← ArchiveMissing ChristmasSunday, December 2, 2018DateDecember 2, 2018Speaker—Text—Passages in this sermonIsaiah 98:51Isaiah 617:57Psalms 13921:18TranscriptClick any line to jump there.0:00*Music* Heart of the bells, sweet silver bells, all seem to say, "Girl cares away." Christmas is here, bringing a cheer to young and old, meek and a moan. *Music*0:28*Music* *Music*0:56*Music* Heart of the bells, sweet silver bells, all seem to say, "Girl cares away." Christmas is here, bringing a cheer to young and old, meek and a moan. *Music* *Music* *Music* *Music* *Music*1:24*Music* *Music* *Music* *Music* *Music* *Music* *Music* *Music* *Music* *Music* *Music*1:52*Music*2:12*Music* *Music*2:34*Music* *Music*2:56*Music* *Music* *Music* *Music* *Music* *Music* *Music*3:24*Music* Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas.3:56Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas.4:25Excellent. Good morning. My name's Josh, lead pastor here at Bethel. And what you've walked into is our Christmas kickoff worship gathering. And we're here today because we want to worship Jesus Christ. So we're kicking off our Advent season. Who is Jesus? He is the one who rescues us from the curse, who was born in a cradle and lived a sinless life and died upon a cross and rose again that we might have life and life more abundant. So that's why we're here today. Not just to come and listen, but to worship the risen Savior.4:55Let me focus your attention really quick on our worship guide. When you walked in, you should have received something that looks like this, a worship guide. And on the inside is a worship survey. And so this is what we're asking this morning. We want every single person to fill out a worship survey. For two reasons. One, we want your recommendations on how you want the Word of God to impact your life.5:20We firmly believe that the Word of God is relevant for everything in your life. And so we're simply asking, what would you like to hear us preach and teach next year that can impact your life for the gospel? So if you would do that, if you would like to take a next step in your faith, maybe for the first time you have trusted in Jesus Christ this morning. Or maybe you need to get baptized. And you've never been baptized like Jesus commands and like He models.5:47Maybe you want to join a church. We want to encourage you as a pastoral staff. And so you can also mark that. But you're going to put this in the bucket as the ushers receive the offering at the end of the service. So on your way out, every single person will fill one of these and leave it in the bucket as you exit. That's also the time for us to receive your offering. So this is what we ask you to do this morning. We don't want you to sit back and relax.6:15We want you to lean in and worship. That's why we're here. Lean in and worship. And this will be an incredible morning of worshiping our Savior together. Worship surveys every single person at the end. And watch what the Lord is going to do this morning. Our first teaching session is about expectancy.6:37Expectancy. What does it mean to be expectant in our life? I firmly believe that every single person in this room has had a time in our lives where we are expecting, we're excited about some event that's going to happen. I remember as a young man playing sports and waking up early, maybe it was a Friday for football or for soccer or Saturday or baseball,7:03and having to wait like six hours into the game. How difficult that was. It felt like 40 hours. Having to wait for the game. Maybe you don't play sports or didn't play sports. Maybe for you it's a big exam or a graduation. Maybe I remember a band competition. Practicing for six months for this day to arrive and thinking, oh no, I was a drummer.7:30Please don't let me drop my sticks. Please don't let this happen. Maybe for some of you it was a day that you adopted a child or you were adopted. Maybe it was a coronation dance this week. Getting all dressed up and ready to dance and really spend time with friends and expecting and excited that's going to happen. I remember the birth of our two children.7:59I remember my wife coming in and saying, hey, we're expecting a child. And I remember, oh my goodness, we're expecting that child. Then you go to the doctor and the doctor gives you, they do all these tests and they basically put it in the computer and say, well, here's your due date. So for the next six months, seven months maybe, your life is planned around that day of expectancy.8:21Why do we as Christ followers celebrate Christmas like we do? Because this is the day of expectancy. We are waiting, we are longing. From the beginning of time and even the prophet Isaiah, 700 years before Jesus Christ, promises that Jesus will come.8:49Isaiah 9 and verse 6 says, For unto us a child was born. Unto us a son is given and the government will be upon his shoulders. And his name will be Wonderful Counselor, Eternal Father, Mighty God. He is the Prince of Peace. Creation is longing for the day of expectancy. And so today we remember what will be and what is in Jesus Christ.9:19That's why we sing during Advent. We see songs like this. Oh come, oh come Emmanuel, God with us. And ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appears. And then that next word, right? Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.9:48Why do we sing songs about expectancy? It says, Until the Son of God appears, we will rejoice. It means to show great delight because this child is born. And so I simply ask today, are you expecting something great to happen because Jesus has come? May we expect God to do great things10:15because the rescuer has come. It is Christ the Lord. Let's pray. Father, we thank you. We long for this child that you have sent to redeem us, to rescue us from the curse. And so as we sing, but as we worship, may we worship with expectant hearts knowing that you will do great things in our lives.10:42You will do great things this morning because we serve a great Savior. Because the power of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ is here. Lord, we thank you for your Son, Jesus, who gives us abundant life. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. Let's stand together.11:16Come, O come, O come, O come, O come, Emmanuel, that mourns in lonely exile.11:37Until the Son of God appears. Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel,12:00shall come to thee, O Israel.12:24O come, Thou dayspring, calm and cheer, our spirits by Thy madness near. Disperse the gloomy clouds of blood, and death's dark shadows poured to glass. Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to Thee, O Israel.12:52Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to Thee, O Israel.13:15O come, Thou rod of jealousy, free, Thy known from Satan's tyranny. From depths of hell, Thy people stay, and give Thee victory, O Lord, the grave. Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to Thee, O Israel.13:44Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to Thee, O Israel.14:00Rejoice, O Israel shall come to Thee, O Israel. Rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to Thee, O Israel.14:29Rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to Thee, O Israel. Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free.14:51From our fears and sins, release us. Let us find our rest in Thee, O Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth, and our hearts, dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.15:20We're born by people to deliver, born a child and yet a king.15:32Born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By Thine own eternal spirit, rule in all our hearts alone.16:01By Thine own salvation, bear it, raise us to Thy glorious throne. By Thine own eternal spirit, rule in all our hearts alone. In all our hearts alone, by Thine own salvation, bear it, raise us to Thy glorious throne.16:30By Thine own salvation, bear it, raise us to Thy glorious throne. Lord, raise us to Thy glorious throne. Lord, raise us to Thy glorious throne. Lord, raise us to Thy glorious throne. Lord, raise us to Thy glorious throne. Lord, raise us to Thy glorious throne. Lord, raise us to Thy glorious throne. Lord, raise us to Thy glorious throne.17:00Lord, raise us to Thy glorious throne.17:30Lord, raise us to Thy glorious throne. Lord, raise us to Thy glorious throne. Lord, raise us to Thy glorious throne. Lord, raise us to Thy glorious throne. Lord, raise us to Thy glorious throne. Lord, raise us to Thy glorious throne. Lord, raise us to Thy glorious throne. of God, Isaiah, the prophet who spoke about this child that will be born, sees God in Isaiah 6.17:57And in the year that King Uzziah died, he says, I saw the throne high and lifted up and the trail, the backside of his robe filled the temple. This is the same God in his holiness that came to earth. For our sake, this is the same God that we sing. Joy to the world, the Holy One, the One that created everything, has now come.18:27Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare him room and let heaven and earth sing the praises of God. I'm thankful for, during the busy season of Christmas, all of our USPS workers and our UPS workers and our FedEx drivers,18:53they know more than anyone how difficult this season can be because we overload them with shipping and receiving gifts and sending gifts during this time. But they would tell you more than anyone, that the very best presents, the most valuable presents and gifts are not left at the door. What do you have to do for your valuables when they