This is part of the worship series,
"Greater Glory”
Series Introduction
Advent 1 | Advent 2 | Advent 3 | Advent 4
Christmas Eve/Day | Christmas 1
First Sunday of Advent (Hope)
Text: Haggai 1:1–15; Matthew 1:18–25
Theme: I Am With You
Key Idea: The Holy Spirit turns our distracted hearts and hands to find shelter in the promise of Immanuel: God with us.
The Jewish remnant, granted return from exile by Cyrus of Persia (see Ezra 1), found themselves seeking to rebuild their lives according to lesser visions of glory. They delayed construction of a new temple, saying “the time has not yet come” (Haggai 1:2 NIV). But God denounced their hypocrisy; they believed it was better for them to rebuild their beautiful homes over the house of the Lord.
To this distracted people, God speaks his first promise: “I am with you” (Haggai 1:13 NIV). This hope, stirred by the Holy Spirit, empowered the people to begin work on the Lord’s house. This Sunday’s New Testament lesson also provides hope through the promise of God’s presence. In the child called Immanuel—“God with us” (Matthew 1:23 NIV)—God shows us his greater hope for our lives. Jesus fulfills God’s promise to dwell among us, meaning there is no longer any need for either bigger temples or paneled houses for us to find shelter.
Advent calls us to prepare ourselves for the arrival of God in Christ. As we wait, we can get distracted by other priorities, building other parts of our lives. In your service and sermon planning, consider how the holidays appetize what Andrew Root calls “the gods of more”: more stuff, more services, more parties, more cozy feelings. Diagnose some of these desires in your congregation. How does the prophetic word—“give careful thought to your ways” (Haggai 1:7 NIV)—speak against this consumerism?
We do not—and cannot—build according to our own plans. Hopes of a “brighter tomorrow” can distract us. As a correction, Advent invites repentance: a turning of hearts and hands. Advent originated, like Lent, with penitential practices. Consider the false hopes and promises that distract your congregation. And consider the unmet potential and disappointment that they offer. Where might the Lord be saying to your community, “Each of you is busy with your own house” (Haggai 1:9 NIV)? Your service and sermon could use the text’s house/shelter imagery as a controlling metaphor. Why do we shelter ourselves under these promises? How does resting in the presence of God give new meaning to our work? How can we trust in God’s vision for our lives, especially when we feel tempted to look elsewhere?
Service Outline
God Gathers Us
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship & Lighting of the Advent Candle
[If the congregation is unfamiliar with the participants and/or purpose of Advent wreaths, the following introduction can be included:]
Good morning. I am/we are __________,
and we have been worshiping at __________ for __________ years.
Each Sunday in Advent,
we light one candle.
These candles represent the growing light
that Jesus brings to our dark world.
[As one person lights a blue/purple candle, another reads:]
On the first Sunday of Advent,
we light this candle in hope.
When our world looks bleak,
God’s hope is nearer.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
—John 1:5 NIV
*Opening Songs
“Once in Royal David’s City” Alexander
“Here I Am to Worship” Hughes
or
“Lord, You Were Rich Beyond All Splendor” Houghton
*God’s Greeting & Greeting One Another
This morning, we begin our journey to Bethlehem’s manger.
We wait for the Lord, who came down from heaven.
But in our waiting, we are not alone.
God is here among us now,
and God greets us with the words
that the angel spoke to Mary:
“Greetings, you who are highly favored!
The Lord is with you!”
—Luke 1:28 NIV
As God has greeted us,
let us greet one another.
*Song(s)
“How Firm a Foundation” attr. Keith
“Firm Foundation (He Won’t)” Davis et al.
“Promises” Barnes et al.
“Make Room” Heideriqui et al.
“God With Us” Ingram & Jordan
Call to Confession
Jeremiah 23:16 with “Lord I Need You” (st. 1–2, chorus) Nickels et al.
[If your congregation is less familiar with this song, you could substitute it with “I Need Thee Every Hour” Lowry and Hawks]
Confession of Sin
Lord Almighty,
We are busy people.
The holidays remind us of
more and more things we want to add:
more presents, more parties, more preparations.
We have become distracted
by our own dreams and visions.
We have become busy
with our own homes and plans.
We have allowed ourselves
to be filled with false hopes.
We have not considered our ways.
Forgive us for putting ourselves first.
Forgive us for putting your kingdom last.
Slow down our hands,
and redirect our hearts.
Remind us of your presence
and send your Spirit upon us,
so that we might build our lives
to the glory of your name. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon:
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
—Psalm 139:7–12 NIV
Sung Response
“Lord I Need You” (bridge, chorus) Nickels et al.
Offering and/or Children’s Message
God Speaks to Us
Prayer of Illumination
Scripture Reading
Haggai 1:1–15; Matthew 1:18–25
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
Sermon
“I Am With You”
God Receives Our Dedication
Prayers of the People
*Affirmation of Faith
Even now,
as history unfolds
in ways we know only in part,
we are assured
that God is with us in our world,
holding all things in tender embrace
and bending them to his purpose.
The confidence that the Lord is faithful
gives meaning to our days
and hope to our years.
The future is secure,
for our world belongs to God.
—Our World Belongs to God, para. 12 © 2008, Christian Reformed Church in North America, Grand Rapids MI
*Song
“Your Labor is Not in Vain” Kimbrough, Zach, & Wardell
or
“In Christ Alone” Getty, Townend
God Sends Us
*Benediction & Charge
May the God of hope fill you
with all joy and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
—Romans 15:13 NIV
Surely God is with you always,
even to the end of the age.
Go with this hope.
Thanks be to God!
*Sending Song
“You’ll Come” Ligertwood
or
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” trans. Neale
Creative Ideas
- Is there a tangible object that people can take home as a reminder of God’s presence and purpose in their everyday labor? Consider distributing a meaningful, practical object for your context—a carpenter pencil, laptop/water bottle sticker, paperclip, or hand lotion—as a token of hope that reminds your people of the Spirit’s empowering work.
Confessions and Testimonies
- Our Song of Hope st. 3–4
- Our World Belongs to God para. 3, 23
- Belgic Confession Article 18
