Today is the beginning is of Advent. Advent is a time for us to prepare for Christmas. It isn’t about shopping, baking, decorations or even preparing for the annual Christmas concert, play or cantata.
Advent is about what God did for us. It is about God’s Radical demonstration of love.
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17 (NIV)
Humans were created by God to have a relationship him. Sadly, humans rebelled. It was God who took the initiative to bring restoration and healing to humans.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (NIV)
Christ came into a dark world so we might have hope. A hope that endures even in the most difficult situations. A hope that isn’t based on our circumstances. A hope that gives purpose and meaning even when life seems pointless. A hope that is anchored in the past saving work of Christ, the ongoing strength for today and the promise of future reward.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
Solo
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
And hath redeemed us to God by His blood
To receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
Wo-o-o-o-rthy
And hath redeemed us to God by His blood
Men
Blessing honour glory and power be unto Him be unto Him
That seated upon the throne
And to the Lamb
All
Blessing honour glory and power be unto Him be unto Him
That seated upon the throne
Men
O That seated upon the throne
All
That seated upon the throne
Men
Blessing honour glory and power be unto
All
The Lamb
Solo Ha
All
Blessing and honour
Solo Lelujah
All
Blessing honour and power
Solo
Ha aaaaaaaaaa
All
Wisdom and strength and glory
Solo
Lelujah
All
Hallelujah Hallelu
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah [2x]
Male For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Halle halle
Hallelujah
For the Lord God omnipotent r-e-i-gneth
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, halle – e- e- lujah
The kingdom of our Lord
And of his Christ [X2]
And He shall reign for ever and ever [2X]
Solo
King of Kings
All
for ever and ever, hallelujah hallelujah
Solo
and Lord of Lords
All
For ever and ever
Solo
King of Kings
All
For ever and ever, hallelujah hallelujah
Solo
Lord of Lords
All
For ever and ever
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Solo
King of Kings
All
For ever and ever,
Solo
Lord of Lords
All
For ever and ever
Hallelujah
Halle – lu jah
Halle
Hallelujah
WORTHY IS THE LAMB/HALLELUJAH CHORUS
Solo
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
And hath redeemed us to God by His blood
To receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
Wo-o-o-o-rthy
And hath redeemed us to God by His blood
Male
Blessing honour glory and power be unto Him be unto Him
That seated upon the throne
And to the Lamb
All:
Blessing honour glory and power be unto Him be unto Him
That seated upon the throne
Men
O That seated upon the throne
All
That seated upon the throne
Male
Blessing honour glory and power be unto
All
The Lamb
Solo: Ha
All: Blessing and honour
Solo: Lelujah
All: Blessing honour and power
Solo: Ha aaaaaaaaaa
All: Wisdom and strength and glory
Solo: Lelujah
All; Hallelujah Hallelu
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah [2x]
Male: For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Halle halle
Hallelujah
For the Lord God omnipotent r-e-i-gneth
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, halle – e- e- lujah
The kingdom of our Lord
And of his Christ [X2]
And He shall reign for ever and ever [2X]
Solo: King of Kings
All: for ever and ever, hallelujah hallelujah
Solo: and Lord of Lords
All: For ever and ever
Solo: King of Kings
All: For ever and ever, hallelujah hallelujah
Solo: Lord of Lords
All: For ever and ever
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Solo: King of Kings
All:For ever and ever,
Solo: Lord of Lords
All: For ever and ever
Hallelujah
Halle – lu jah
Halle
Hallelujah
Halle
Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Halle-e-e-lujah
Halle
Hallelujah
Halle
X3
Halle
Hallelujah
Halle
Lujah
Hallelujah
Halle
Hallelujah
3X
Lujah
Hallelujah
Halle
Hallelujah
3X
Halle
Eh eh eh eh eh eh eh
Lu
WORTHY IS THE LAMB/HALLELUJAH CHORUS
Solo
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
And hath redeemed us to God by His blood
To receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
Wo-o-o-o-rthy
And hath redeemed us to God by His blood
Male
Blessing honour glory and power be unto Him be unto Him
That seated upon the throne
And to the Lamb
All:
Blessing honour glory and power be unto Him be unto Him
That seated upon the throne
Men
O That seated upon the throne
All
That seated upon the throne
Male
Blessing honour glory and power be unto
All
The Lamb
Solo: Ha
All: Blessing and honour
Solo: Lelujah
All: Blessing honour and power
Solo: Ha aaaaaaaaaa
All: Wisdom and strength and glory
Solo: Lelujah
All; Hallelujah Hallelu
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah [2x]
Male: For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Halle halle
Hallelujah
For the Lord God omnipotent r-e-i-gneth
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, halle – e- e- lujah
The kingdom of our Lord
And of his Christ [X2]
And He shall reign for ever and ever [2X]
Solo: King of Kings
All: for ever and ever, hallelujah hallelujah
Solo: and Lord of Lords
All: For ever and ever
Solo: King of Kings
All: For ever and ever, hallelujah hallelujah
Solo: Lord of Lords
All: For ever and ever
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Solo: King of Kings
All:For ever and ever,
Solo: Lord of Lords
All: For ever and ever
Hallelujah
Halle – lu jah
Halle
Hallelujah
Halle
Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Halle-e-e-lujah
Halle
Hallelujah
Halle
X3
Halle
Hallelujah
Halle
Lujah
Hallelujah
Halle
Hallelujah
3X
Lujah
Hallelujah
Halle
Hallelujah
3X
Halle
Eh eh eh eh eh eh eh
Lu
Jah
Jah
It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ” Mark 15:42-16:7 (NIV)
Not a word was heard
At the tomb that day.
