| • Music and singing | |
| • Overcoming injustice and darkness | |
| • Bringing hope and joy through music | |
| • The Tehillah praise concept | |
| • Worship and thanking God for His sacrifice on the cross | |
| • Announcements for the worship service | |
| • New member class after worship | |
| • Christmas choir concert and caroling event on December 18th | |
| • Women's Christmas evening on December 9th | |
| • Youth Coffee at Paul and Leslie Kuhl's house | |
| • Young adult combined worship event at Maple Ridge Church | |
| • Youth lock-in event next weekend | |
| • Advent candle lighting | |
| • Reflections on Jesus' birth and significance | |
| • The struggle with sin and redemption through faith in Jesus | |
| • Trusting in God's love and presence despite darkness and hardship | |
| • Affirmation of God's oneness and unity through Jesus | |
| • Gratitude for salvation and forgiveness through Jesus' sacrifice | |
| • Psalm 13 referenced as a source of confession and assurance | |
| • Questions about God's timing and action (e.g. "How long", "Will you forget me forever") | |
| • Petitions for God to act and intervene in the world (e.g. "Light up my eyes", "Change the plan") | |
| • Expressions of trust and faith in God's steadfast love and salvation | |
| • References to suffering, darkness, and failure | |
| • Prayers for revival, renewal, and restoration of the land | |
| • Questions about God's timing and presence (e.g. "How long before you touch the barren land?") | |
| • Praise and thanksgiving for God's mercy, love, and redemption | |
| • Expressions of joy and wonder at God's glory and love | |
| • Praise and worship to God's crown in heaven | |
| • Welcome and introduction of new church members (Nordham family) | |
| • Affirmation of faith by new members | |
| • Church announcements and offerings | |
| • Introduction of the star of Bethlehem service | |
| • Worship service issues | |
| • Upcoming trip to Costa Rica in spring 2023 | |
| • Sign-up process for trip | |
| • Online registration and documentation | |
| • Changes from previous year, including digital passport submissions | |
| • Announcement for youth leaders to apply and pay deposit for upcoming trip | |
| • Invitation for kids aged 3-4 to join children's worship time up front | |
| • Reading of Christmas book and grandpa's story about God's purpose and listening to Him | |
| • Story of king without a shadow who made lightlings that disobeyed and sinned, resulting in loss of light and shame | |
| • Interruption for church family prayer led by an elder, Ken | |
| • Announcements for upcoming events: Lord's Supper, Sylvia Welfing celebration, and church prayer requests | |
| • Prayers for healing and restoration of body and mind | |
| • Requests for spiritual peace and freedom from addiction | |
| • Intercessions for those experiencing challenges in finances, business, work, and relationships | |
| • Petitions for an end to conflicts, wars, and unrest around the world | |
| • Prayers for specific individuals within the congregation and their families | |
| • Thanksgivings for blessings and milestones | |
| • Requests for guidance and preparation for upcoming events and spiritual practices | |
| • General prayers for renewal, hope, and a deeper relationship with God | |
| • Discussion of last week's scripture on patient endurance and faith | |
| • Transition to this week's focus on joy | |
| • Analysis of Revelation 19:1-9, a "hallelujah chorus" passage | |
| • Explanation of the events preceding Revelation 19:1-9 (chapters 17 and 18) | |
| • Description of the woman and beast in chapters 17 and 18 | |
| • Comparison to Revelation 12: a pure-hearted woman vs. an evil prostitute figure | |
| • The woman in Revelation 12 is spared by God, but the woman in Revelation 17 and 18 is not | |
| • The latter woman is a prostitute who is drunk on the blood of God's holy people and is hated by the beast | |
| • She is corrupt, evil, and wicked, and is devoured by the beast and burned with fire | |
| • The world that loved her cries out in agony as she is destroyed | |
| • There is a contrast between celebration and judgment, and our text discusses the latter | |
| • Celebration is often associated with winning and rejoicing, but judgment is not typically celebrated in modern culture | |
| • However, judgment is necessary for justice to reign, and it is tied to God's sovereignty and power | |
| • The return of Jesus and the end of suffering and pain | |
| • Judgment as a necessary step for celebration and victory | |
| • The contrast between celebrating judgment and the world's tolerance and approval | |
| • The difference between personal repentance and cultural sins that permeate society | |
| • The need for Christ to come again and rid the world of sin, pain, and suffering | |
| • The promise of eternal joy, love, hope, peace, and happiness in heaven | |
| • Salvation belongs to God and is ours through Christ's life, death, and resurrection | |
| • We are saved from sin, misery, and death | |
| • We are delivered to something: righteousness, eternal joy, and a relationship with God | |
| • The story of Scripture ends in celebration, preparing us for the new Jerusalem that is coming | |
| • We need to prepare for this new earth by living according to our calling | |
| • Discussion of Revelation chapter 4, specifically verses 4-6 | |
| • The 24 elders and 4 living creatures mentioned in these verses | |
| • Their role as key characters representing the heavenly council submitting to Christ's authority | |
| • Connection between these characters and their worship of God throughout John's vision in Revelation | |
| • Worship as a celebratory response to divine judgment, as discussed in the text | |
| • The beginning and end of life on earth | |
| • Worshiping our Lord | |
| • A wedding feast in Revelation 19:7-9 | |
| • A place of glory and great rejoicing in heaven | |
| • Christ's church as His bride, clean and bright as fine linen | |
| • The importance of joy resulting from witnessing and proclaiming Christ as Lord | |
| • The conquest of the dragon and its forces | |
| • The victory of an eschatological relationship with God | |
| • The need for diligence in witness and perseverance of faith | |
| • The speaker discusses the difference between happiness and joy | |
| • Happiness is an emotive response to a specific thing, while joy is a posture of understanding or expectation | |
| • Joy can happen at any time and is related to enjoying the prospect of what one desires | |
| • The Bible emphasizes rejoicing or being joyful in all circumstances, not just happiness | |
| • Christ's coming and justice reign will bring joy and hope despite difficult life situations | |
| • Human trafficking and slavery as a rampant issue | |
| • The church's stance against human trafficking and desire to bring awareness and raise money to fight it | |
| • The importance of righteous anger towards injustice, but also the hope for justice in the future | |
| • The promise of Christ's second coming and the eventual reign of justice | |
| • The tension between living in the present with its injustices and looking forward to a future where justice will be realized | |
| • Reflection on Advent season and Jesus' birth | |
| • Waiting for Jesus' return and promise of justice | |
| • Trusting God's promises and leaning on Him in difficult times | |
| • Joy and rejoicing despite turmoil and adversity | |
| • Singing hymn "It is Well with My Soul" | |
| • Prayer for the congregation to be filled with truth and knowledge of Christ's reign | |
| • Name tags for prayer team members | |
| • God's blessing from Numbers 6 | |
| • Worship songs and prayers | |
| • Message about standing together and being almost home | |
| • Praise the Lord and thanksgiving repeated multiple times |