MESSAGE - 12/5-6/2020
COME THOU LONG EXPECTED JESUS…  “Joy”
Luke 2:10-14
 THEME:   Prepare yourself for the Christmas gift of joy.
 INTRODUCTION: 
1.  Luke 2:10-14:   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.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
2.  Luke 2:20:  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
     Matthew 2:10:   When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
     Luke 1:44:  For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
     Luke 1:47:  My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
3.  Psalm 27:14:  Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
 I.  THE                                           OF JOY.
1. Luke 1:28:  And Gabriel came to Mary and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 
    Ephesians 1:5-6:  God predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
2. Acts 1:8:  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…
    Ephesians 3:20:  Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.
 II.  THE                                            FOR JOY.
1.  Prepare ________________________.
     Colossians 3:5-10:  Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.  On account of these the wrath of God is coming.  In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.  But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices  and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 
2.  Prepare your _______________________.
     1 Peter 1:13-14:  Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance.
CONCLUSION:  This Advent, what do you need to ___________________, or what do you need to __________________ to prepare for JOY this Christmas?   
WORDS:  environment, give up, process, promise, start up, yourself
​MESSAGE - 12/2/2020
MIDWEEK ADVENT 1
THE GIFTS:  “Frankincense - Holiness”
Hebrews 10:10-12
 THEME:   Jesus gives us the gift of His holiness through faith in Him.
 INTRODUCTION: 
1.  Hebrews 10:10-12:   And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.
2.  Matthew 2:10-11:  When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.  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.   
 I.  JESUS IS OUR                                             .
1.  A Priest came ____________ God on _____________ of the people.
     Numbers 29:7-11: “On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation and afflict yourselves. You shall do no work, but you shall offer a burnt offering to the Lord, a pleasing aroma: one bull from the herd, one ram, seven male lambs a year old: see that they are without blemish.  And their grain offering shall be of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah for the bull, two tenths for the one ram,  a tenth for each of the seven lambs:  also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the sin offering of atonement, and the regular burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offerings.
2.  Leviticus 16:1-2:  The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the Lord and died,  and the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die.
 II.  JESUS SATISFIES GOD’S                                  AND OFFERS HIS ____      ____.
1.  Leviticus 2:1-2:  “When anyone brings a grain offering as an offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it  and bring it to Aaron's sons the priests. And he shall take from it a handful of the fine flour and oil, with all of its frankincense, and the priest shall burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
2.  Romans 3:21-25:  But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,  whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.
 III.  JESUS IS A PRIEST WHO                                AND             ______        FOR US.
1.  Hebrews 4:14-15:  Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 
2.  Hebrews 4:16:  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
CONCLUSION:   Matthew 26:26-28:  Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”  And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you,  for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 
WORDS:  before, behalf, cares, High Priest, justice, mercy, understands.
​Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
8600 27 Mile Road
Washington, MI 48094
Phone: (586) 781-5567 FAX: (586) 781-0672
maryjane@ourredeemer-lcms.org
​Worship Services
Saturday: 6:30 p.m. - Casual and informal
Sunday: 8:00 a.m. - Traditional
Sunday: 9:15 a.m. - SONShine kids/Bible Study (Sept - May)
Sunday: 10:30 a.m. - Blended Service
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