1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

Vol. 18 No. 51
December 21, 2014
John MacArthur
PASTOR-TEACHER
Clayton Erb / Minister of Music
Welcome
to the Lord’s day
worship service at Grace Church.
We are truly blessed to be here
this morning as we open God’s
Word together, sing His praises,
and enjoy a time of fellowship
in His presence.
Be sure to take advantage of
the many fellowship and ministry
opportunities available to
our church family today and
throughout the week.
8:30 & 10:30* am
Anthem
O Come, All Ye Faithful • Wade/Sturz-Purvis • Stephen Sturz, Organist
Gloria
Christmas Carol Sing • Congregation
Gloria! Gloria!
In excelsis Deo! In excelsis Deo!
Gloria! • Handel/Krogstad • Worship Choir
Hymn 141 O Little Town of Bethlehem • Congregation
The Birthday of a King • Neidlinger/Marsh • Philip Webb
MESSAGE:
CHRISTMAS FUTURE
John MacArthur
TODAY
Doxology Hymn • Congregation
Ding, Dong, Merrily on High • Willcocks • Organ Postlude
6:00 pm
Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply, Gloria!
Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong?
Which inspire your heavenly song? Gloria!
Gloria! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Sing Gloria!
See within a manger laid, Jesus, Lord of heaven and earth!
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid, with us sing our Savior’s birth.
Gloria! Sing Gloria!
Gloria! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Our God from heaven to earth come down.
With heart and voice His praise resound. Gloria!
Come to Bethlehem, and see Him whose birth the angels sing;
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria! Gloria!
Words and music by David Hamilton
Christmas Concert
Worship Choir • Symphonic Orchestra
Vocal Solos & Ensembles • Handbell Choir • Children’s Choir
* Interpreting for the deaf is provided during the 10:30 a.m. service.
Arabic translation for the 10:30 a.m. service is available at gracechurch.org/live.
Doxology Hymn
Hymn 124 • Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Born Thy people to deliver, Born a Child, and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever, Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all-sufficient merit, Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
Campus Ministries On GraceWalk
THE WELCOME CENTER hosts a reception
for visitors following each Sunday-morning service.
Enjoy refreshments and find helpful people with answers
to any questions you have about our church. You’ll also
receive one of Pastor MacArthur’s books as a thank you
for being with us today.
• Fundamentals of the Faith
• Grace Books Express
• Local Outreach
THE MEMBER CENTER has information about
membership and baptism. It is located on the north side
of the Heritage Building, across from the Welcome Center.
• Spanish Ministries
On the Patio
(by the Chapel)
Next Membership Class • January 4
101 • 10:30 a.m. • T66 (basement)
Bookstore
The Bookstore is open after each service and during the week.
It is located on the south side of the Worship Center.
HIGHLIGHT
Select MacArthur Titles Available today for up to
50% off retail price
RIGHT THINKING IN A WORLD
GONE WRONG • DAILY READINGS
FROM THE LIFE OF CHRIST
STRANGE FIRE • THE MAJESTY OF
PRAYER and more!
Limited selection available for express check-out at GraceWalk
ready to offer pastoral care. It is open after every service,
and is adjacent to the Worship Center.
Generations of Grace Children’s Sunday School
The following lesson was taught today in Sunday School (Preschool through Juniors)
Grace to You
RADIO gty.org/radio
The Best of Christmas
• KKLA 99.5 FM LOS ANGELES M–F 6:30 am & 7:30 pm
• KDAR 98.3 FM OXNARD VENTURA M–F 2:00 & 10:00 am; Sun 2:00 am
• SiriusXM CHANNEL 131
M–F 2:00 am & 8:00 pm
•
MESSAGE
The Wise Men Worship Jesus
PASSAGE
Matthew 2:1–18
PRINCIPLE Jesus deserves our worship because He is the King of kings.
HYMN OF THE MONTH “O Little Town of Bethlehem”
ASK YOUR CHILD What did the wise men do when they found Jesus?
APPLY By believing that Jesus is the promised King.