come to your door?19:21You have to receive them and sign for them. No good gift is left in the weather. And as we sing that song, "Joy to the world, the Lord has come, let earth receive." Have you truly received the King in your life? I believe for many of us sometimes we know that the gospel is there, but we're content to leave it on the doorstep. We're content to let the King stay away from us and we know about the package, but we don't want to receive it.19:51Have you taken time to receive Jesus Christ? There is no greater gift in this world than Jesus coming to earth in the carnation and offering you abundant life. Have you received the King? "Joy to the world, the Lord has come, let earth receive her King, let every heart prepare her room."20:15And I began to think about that this week, and what would you do if you got a call right now? You're not supposed to answer it, it's just church, right? But let's assume some of you did, and you answered the phone and you heard this, "Hey, the president, the King is coming to your house right now." Some of you would leave to prepare your house. And I began to think, what do you even, how do you prepare your house for a King?20:44Can you cater? And then I thought, this is where my mind goes. Like if I were, if I were King and had a milk cater, where would I go? I would want some of those Jim and Nick's little biscuits. Like that's what, that's what I would have as King, right? That's what I want. And then I began to think this, we sing these songs about the true King. How do we prepare our lives? How do you prepare your heart for the one who created your heart?21:14And then you read Psalm 139, I believe the psalmist gives us a clue. Listen to what the psalmist says in Psalm 139, verse 23. "Search me, O God, and know my heart. God, seek my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the path of the everlasting." And as I sing the song, "Joy to the World," which we'll sing shortly, I began to ask myself,21:43is my heart prepared for the King? Lord, I simply ask you as we sing songs, as we worship it, are you ready? Is your heart ready for the King right now? Maybe you need to pray this prayer. Maybe this should be, "Lord, search me and know my heart. If there's any offensive way in me, Lord, if there's any sin, if there's any distraction,22:10lead me in the path of righteousness." Let's pray. Father, we truly want to sing this song with our full mind and our full trust. Lord, we know that it is faith. That's how we receive this gift of eternal life, it's by faith. Lord, that's how we sign for abundant life in Jesus, it's by faith.22:36Give us the faith to believe, to receive the King this morning. Lord, help us right now prepare our hearts. Lord, search us. Know our deepest concerns. Lord, if there is anything offensive in us right now, remove it, forgive us, and lead us in the path of righteousness.23:05Lord, we thank you for the incarnation, God becoming flesh, that we might be rescued. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.23:52Jesus you came for the wounded For the hurting For the lost and For the lonely you came Jesus you came Oh come all ye faithful24:17Now before our Savior Now let us adore The one who came for us Glory in the highest Praise the name of Jesus Our King has come24:47For the outcast The defeated For the weary For the weakest you came Oh Jesus you came Oh come all ye faithful25:15Bow before our Savior Come let us adore The one who came for us Glory in the highest Praise the name of Jesus Our King has come Oh come let us adore Him25:39For He alone is worthy Our King has come Our King has come All give Him all the glory For He alone is worthy26:08Our King has come Our King has come Oh come all ye faithful Bow before our Savior Come let us adore The one who came for us Glory in the highest26:38Praise the name of Jesus Our King has come Our King has come Our King has come Oh come all ye faithful Our King has come Oh come all ye faithful Oh come all ye faithful Bow before our Savior Bow before our Savior Come let us adore The one who came for us Glory in the highest Praise the name of Jesus Praise the name of Jesus27:07Our King has come Our King has come Our King has come Our King has come Our King has come Our King has come27:38In the days of Caesar Augustus A decree went out That all the world Should be registered This is the first registration When Quirinius Was governor of Syria And all went to be registered Each to his own town And Joseph also went up From Galilee From the town of Nazareth To Judea To the city of David Which is called Bethlehem To be married with To be Because he was the house28:05And lineage of David To be registered with Mary His betrothed Who was with child And while they were there The time came for her To give birth