Call to Worship: Psalm 22:22-24

Song of Worship: “Open Up the Heavens”

Song of Worship: “Before the Throne of God Above”

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 4:12-16

Song of Preparation: “Desert Song”

Sermon: Luke 4:1-15: "The Temptation of Jesus"

Song of Response: “Victory in Jesus (Christ Won the Victory)”

Benediction: Hebrews 13:20-21

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Call to Worship: Isaiah 42:10a. Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the end of the earth…

Song of Worship: “Prepare the Way”

Song of Worship: “Open Up the Heavens”

Scripture Reading: Psalm 2

Song of Preparation: “Holy, Holy, Holy”

Sermon: The Baptism and Genealogy of Jesus

1. "And when Jesus also had been baptized…": Luke assumes Jesus' baptism; almost like a passing statement
2. Jesus "was praying": let us also be a praying community
3. We have to wonder: why was Jesus baptized at all?
   1. Not because Jesus needed to repent of His sins, for He was sinless
   2. In order to fulfill the promises that were made about him, specifically to inaugurate His ministry
   3. To identify Himself with the very people He came to save
4. "The heavens were opened": God is about to make an entrance
5. "The Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove": a new act of God
6. "A voice came from heaven, 'You are my beloved son; with you I am well pleased.'" Jesus is doing exactly what His Father intends for Him to do.
7. Luke provides us with the genealogy of Jesus. Jesus is perfectly placed to do the work of redemption that He came to do.

• Have you been buried and raised with Christ?

Song of Response: “Knowing You (All I Once Held Dear)”

Benediction: Ephesians 6:23-24

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Call to Worship: Isaiah 40:10-13,28

Song of Worship: “Omemma”

Song of Worship: "Prepare the Way”

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 40:1-8

Song of Preparation: "Do It Again”

Sermon: Luke 3:1-20

1. Luke sets the scene: “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar…”
2. “The word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.”
3. “He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”
   • John’s baptism is a symbol of purification.
   • John’s baptism is a symbol of preparation.
4. John is preparing the way for the Christ.
5. John's words to the people are not easy listening.
6. John puts to rest any expectations that he himself might be the Christ.

• Whose kingdom are you building in your life?

Song of Response: "The Blessing”

Benediction: Isaiah 40:30-31

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Call to Worship: Psalm 68:32-35

Song of Worship: "House of the Lord”

Song of Worship: “The Lion and the Lamb”

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:41-52

Song of Preparation: "Holy Forever”

Sermon Notes

• Why did Luke write this Gospel? Luke 1:1-4
• What does Luke say about the mission of Jesus? Luke 19:10
• Observations
  1. This is the only story about Jesus' life between His circumcision/dedication and His public ministry.
  2. Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem every year for the Feast of the Passover.
  3. Jesus was 12 years old.
  4. Jesus' family travelled in a group.
  5. Jesus was in the temple.
  6. All who heard Jesus were amazed.
  7. Jesus' response shows that He understands that His primary relationship is with His Father in heaven.
  8. Jesus’ parents did not understand what He was saying to them.
  9. Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and men.
• Applications
  • Being about the things of your Father means…
    • Making God a priority in your time.
    • Communing with God.
    • Seeking wise counsel.
  • Being about the things of your Father does not mean you have permission to do whatever you want to do.
  • Godly parents give their children to God.

Song of Response: "Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me”

Benediction: 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

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Call to Worship: 1 Chronicles 16:35-36

Song of Worship: “All Creatures of Our God and King”

Song of Worship: “Across the Lands”

Scripture Reading: Luke 10:25-37; 15:1-17

Song of Preparation: “They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love”