THIS WEEK As a family, read Matthew 2:1–18
NEXT WEEK Review Sunday
TELEVISION gty.org/television
“I Am the Bread of Life”
•
NRB Network CHANNEL 378 ON DIRECTV Sunday 6:30 pm
ONLINE gty.org
• Sunday sermons
• Audio archive: John MacArthur’s pulpit ministry
• Resource library: books, study guides, videos, Q&As
All audio is available for free listening or downloading.
TODAY
THE PRAYER ROOM is staffed with counselors,
CAROLS MEDLEY
Angels from the Realms of Glory
Angels We Have Heard on High
Angels, from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story,
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the new-born King.
Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echo back their joyous strains.
Gloria in excelsis Deo,
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Shepherds, in the fields abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing,
Yonder shines the infant Light:
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the new-born King.
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
Say what may the tidings be,
Which inspire your heav’nly song?
Gloria in excelsis Deo,
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Come to Bethlehem, and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.
Gloria in excelsis Deo,
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Words by James Montgomery (1816) / Music by Henry T. Smart (1867)
Words from a traditional French carol, translated by James Chadwick (1862)
Music from a French carol melody, arranged by Edwin S. Barnes (c. 1930)
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
Christ, by highest heav’n adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of the virgin’s womb:
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King.”
Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King.”
Words by Charles Wesley (1739) / Music by Felix Mendelssohn (1840)
Merry Christmas!
CAROLS MEDLEY
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King.”
Faith Promise Fruit
HIGHLIGHTS
One of the most important ways your Faith Promise giving supports missions at
Grace Church is by providing missionaries with initial funds to move overseas.
In April, Faith Promise helped make it possible for Allan and Sandi Luciano to
join the Ransoms, Dexters, and Greenes in the Philippines. Allan reports on the
wonderful privilege of serving pastors who desire to preach the Word of God
clearly and faithfully—“Last month, Pastor Erwin (a local pastor who is on staff
at the training center) and I got to teach Doctrine Survey (Bibliology, Theology
Proper, and Christology) to a group of 40 pastors in Boracay. This is a faithful
group of men whose thoughtful questions made for very engaging discussions.”
Join our missionaries in praising the Lord for such valuable opportunities.
To learn more about Faith Promise or our ministry efforts in the Philippines, call
818-909-5700.
Logos Institute
The Holy Spirit and Angels
January 12–February 16 (Mondays)
6:30–8:30 p.m. • H223–224 • Instructor: Chris Gee • Cost: $50
Old Testament Survey: Genesis–Esther
January 13–May 8 (Tuesdays)
6:00–9:30 p.m. • H221–222 • Instructor: Mark Zhakevich • Cost: $99
Discipleship Counseling: Level 2
January 14–April 8 (Wednesdays)
6:30–8:30 p.m. • T370s • Instructors: Bill Shannon, George Sanders • Cost: $75
For more information or to register, visit gracechurch.org/logos.
Grace Around the World
Rob & Vicki Anthony
Serving since 1988
Prayer / Praise
• Pray for Vicki as she meets with a young Kenyan woman for
Bible study and discipleship. The woman is married to an
unbeliever and has a very limited understanding of her faith
and the Bible.
• Pray for Rob as he is preaching at two churches, teaching a
course on Hebrews, and meeting once a week to mentor an
Egyptian missionary in his ministry to the Arabic-speaking
world.
Faith Promise
Last week you generously gave $21,363. Thank you for your ongoing support
of our missionary families.
Local Outreach Spotlight
Outreach Resource Table
The Outreach Resource Table, located on GraceWalk, provides evangelistic tools to Grace
Church members at no cost. Audio CDs of Pastor John’s evangelistic sermons are available
in 26 different languages, along with Bibles, New Testaments, evangelism books, and
tracts in various languages. For more information call 818-909-5721.
2015 Missionary Calendar
Campus Closed
The 2015 Missionary Calendar is available at the Welcome Center this morning.
One per family, please.
The Grace Church campus (including the bookstore) will be closed for the
holidays December 24–26, 2014, and December 29, 2014–January 2, 2015. For
questions about a specific ministry, please contact your ministry leader.
Discovery
Please note that Discovery Club and Discovery Kids will not meet on
December 21 and December 28.
Scholarships
Information about providing a scholarship for the 2015 Inerrancy Summit is
available at gracechurch.org/scholarship.
