This morning – Fifth of the Sermon series – 'John the Baptist - No Greater Prophet' –
Theme: 'A Great Honour' (John 3: 22- 30 )


Fourth Sunday of Advent
22 December 2013

¯ THIS MORNING'S HYMN'S OF PRAISE:
2, (v 1, 3, 5), 15, (v 1, 3, 5), 14, 12,
6 (v 1,4),18, (v 1,5), 2.

FIRST BIBLE READING:

Isaiah 7: 10 - 16; 'A virgin will conceive'

Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, "Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights."
But Ahaz said, "I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test."
Then Isaiah said, "Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.

SECOND BIBLE READING:

Romans 1: 1–7; 'Jesus, son of David, Son of God'

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God - the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name's sake. And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

GOSPEL READING:

Matthew 1: 18 - 25; 'God's call to Joseph'

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"(which means "God with us").
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.


NOTES ON THE READINGS:

ISAIAH 7: 10-16:

King Ahaz of Judah, facing attack from Israel in alliance with Syria, called in the King of Assyria for military help. Isaiah's approach to Ahaz with the Lord's word that God would give Ahaz any sign he asked was rejected. Ahaz trusted rather in his commitment to Assyria, and thus rejected God. God gave him a sign, anyway, through the further prophecy of Isaiah. A young woman's current pregnancy would result at birth in the name 'Immanuel' being given the child. As the name means 'God with us', the event presupposes a victorious deliverance from God so great that both the attacking nations would be devastated by the time the child was born. Hence the name is a pious recognition of God's miraculous help. In St Matthew's gospel (today's gospel reading) this prophecy is applied more widely to the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ; the Hebrew word for 'young woman' being legitimately translated as 'virgin'.
Indeed, this prophecy brings home to us the ultimate implications of 'God with us' in God's gift of victory over sin and eternal death through the birth of his Son.

ROMANS 1:1-7:

To put his letter to the Christians at Rome into context and to establish his own credentials, Paul includes in his greeting a very brief compendium of key teaching concerning the prophesied origins, person and work of Jesus Christ, his resurrection and continued work by the Holy Spirit. This is where and from whom his apostleship to the Gentiles is derived and is the basis of his authority and his reason for writing to them. He can truly offer them grace and peace as he salutes them as special people already called by the Holy Spirit to be God's holy people (saints.)

MATTHEW 2:18-25:
Joseph is informed that the child conceived by his fiancée, Mary, is by the agency of the Holy Spirit. He is therefore not to divorce her, but rather by marrying her to provide a human legal line of descent to the child from King David, Joseph's ancestor. The prophecy from Isaiah (today's first reading) is quoted by St Matthew using the Greek Septuagint translation for the word 'young woman', namely 'virgin'. Thus Isaiah' s prophesy from Ahaz's time is applied in an infinitely wider meaning than deliverance from Judah' s current political enemies. From the angel's announcement it can be seen that the Messiah's descent from the Davidic kingship, his role as Saviour from sin, his miraculous origin by a human mother from the power of the Holy Spirit all point to the universal grace and peace which God offers the world through his own act of reconciliation through his Son.

Bible readings for Sunday 29th December:
Isaiah 63: 7-9, Hebrews 2: 10-18, Matthew 2: 13-23.

Announcements:

1. This week in the Lord's Service - 22nd - 29th Dec:
Saturday - 10.00 am - 11.00 am - 'Sing - along' time for those who wish to learn songs for the Sunday.
Saturday - 11.00 am to 12 noon - Choir practice.
Next Sunday - 9.30 am - Public Divine service - (Non - Communion).

2. Christmas Services:

The following are the Christmas Worship services at 'Our Redeemer'.
Christmas Eve (24thDec) - 7.30 pm - (Non H.C.)
Christmas Day (25thDec) - 9.30 am - (With H.C.)


3. Combined New Year's Eve Service:
Tuesday 31st December - 7.30 pm - Greater Geelong combined New Year's Eve worship service with Holy Communion at 'Our Redeemer'. Members
are invited to bring a plate of food to share.


4. 'A Hearing Heart' (Resource) :
Another reminder that an LCA publication 'A Hearing Heart' - The art of hermeneutics by Rev Dr Greg Lockwood, an overview of the basic
understanding of divine and human aspects of Holy Scripture and as a useful resource leading up to the issue of women's ordination in the church, is being
made available to members. The cost of the booklet is $5.00. Members are encouraged to read through this and a list has been made available in the front
foyer for members to place their names if they wish to obtain a copy.
Three copies of the booklet are also available to borrow from our church library.


5. LSF National Retreat - Jan 2014:
A further reminder of the LSF national camp for young adults which will take place at Tandara Camp, Hall's Gap from 20th - 24th January, 2014.
Please see notice board near kitchen.


6. 'Empower' Training:
A leadership training day, run jointly by LYV /LSF for young people and adults to learn about and support young adult ministry will be held at St Phillips
Lutheran Church, Tarneit on Saturday, 1st March, 2014, from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm. Please see notice board near kitchen for cost etc. Registration forms &
elective/ session details available from front foyer.


Coming up for your diary:
Sunday 12th January - Sixth in the sermon series 'John the Baptist - No Greater Prophet' –
'A Great Humility' (Matthew 3: 13-17).

Friday 31st January - 9.30 am - Worship Team.
Tuesday 4th February - 7.00 pm - Church Council.
Sunday 16th February - (after worship) - A.G.M. - (includes Elections for 2014).