Getting Ready For Sunday: How To Prepare For The 12-6-09 Sojourn Gathered

This coming Sunday we continue our B.C. sermon series by entering into the world of the “Minor Prophets,” as they are often known in English Bibles.  The Hebrew Bible counts these 12 short books of prophecy as one book — the “Book of the Twelve.”  Although written by different men at different times, they emphasize sin, punishment and restoration inside in such a way that it makes sense to speak of these works as a unified whole.

But it also makes sense to study each author for the unique picture that he brings.  This Sunday, Pastor Daniel will take us into the book of Hosea.  This prophet lived in “good times” for Northern Israel and Judah.  He warned God’s people of their continued spiritual adultery.  In fact, God used Hosea’s real-life marriage to dramatize Israel’s sin.  He tells Hosea to marry an unfaithful woman.  Hosea does.  Then she cheats on him and has a son whose name means “Illegitimate.” 

Just as God faithfully reclaims His chosen people, Hosea reclaims his wife from — literally — prostitution.  This is a dramatic story, and I’m sure we’ll learn a lot by letting this text speak to us.

During the morning services at Sojourn East and Sojourn Germantown, we’ll take part in Advent season by singing songs like “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear,” “Hosanna In The Highest,” “Oh Come All Ye Faithful,” and “Glory Be.”

For the 5pm and 7pm services at Sojourn Germantown, Keith and Kristyn Getty will lead worship.  This husband-wife team from Ireland has written and recorded many fantastic modern hymns, like “In Christ Alone,” “O Church Arise” and “The Power Of The Cross.”  It’s an honor to have them join us and lead us in worship during this second Sunday of Advent, 2009.

Until then, meditate on these words of assurance which we’ll hear together on Sunday (we’ll read the underlined portions aloud together):

“Comfort, comfort my people,”
says your God.

“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.
Tell her that her sad days are gone
and her sins are pardoned.

Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting,
“Clear the way through the wilderness
for the Lord!
Make a straight highway through the wasteland
for our God!

The glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
The Lord has spoken!”

The Lord speaks comfort, mercy, and grace to us in promising the arrival of Jesus.

Amen. Come Lord Jesus!