A NOTE FROM PASTOR MARK:
We recognize that family worship has its unique challenges depending on your family’s size and stage of life. Therefore, we have prepared a complete worship service (below) for our entire church family because we are convinced that Sunday is so much more than a sermon. And this is one way for us to be worshiping the same way even though we are apart.
We suggest that you test the worship and sermon links before you gather your family. After you have done this, we encourage the leader of the house to read the prayers and appoint other readers as necessary to encourage greatest participation.
After the sermon is over, we encourage you to discuss the sermon and ways to live out its application.
taste and see that the lord is good
TEXT: psalm 34
ONLINE WORSHIP SERVICE (11.29.2020)
CALL TO WORSHIP:
This morning as we gather to worship, let’s begin with these reminders to give thanks….
1Chronicles 16:8 Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!
1Chronicles 16:34 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
OPENING WORSHIP:
“10,000 Reasons”
advent reading:
Today marks the beginning of the Advent Season. The word Advent means arrival, and it refers to the arrival of Jesus Christ into the world. Each Sunday leading up to Christmas Eve we will celebrate by lighting a new candle and by reading from various places in the Bible that describe Jesus Christ and his coming into the world. Today we find out that the light of Jesus’ ministry was promised to a land of deep darkness.
We start 733 years before Jesus was born. In that year, 733 BC, the Assyrian army invaded Israel and took over the territory belonging to the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali. Sadly, these two tribes, along with the rest of the nation, had been ignoring God for many years. In fact, they had replaced him with other gods.
Yet while their disobedience earned them first place in line for God’s judgement, God’s mercy ordained that they would be the launching pad for his mission to restore light to the world. The Light of the World, Jesus Christ, choose to headquarter his ministry right in the middle of this territory of deep darkness!
Listen to what the Prophet foretold in Isaiah chapter 9:
Isaiah 9:1–3,6–7
1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
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.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
WORSHIP:
“O Come O Come Emmanuel”
AFFIRMATION:
We are still longing for God to come fulfill this plea! We are still longing for him to bid envy, strife, and quarrels to cease!
As we wait for that day, let’s continue to affirm that Christ alone holds all authority to make that happen!
Revelation 5:2–5, 8–10
2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”
3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it,
4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.
5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
WORSHIP:
“Is He Worthy”
PRAYER:
Lord as we gather in the middle of Thanksgiving and Christmas, we want to give thanks that you sent your precious Son, not to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him (John 3:17). We also thank you that you have appointed your precious Son as the reigning King over the world, having all authority to guide and direct the affairs of human history to their appointed end (Matt 28:18). We know that you are coming back to put an end to all evil and to bring final rest to your people, and in that day you will be marveled at by all those who have believed in you (2 Thes 1:10).
In our present brokenness, and distress, and weariness would you meet us even as you did when you came as a child? Would you draw near to lift up the downtrodden, strengthen the weak, encourage the faint hearted. Our eyes are on you.
And as we open your Word, would you visit us in power. Speak clearly to us Lord. Open our minds and hearts so that they can be conformed to yours.
Amen
READ SERMON TEXT:
Psalm 34:1-22
SERMON:
Pastor Mark Kernan
Title: Taste And See That The Lord Is Good
Main Point: Thanksgiving magnifies God’s faithfulness and motivates the faithful to rightly fear him.
Sermon Outline:
Psalm 34:1–10 Thanksgiving magnifies God’s faithfulness to his people
Psalm 34:11–22 Thanksgiving motivates the faithful to rightly fear him
“The Wonderful Cross”