Welcome to the New Year! This week we begin our Winter 2017 series on God’s Big Story, Redemptive Moments in the Life of Christ. This week’s message is called “The First Coming of the Nations” and focuses on the story of the Magi from Matthew 2. Our worship will lead us to join the nations in praising the eternal King, with still a bit of a Christimas feel. We will also share communion. Our visual theme will be maps, symbolizing the coming of the nations to worship and serve Jesus.
Here is the link to the YouTube playlist: 170101 Heart Prep
Prelude:
Nations that Long in Darkness Walked – Andy Gullahorn/Jill Phillips
Worship Set:
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus – Hymn #124
Angels from the Realms of Glory – Hymn #131
Offertory:
Alleluia Christ is Born/ Glory to God in the Highest – Twila Paris
Invitation to Communion:
Wandering Pilgrim – Twila Paris
Benediction:
We Three Kings – Hymn #166
Scripture for Meditation
Micah 4:1-4 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, 2and many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 3He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; 4but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.
Matthew 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Revelation 15:3-4 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! 4Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
