Prayer & Preparation for December 7th, 2025
This Lord's Day
Hey church,
This week we'll continue to think about Advent, and we'll observe the Lord's Table in the morning service instead of our normal evening observance. The reason is that our musicians could use some extra margin as they work hard to prepare for the Christmas Concert on Dec. 14. Please be in prayer for them (for health in particular) and for the lost to whom we (you) can reach out through this concert! As an aside, we will not have a Christmas Eve service this year. All of our energies (again, especially for the sake of our musicians) are going into the concert.
One more "housekeeping" matter: we'll make available to you this Lord's Day our proposed budget for 2026 and then ask the congregation to approve it on Dec. 14, in the morning service.
But back to this week. I've been thinking about our New City Catechism as I prepare to preach:
Q21: What sort of Redeemer is needed to bring us back to God?
A: One who is truly human and also truly God (Isa. 9:6).
Q22: Why must the Redeemer be truly human?
A: That in human nature he might on our behalf perfectly obey the whole law and suffer the punishment for human sin; and also that he might empathize with our weaknesses (Heb. 2:17).
Q23: Why must the Redeemer be truly God?
A: That because of his divine nature his obedience and suffering would be perfect and effective; and also that he would be able to bear the righteous anger of God against sin and yet overcome death (Acts 2:24).
And here again is part of the Nicene Creed, including the next section that touches on our theme this week:
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried; and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father...
Here are some more details of this week's service:
Songs we'll sing: "God Made Low," "His Name Is Wonderful," "Before the Throne of God Above," & "Be Thou My Vision (Oh God, Be My Everything)"
Morning sermon/communion meditation: Hebrews 1:1-4
Cross-references: Exo. 33:18; Job 19:25; Ps. 17:15; 27:4, 8, 13; 110; Luke 22:7-20; 2 Cor. 4:4, 6; Heb. 2:17; 7:23-25; 9:13-14, 22-23; 10:5-14, 19-25;
1 John 3:2; Rev. 22:4
Love you, church!
By His Grace & For His Glory,
Jeff Tague
