This daily worship guide for the 3rd week of Advent reflects the theme of Jesus as the redeemer who reconciles God and man from the sermon on 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 in corporate worship on December 14.  Using this worship guide will help us extend and deepen the focus of corporate worship over the course of a whole week.  (This guide can be downloaded as a PDF or Microsoft Word document file here.)

Key themes: God’s reconciling and uniting the world to himself and reconciling and uniting human beings to one another through the person and work of Jesus

(If you use this guide with a group, the leader can read the words in light print and the whole group can respond with the words in boldface print.)

GOD CALLS US TO WORSHIP from Isaiah 9:6

Our help is in the name of the Lord,
our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.
O come let us adore him!

WE PRAISE GOD: “What Child Is This?”
Audio (choral) | Audio (folk)

What child is this who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary.

Why lies he in such mean estate where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here the silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce him through, the cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh, the babe, the son of Mary.

So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh, come, peasant, king, to own him;
the King of kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone him.
Raise, raise the song on high, the virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy, for Christ is born,the babe, the son of Mary.

(Free prayers of praise and thanks)

WE CONFESS OUR SIN

Father, you have revealed your love to us in Jesus Christ
and have offered us reconciliation in him.
But we have turned away.
We have run into temptation,
and the sin that we should have hated, we have committed.
We have willingly broken your holy laws.
We have dealt unjustly and unlovingly with our neighbors.
We are sorry, and we humbly repent. Lord, have mercy.

(Silent prayers of confession)

Lord, forgive us for refusing to reconcile with you.
Help us to follow Jesus, our redeemer,
who has come to reconcile all that is broken
so that we can walk in the light and enjoy you forever.

GOD DECLARES OUR FORGIVENESS from Ephesians 2:13-14, 16

In Christ Jesus, you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace and has reconciled us to God in one body through the cross. In Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven.

GOD INSTRUCTS US

Monday             Psalm 130            John 3:16–21

Tuesday            Psalm 32              2 Corinthians 5:14–21

Wednesday       Psalm 116             Romans 5:1–11

Thursday           Psalm 67              Colossians 1:21–23

Friday               Psalm 27               Hebrews 10:19–25

Saturday           Psalm 133             Ephesians 2:11–22

WE PRAY FOR THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD

Opening
Almighty Father,
you gave your only Son to take our nature upon him,
and be born of the Virgin Mary.
Renew us every day by your Holy Spirit
so that we will live as your children,
born again and adopted by grace
through our Lord Jesus Christ.

(Free prayers of petition)

Closing
Eternal King and Father of all mercies,
your Son willingly suffered death for the sake of our endless joy.
Help us to walk in the way of the cross this day
and find it none other than the way of life and peace;
through Jesus Christ, our risen and reigning Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.

GOD BLESSES AND SENDS US from 2 Corinthians 13:14

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil,
and bring us to everlasting life.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
and the love of God the Father
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.