December 7, 2025
You can find the order of worship and songs here.
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Suppose your friend says to you, "I have a terrible headache and one side of my face is drooping." And then you answer, "Tylenol is good for headaches. Give yourself a face massage and get some rest!" What happened? You answered your friend's felt-needs, not his real needs. These are signs of a stroke. Addressing the mere surface issues without correctly understanding the problem will inevitably lead to a severe damage, perhaps even death. Similarly, we often deal with our felt-needs without understanding our real problem to our detriment.
In Isaiah 10 God promised restoration for Israel. For Israel that meant surviving the Assyrian invasion, political stability, and economical prosperity. But to think of such things as Israel's salvation is like thinking that a stroke can be treated with Tylenol and sleep. What God promised, and what Israel desperately needed, was that salvation which only the Spirit-empowered Son of David could give them. Thus we read from Isaiah 11:1–10 "There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit." At this point the dynastic line of David is a tree cut down. Multiple generations of faithless kings have brought David's kingdom to a dead end.
But God's stubborn grace blossoms where sin has left everything dead. There is an unexpected and hidden vitality in "the stump of Jesse". God is going to make the dead stump come alive and bear fruit. How? Not by answering Israel's felt-needs, but by sending the Spirit-empowered Son of David in the last days. Isaiah 11:6–9 is a cherished passage: "The wolf shall dwell with the lamb…and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them." In Eden man's twisted craving for knowledge brought violence into God's creation. But through this King's holy knowledge — wise, righteous, and in complete submission to God — nature is healed of its violence and submits to a child the way God intended his creation to be.
What do you suppose Jesus has come to do? Be sure of this. Jesus did not come merely address surface issues. Jesus has come to "make his blessings flow far as the curse is found." This is why we celebrate Jesus' first advent, and await with bated breath the renewal of the whole creation at his second advent.
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Growth Resources
This year: Please see the full list of 2025 books as well as Bible reading plans on our church webpage.
In December we are reading "The Dawn of Redeeming Grace: Daily Devotions for Advent " by Sinclair Ferguson.
Everyday: Noted pastor and theologian Sinclair Ferguson posts a short reflection every day, each around 5 minutes long. "Things Unseen" cover various aspects of the Christian life, worship, and theological topics in a very accessible and edifying way. We encourage you to incorporate this into your daily life. Please see this page for more information. There you will find links to various podcast platforms as well as YouTube page.
Announcements
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).
12/7 (Lord's Day): Sunday School: "Essential Truths of the Christian Faith" Ch. 66, "Repentance."
12/10 (Wednesday 7 PM): Esther chapter 5. Zoom ID: 884 9003 6844. Passcode: 5sUpUi.
12/14 (Lord's Day): Advent Carols and Celebration.
This Week's Prayers
Please email your prayer request by Thursday to include it in the list for the upcoming week — info@gracefallbrook.church