3rd Sunday in Advent : Date: December 14, 2014
– THE SERMON: Romans 2:12-16
Theme: Judging Men’s Hearts
I. God’s Answer to Man’s Moral Persuasion
II. Ignorance of the Law Is No Excuse
III. Jesus Judging According to the Gospel
( Pastor Theodore Barthels )
Bulletin: Read Bulletin
Sermon: Read Sermon
THE ORDER OF SERVICE: p. 5 (98:1,2,5)
HYMNS: 70; 63; 65; 23:4
THE GOSPEL LESSON: Matthew 3:1-12
Matthew records the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy with the appearance of John preaching in the wilderness, calling people to repentance. He baptized people as they came confessing their sins. He condemned the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. He directed the people not to himself but to the Christ who was soon to appear and would baptize the people with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
THE OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Isaiah 40:1-10
The message to be delivered to God’s people is one of comfort: tell the people that their warfare is over. This message would come from John the Baptist–his voice crying in the wilderness calling them to prepare the way of the Lord. Now there is peace with God. This peace doesn’t come from man’s good will, but from an amazing grace that comes from God who has given double grace for all our sin. This comes to us because the glory of the Lord has been revealed in the coming of Christ our Lord.