Sermon Notes
 

1. The Central Question: What is the world?
   • Everything that God created
   • The values and culture of fallen, sinful people
   • When I use the term, I mean anything that God has created, in particular all people who are not part of God's family (i.e., not a Christian)
2.  How should Christians view our connection to "the world"?
   • Should we say that the Christian position is always "against" the world
   • Should we say that the Christian position is always "for" the world?
   • You have probably heard the phrase, "Be in the world but not of the world"
3. What does it actually mean to be "in the world but not of the world"? 
   • We inhabit the same planet as non-believers
   • We participate in many of the same activities as non-believers
   • We stay away from participating in sinful activities with others
     • We also realize that this is one of those areas in which good, faithful Christians can disagree with one another
     • Live as faithful followers of Jesus without either sealing ourselves off from the people that Jesus Christ died for or compromising our witness to Christ by supporting things that are wrong.
   • We maintain an eternal perspective beyond present space and time: "This world is not my home"
4. So, how should Christians connect to the world?
   1. Remember that God loves the world.
   2. Remember that both Jesus and we Christians are lights of the world.
      • Think of the difference between the greater light (the sun generates its own light) and the lesser light (the moon reflects light).
   3. Jesus came into the world to bear witness to the truth.
   4. We are ambassadors for Christ.
   5. The world is accountable to God.
   6. We should not conform to this world.
   7. God turns the world upside down.
   8. God is reconciling the world to Himself, in Christ.
5. How can we, at Connexion Church, connect to our world?
   1. SERVING THE STRANGER
      • The Central Question: Who is my neighbour?
      • Read Luke 10:25-37 (Parable of the Good Samaritan)
      • Hospitality: welcoming the stranger
      • VISION: That we would be servant-neighbours to those outside the church.
   2. SEEKING THE LOST
      • The Central Question: Who is lost?
      • Read Luke 15:1-7 (Parable of the Lost Sheep)
      • VISION: That we would be a church that points people to Christ and brings people to Christ.
   3. STEWARDING ALL CREATION
      • The Central Question: What is stewardship?
      • Read Matthew 25:14-30 (Parable of the Talents)
      • VISION: That we would be found faithful with what God has given to us to steward.

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Call to Worship: Psalm 22:22-23

Song: “Come Praise and Glorify”

Song: “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Song: “Firm Foundation (He Won’t)”

Sermon

• We are committed to each other.
  • The church is a community of believers
    1. The church is physical.
    2. The church is relational.
  • Being part of the church means that…
    1. We are committed to the priesthood of all believers, under the Great High Priest.
    2. We are devoted to “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3).
    3. We are committed to being in fellowship (koinonia) with other believers.
    4. We are committed to breaking bread together.
    5. We are committed to praying together.
  • The body needs exercise.
• We are engaged with the global church.
  1. We value our personal spiritual heritage.
  2. We value our historical heritage. 
  3. We value our global community.

The Apostle’s Creed

Song: “O Church Arise (Arise Shine)”

Benediction: 1 Corinthians 1:3

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Call to Worship: Psalm 104:1,33-34

Song: “Great Things”

Song: “Living Hope”

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:3-14

Song: “In Christ Alone”

Sermon

• What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
  • Your relationship with the Holy Spirit is with a Person.
  • You are a truly Spiritual person.
  • You live according to the Holy Spirit.
• Being filled with the Holy Spirit does NOT mean that...
  • You need to be an overly emotional or expressive person
  • You always need to hear from God audibly
  • You need to speak in tongues to prove anything
  • You need to handle poisonous snakes
  • You need to be a faith healer
  • You need to be a televangelist!
  • You need to have all the answers
• Why we should be filled with the Holy Spirit…
  • In order to grow in our walk with the Lord…
  • But how does the Holy Spirit enable us to grow in our walk with God
    • Spiritual gifts
    • Spiritual fruit
    • Spiritual disciplines
      • Hearing God’s voice
      • Having God’s ear
      • Participating in God’s body

Song: "Ever Be”

Benediction: 2 Corinthians 13:14

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• Call to Worship: Psalm 28:6-9
• Song of Praise: “Omemma”
• Song of Praise: “God Is For Us”
• Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:1-16
• Song of Preparation: “My Heart Is Filled”
• Sermon
  • Connexions
    • Connected to God
    • Connected to Believers
    • Connected to the World
  • Connected to God
    • Centered on Christ
    • Rooted in the Bible
    • Driven by the Gospel
• Song of Benediction: “The Blessing”

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Call to Worship: Psalm 72:18-19

Songs

• “Angels from the Realms of Glory”
• “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”

Congregational Reading: Matthew 2:1-23

Songs

• “We Three Kings”
• “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”

Sermon:“Epiphany: Jesus (and Our Thoughts) Revealed”

• The Responses of the Outsiders
  • The Magi
  • King Herod
• The Responses of the Insiders
  • The citizens of Jerusalem
  • The chief priests and scribes
  • Joseph (and Mary)
• How will you respond to Jesus?

Song: “Joy Has Dawned”

Benediction: Almighty God, You have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, kindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

(Book of Common Prayer)

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Call to Worship: Isaiah 42:10-12

Songs of Praise

• "O Come All Ye Faithful"
• "O Little Town of Bethlehem"

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 49:1-13

Song of Preparation: "Silent Night (Heavenly Peace)"

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:21-40

Sermon

• Observations
  1. “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to Your word.”
  2. “For my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples." 
  3. “A light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”
  4. “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed."
• Applications
  1. Christians, be aware of our own inadequacy and poverty.
  2. Christians, expect opposition when we talk about God's judgment.
  3. Christians, be ready be ready to depart in peace.

Song of Response: "Go Tell It on the Mountain"

Benediction: Isaiah 49:16

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