Just shuffling of soldiers feet
As they guarded the grave.
One day, two days,
Three days had past.
Could it be that Jesus
Breathed His last?
Could it be that His Father
Had forsaken him?
Turned his back on his son
Dispising our sin.
All hell seemed to whisper
Just forget Him, He’s dead.”
Then the Father looked down
To his son and he said..
Arise, My love.
Arise, My love.
The grave no longer
Has a hold on you
No more death’s sting
No more suffering
Arise…Arise…my love.
The Earth trembled
And the tomb began to shake,
And like lightening
From Heaven the stone was rolled away.
And as dead man
The guards they all stood there in fright
As the power of love
Displayed its might
Then suddenly a melody
Filled the air
Riding wings of wind,
It was everywhere
The words all creation
Had been longing to hear
The sweet sound of victory,
So loud and clear.
Arise, my love.
Arise, my love.
The grave no longer has a hold on you.
No more death’s sting
No more suffering
Arise…arise….
Sin, where are your shackles?
Death, where is your sting?
Hell; has been defeated.
The grave could not hold the king.
Arise, my love.
Arise, my love.
The grave no longer has a hold on you.
No more death’s sting
No more suffering
Arise…arise….
Christ demonstrated the ultimate expression of love for us.
33 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 34 Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
35 Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. 36 One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. “Wait!” he said. “Let’s see whether Elijah comes to take him down!”
37 Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Mark 15:33-38 (NLT)
When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died;
my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,save in the death of Christ, my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,I sacrifice them to his blood.
See, from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,or thorns compose so rich a crown.
Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
29The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” John 1:29-34 (ESV)
Behold, the Lamb of God
Who takes away our sin
Behold the Lamb of God
The life and light of men
Behold the Lamb of God
Who died and rose again
Behold the Lamb of God who comes
To take away our sin
Broken hearts–behold our broken hearts
Fallen far–we need you
Behold the Lamb of God
Chorus
Son of God–Emmanuel
Son of Man–we need you
Behold the Lamb
The hope of man
Behold the Lamb of God
Luke describes Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. The attitude of the crowd on Sunday is quite different from what it will be on Friday. Jesus is greeted with praise and honor. On Friday, the cheers have turned to jeers and cursing. As I was reading through Luke I am reminded that none of this took Jesus by surprise. That Sunday as he was entering Jerusalem he what was going to happen on Friday. Jesus knew his purpose for coming.
Follow the star to a place unexpected
Would you believe, after all we’ve projected,
A child in a manger?
Lowly and small, the weakest of all
Unlikeliest hero, wrapped in his mother’s shawl –
Just a child –
Is this who we’ve waited for? ’cause…
How many kings step down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
And how many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that is torn all apart
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Bringing our gifts for the newborn Savior
All that we have, whether costly or meek
Because we believe.
Gold for his honor, and frankincense for his pleasure
And myrrh for the cross he will suffer
Do you believe?
Is this who we’ve waited for?
It is easy to get caught up with the things associated with the Easter like new clothes, Easter Bunnies, even getting ready for the one of the biggest church services of the year. We can lose focus of the meaning of Easter.
The origin of the Easter bunny is not Christian nor does it have anything to do with the Christian observance of the resurrection of Christ. The Rabbit and eggs were a symbol of symbol of fertility and spring time. The rabbit was a symbol of the pagan festival of the goddess Eastre. The rabbit was her symbol. (1) In Egypt and Persia eggs were given in honor of the start of spring. (2) Christians incorporated the pagan tradition of coloring eggs into the Christian observance of Easter. The earliest mention of the Bunny in connection with Easter is in Germany in the 1500’s. The Easter bunny was introduced in the untied states in the 1700’s by German settlers. (3) By the 19th century Easter baskets and chocolate were used in the United States, however Easter was not widely celebrated until after the Civil War. (4) I have nothing against Easter bunnies especially the chocolate ones but they have nothing to do with the.
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us performed by Skillet
