People

40:1 “Comfort, comfort my people,”
says your God.
“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.
Tell her that her sad days are gone
and her sins are pardoned.
Yes, the Lord has punished her twice over
for all her sins.”

Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting,
“Clear the way through the wilderness
for the Lord!
Make a straight highway through the wasteland
for our God!
Fill in the valleys,
and level the mountains and hills.
Straighten the curves,
and smooth out the rough places.
Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
The Lord has spoken!”

A voice said, “Shout!”
I asked, “What should I shout?”

“Shout that people are like the grass.
Their beauty fades as quickly
as the flowers in a field.
The grass withers and the flowers fade
beneath the breath of the Lord.
And so it is with people.
The grass withers and the flowers fade,
but the word of our God stands forever.”

O Zion, messenger of good news,
shout from the mountaintops!
Shout it louder, O Jerusalem.
Shout, and do not be afraid.
Tell the towns of Judah,
“Your God is coming!”
Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power.
He will rule with a powerful arm.
See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd.
He will carry the lambs in his arms,
holding them close to his heart.
He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.

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Comfort, Comfort All My People – Koine

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NT Reading: John 1:19-28 (NLT)

The Testimony of John the Baptist

1:19 This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.” “Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?”

“No,” he replied.

“Are you the Prophet we are expecting?”

“No.”

“Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”

John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:

“I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”

Then the Pharisees who had been sent asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?”

John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.”

This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.

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Down To The River To Pray – Alison Krauss

David Webb

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

+ Hasten, O Father, the coming of your kingdom; and grant that we your servants, who now live by faith, may with joy behold your Son at his coming in glorious majesty; even Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

In this season of anticipation
We prepare to welcome
Christ Jesus, Messiah

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Advent | Friday – 02 Dec 2022: Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Isaiah 30:19-26; Acts 13:16-25 ~ John the Baptist: “I am not the Messiah!”

Advent*| Friday – 02 Dec 2022

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

As John was finishing his ministry he asked,
‘Do you think I am the Messiah? No, I am not!
But he is coming soon—and I’m not even worthy
to be his slave and untie the sandals on his feet.’
(Acts 13:25)

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Psalms: Psalm 72:King of Justice –

| Ethel Yap, Singapore

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OT Reading: Isaiah 30:19-26 (NLT)

30:19 O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem,
you will weep no more.
He will be gracious if you ask for help.
He will surely respond to the sound of your cries.
Though the Lord gave you adversity for food
and suffering for drink,
he will still be with you to teach you.
You will see your teacher with your own eyes.
Your own ears will hear him.
Right behind you a voice will say,
“This is the way you should go,”
whether to the right or to the left.
Then you will destroy all your silver idols
and your precious gold images.
You will throw them out like filthy rags,
saying to them, “Good riddance!”

Then the Lord will bless you with rain at planting time. There will be wonderful harvests and plenty of pastureland for your livestock. The oxen and donkeys that till the ground will eat good grain, its chaff blown away by the wind. In that day, when your enemies are slaughtered and the towers fall, there will be streams of water flowing down every mountain and hill. The moon will be as bright as the sun, and the sun will be seven times brighter—like the light of seven days in one! So it will be when the Lord begins to heal his people and cure the wounds he gave them.

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Living Waters – Keith & Kristyn Getty

Landon Gingerich

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NT Reading: Acts 13:16-25 (NLT)

13:16 So Paul stood, lifted his hand to quiet them, and started speaking. “Men of Israel,” he said, “and you God-fearing Gentiles, listen to me.

“The God of this nation of Israel chose our ancestors and made them multiply and grow strong during their stay in Egypt. Then with a powerful arm he led them out of their slavery. He put up with them through forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Then he destroyed seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to Israel as an inheritance. All this took about 450 years.

“After that, God gave them judges to rule until the time of Samuel the prophet. Then the people begged for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years. But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’

And it is one of King David’s descendants, Jesus, who is God’s promised Savior of Israel! Before he came, John the Baptist preached that all the people of Israel needed to repent of their sins and turn to God and be baptized. As John was finishing his ministry he asked, ‘Do you think I am the Messiah? No, I am not! But he is coming soon—and I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the sandals on his feet.’

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Jesus Messiah – Chris Tomlin

Grace Bible Church – Adell, WI

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Prayer: ACNA | BCP2019

Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch

In this season of anticipation
We prepare to welcome
Christ Jesus, Messiah

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Advent | Thursday – 01 Dec 2022: Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Isaiah 4:2-6; Acts 1:12-17, 21-26 ~ Matthias the Apostle: With Jesus the entire time.

Advent*| Thursday – 01 Dec 2022

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

“So now we must choose a replacement for Judas
from among the men who were with us the entire time
we were traveling with the Lord Jesus—
from the time he was baptized by John
until the day he was taken from us.”
(Acts 1:21-22)

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Psalms: Psalm 72: (Prayer for the king) The Psalm Project

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OT Reading: Isaiah 4:2-6 (NLT)

A Promise of Restoration

4:2 But in that day, the branch of the Lord
will be beautiful and glorious;
the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory
of all who survive in Israel.
All who remain in Zion
will be a holy people—
those who survive the destruction of Jerusalem
and are recorded among the living.
The Lord will wash the filth from beautiful Zion
and cleanse Jerusalem of its bloodstains
with the hot breath of fiery judgment.
Then the Lord will provide shade for Mount Zion
and all who assemble there.
He will provide a canopy of cloud during the day
and smoke and flaming fire at night,
covering the glorious land.
It will be a shelter from daytime heat
and a hiding place from storms and rain.

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Glorious Things Of Thee Are Spoken – Greene Mountain Men’s Chorus

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NT Reading: Acts 1:12-17, 21-26 (NLT)

Matthias Replaces Judas

1:12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile. When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying.

Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the zealot), and Judas (son of James). They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.

During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them. “Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David. Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us.”

1:21 “So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus— from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.”

So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.

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I Have Decided to Follow Jesus – Marisa

Jesus Christ Is My Lord