December 3, 2023
December 3 — 11 AM Worship
You can find the order of worship and songs here.
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In this first week of the Advent season our meditations focus on the gift of hope. The Immanuel prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 was given to a nation amidst God's judgment. The coming of Immanuel would turn their sorrow and gloom into joy. So Israel hoped for the fulfillment of this promise.
But this promise would not be fulfilled in order to give earthly political relief to Israel. Rather, the Immanuel prophecy was fulfilled in Matthew 1:18–25, with the climactic announcement that Jesus "will save his people from their sins." Of course! Israel's very difficult predicament in Isaiah was the result of their sin. So what good is a political relief unless the problem of sin is dealt with? Indeed, Jesus came to deal with the root problem of sin, to save his people from it.
As we remember Christ's first Advent, we continue to hope. For we are not yet fully delivered from sin. While we are no longer condemned before God as sinners, and while sin no longer has dominion over us, we continue to struggle against sin, and we long to be freed from it. Indeed, our great hope is, as the hymn "It Is Well with My Soul" eloquently expresses it: "O Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll, the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend, "Even so" — it is well with my soul!"
Christ's first Advent reminds us that we are a people of hope. Hope, for those who have hoped in God for salvation were not disappointed. Hope, for we look forward to the glory of Christ's second Advent. Hope, because it makes us who we are.
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Growth Resources
This Year: Please see the full list of 2023 books as well as Bible reading plans on our church webpage: gracefallbrook.church/12-for-23
This Month: For December we are reading "In Christ Alone: Living the Gospel Centered Life" by Sinclair Ferguson.
This Week: We encourage you to make use of:
- Kevin DeYoung's "The Good News We Almost Forgot" pages 222–225, Lord's Day 48, for personal or family devotions.
- Past sermons are available on our church webpage: gracefallbrook.church/sermons.
Upcoming Events and Notices
December 3 (Lord's Day): Please join us for the "Essential Truths of the Christian Faith" for Sunday School lesson: Ch. 21 "Miracles." Also December 17.
December 6 (Wednesday 6:30 PM): Please join us as we study James 3:13–18. Zoom Meeting ID: 882 4255 0244 — Passcode: 618675. Next meeting: December 13.
December 10 (Lord's Day): Please join us as we celebrate our Lord’s birth with food, music, and fellowship!
Thank you for your continued support of Grace Fallbrook (PCA). Your loving support makes the proclamation of the gospel and the building up of the saints possible. Please visit gracefallbrook.church/give and click on "Give Online Now." You will be directed to the PCA Foundation where you can give towards Grace Fallbrook (PCA).