Volunteer Sign-Ups
To sign up to volunteer to serve during the summit, visit
gracechurch.org/volunteer.
Children’s Ministry has an immediate opportunity for two couples/four adults to
serve special needs children (and their families) in a new Sunday School class.
For more information, call 818-909-5631.
High School Winter Retreat
January 2–4 • Forest Home
For details, visit gracechurch.org/oneighty.
Junior High Winter Retreat
January 2–4 • Thousand Pines Christian Camp
For details, visit gracechurch.org/xchange.
Joyful Givers 2014 Tax Information
With the Lord
Lela Verdugo recently went to be with the Lord. Please remember her family in
your prayers.
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones. ––Psalm 116:15
All contributions for calendar year 2014 must be received by the church no later than
our December 28 offering or postmarked no later than December 31, 2014. The church
campus will be closed for the holidays December 24–26, 2014, and December 29,
2014–January 2, 2015. Contributions received after Sunday, December 28, 2014, or
postmarked after December 31, 2014, will be recorded in 2015. The elders, pastors,
and church staff thank each of you for faithfully and sacrificially giving to the Lord.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Shepherds’ Conference
Special Needs Sunday School Class
SUNDAY FELLOWSHIPS
8:30 a.m.
8:30 a.m.
10:3010:30
a.m. a.m.
5:00 p.m.
12:30 p.m.
Children’s Sunday School
Visit the Welcome Center
for room locations.
Pastor: Matt White
Children’s Sunday School
Visit the Welcome Center
for room locations.
Pastor: Matt White
Neighborhood Outreach
T273
Cornerstone
(All ages) T371
Pastors: Nathan Busenitz,
Justin Harris, Tom Patton,
Mark Tatlock
Crossroads
(College & young adults)
Family Center
Pastor: Austin Duncan
Sunday Night Prayer Group
Grace Grill
(next to the Children’s Center)
Doulos (20s & 30s) T361
Pastor: Carl Hargrove
High School (Grades 9–12)
T73 (Basement)
Pastor: Josh Petras
FaithBuilders (All ages) T261
Pastor: Bill Shannon
Joint Heirs (All ages) T261
Pastor: John Street
GraceLife (All ages)
Family Center
Pastors: Phil Johnson,
Mike Riccardi
Mainstream (All ages) T361
Pastor: Rich Gregory
Junior High (Grades 7–8)
T73 (Basement)
Pastor: Andrew Curry
Mentally Disabled
CC130 (east)
Pastor: Rick McLean
Spanish Adult Sunday
School H221-222
Teachers: Josiah Grauman,
Heber Torres
Spanish Worship Service
Chapel
Pastors: Henry Tolopilo,
Michael Mahoney
5:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m.
Fridays 7:30 p.m.
The Guild (Single adults)
T361
Pastor: Don Carr
Mondays 9:00 a.m.
Monday Morning Prayer Group
Welcome Center
6:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
Discovery (Grades 1–6)
Family Center
Discovery Kids (Ages 3–5)
CC134-136
Building Abbreviation Key
T = Tower
H = Heritage
CC = Children’s Center
Visit our website at
Mentally Disabled
CC130 (east)
Pastor: Rick McLean
MINISTRY DIRECTORY
Sojourners (All ages) T371
Pastor: William Varner
Administration
818-909-5500
Men
818-909-5537
Spanish
818-909-5722
Spanish Adult Sunday
School H221–222
Teachers: Josiah Grauman,
Ruben Pidal, Heber Torres
Children
818-909-5631
Outreach
818-909-5700
Special Ministries
818-909-5519
Equipping
818-909-5671
Pastoral Care &
Counseling
818-909-5537
Student
818-909-5593
Spanish Worship Service
Chapel
Pastors: Henry Tolopilo,
Michael Mahoney
Membership
818-909-5644
Prayer
818-909-5519
Women
818-909-5521
13248 Roscoe Blvd.
Sun Valley, CA 91352
Our mission is to glorify God
and extend His kingdom by
living and proclaiming
His truth in the world.
Grace Today is published weekly by Grace
Community Church. ©2014 by Grace
Community Church. Scripture, unless
otherwise noted, is taken from the NEW
AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © The
Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968,
1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995.
Used by permission.