And she gave birth To her first born son And wrapped him In swaddling clothes And laid him in a manger Because there was no place For them in the inn And in that same region There were shepherds28:34Out of the field Keeping watch over Their flock by night 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 And the angel said to them Fear not For behold I bring you Good news Of great joy That you will be For the all people For unto you Is born this day29:03In the city of David A Savior Who is Christ the Lord And this will be A sign to you You will find a baby Wrapped in swaddling clothes And lying in a manger And suddenly There was with the angel Of multitude Of heavenly hosts Praising God And saying Glory to God In the highest And on earth Peace among those29:32With whom He is pleased When the angels Went away from them Into heaven The shepherds Said to one another Let us go over To Bethlehem And see this thing That has happened Which the Lord Has made known to us And when they went And they went with haste And found Mary and Joseph And the baby Lying in a manger And when they saw it They made known Saying That had been told To them30:02To them Concerning this child And all who heard it Wondered At what the shepherds Told them But Mary treasured Of all these things Pondering them In her heart And the shepherds Returned Glorifying and praising God For all they had heard And seen As it had been told Them I'm sorry.30:16I'm sorry. I'm sorry.30:46I'm sorry. I'm sorry.31:16I'm sorry. I'm sorry.31:46I'm sorry. I'm sorry.32:16I'm sorry. I'm sorry.32:46I'm sorry. I'm sorry.33:16I'm sorry. I'm sorry.33:46I'm sorry. I'm sorry.34:16I'm sorry. I'm sorry.34:46I'm sorry. I'm sorry.35:16I'm sorry. I'm sorry.35:46I'm sorry. I'm sorry.36:16I'm sorry. I'm sorry.36:46I'm sorry. I'm sorry.37:16I'm sorry. I'm sorry.37:46I'm sorry. I'm sorry.38:16I'm sorry. I'm sorry.38:46I'm sorry. I'm sorry.39:16I'm sorry. I'm sorry.39:46I'm sorry. I'm sorry.40:16I'm sorry. I'm sorry.40:46I'm sorry. I'm sorry.41:16I'm sorry. I'm sorry.41:46I'm sorry. I'm sorry.42:16I'm sorry. I'm sorry.42:46I'm sorry. I'm sorry.43:16I'm sorry. I'm sorry.43:46I'm sorry. I'm sorry.44:16I'm sorry. I'm sorry.44:46I'm sorry. I'm sorry.45:16I'm sorry. I'm sorry.45:46I'm sorry. I'm sorry.46:16I'm sorry. I'm sorry.46:46I'm sorry. I'm sorry.47:16I'm sorry. I'm sorry.47:46I'm sorry. I'm sorry.48:16I'm sorry. I'm sorry.48:46I'm sorry. I'm sorry.49:16I'm sorry. I'm sorry.49:46I'm sorry. I'm sorry.50:15I'm sorry. I'm sorry.50:45I'm sorry. I'm sorry.51:15I'm sorry. I'm sorry.51:45I'm sorry. I'm sorry.52:15I'm sorry. I'm sorry.52:45I'm sorry. I'm sorry.53:15I'm sorry. I'm sorry.53:45I'm sorry. I'm sorry.54:15I'm sorry. I'm sorry.54:45I'm sorry. I'm sorry.55:15I'm sorry. I'm sorry.55:45I'm sorry. I'm sorry.56:15I'm sorry. I'm sorry.56:45I'm sorry. I'm sorry.57:15I'm sorry. I'm sorry.57:45I'm sorry. I'm sorry.58:15I'm sorry. I'm sorry.58:45I'm sorry. I'm sorry.59:15I'm sorry. I'm sorry.59:45I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:00:15I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:00:45I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:01:15I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:01:45I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:02:15I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:02:45I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:03:15I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:03:45I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:04:15I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:04:45I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:05:15I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:05:45I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:06:15I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:06:45I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:07:15I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:07:45I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:08:15I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:08:45I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:09:15I'm sorry. There is a truth.1:09:45There is a light.1:10:15I'm sorry.1:10:45I'm sorry. There is a voice.1:11:15I'm sorry.1:11:45I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:12:15I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:12:45I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:13:15I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:13:45I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:14:15I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:14:45I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:15:14I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:15:44I'm sorry. I'm sorry.1:16:14I'm sorry.Next in Missing Christmas →Sunday, December 9, 2018
