Welcome, we’re glad you’re here. Our vision echoes the Lord’s prayer: may it be “in the South Bay, as it is in heaven.” We yearn to see people flourishing in Jesus. Join us in the worship of our Lord.
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP
“Then the Grinch thought of something
he hadn’t before!
What if Christmas, he thought,
doesn’t come from a store.
What if Christmas…perhaps…
means a little bit more!”
– Dr. Seuss
That baby is in the manger because Jesus had
to make his way to us since we would’ve never
made our way to God.
– Paul Tripp
where he knew he’d find us.
– Jerome
“How can you live with the terrifying thought
that the hurricane has become human,
that the fire has become flesh,
that life itself came to life and walked in our
midst? Christianity either means that, or it
means nothing.
It is either the most devastating disclosure
of the deepest reality in the world,
or it’s a sham, a nonsense…
Most of us, unable to cope with saying
either of these things, condemn ourselves
to live in a shallow world between.”
– NT Wright
WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips…
Psalm 63:2-5
SONG
Title
SONG
Title
SCRIPTURE READING
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee.
He found Philip and said to him,
“Follow me.”
Now Philip was from Bethsaida,
the city of Andrew and Peter.
Philip found Nathanael and said to him,
“We have found him of whom
Moses in the Law and also the prophets
wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
Nathanael said to him,
“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him
and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed,
in whom there is no deceit!”
Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you,
when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
Nathanael answered him,
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God!
You are the King of Israel!”
Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you,
‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe?
You will see greater things than these.”
And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened,
and the angels of God ascending and descending
on the Son of Man.”
John 1:43-51
SONG
Title
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Holiday Children’s Ministry schedule: Reminder to parents and volunteers: children 3 years old through 5th grade will be joining us for the entire service this Sunday (12/22) as well as New Year’s Sunday (12/29). Our nursery will remain fully staffed with our wonderful care workers throughout the month. And our speakers will be adapting their sermon length accordingly.
Children’s Ministry update: We’re excited to share that we will have a candidate for our new Children’s Ministry Director visiting with us on Sunday, Jan. 5. She will be teaching one of our children’s classes as well as visiting with families. Our search team has been laboring diligently, and we hope you will enjoy getting to know her as much as we have. More details to come, but let’s continue to be in prayer for our children’s ministry, for Danielle and for her potential successor.
Year End Giving: As we close the year, here’s a friendly reminder that December giving contributes significantly to our annual budget. For tax purposes, checks must be postmarked by December 31, 2024. Giving statements will be emailed in January. Thank you all for your faithful financial support of King’s Cross Church. May we continue to faithfully steward his resources for the Kingdom.
OFFERTORY
________________________________
MONTHLY FINANCIAL UPDATE
After November 2024
YTD 2024 Projected Giving: $621,250
YTD 2024 Actual Giving: $593,053
________________________________
If you would like to give electronically, you may do so here or in the mobile app, select “Giving” at the bottom-right corner in the app. If you would like to give via cash or check to King’s Cross Church, there are white baskets in the back of our worship space.
SERMON
“The Ladder”
10 Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran.
11 And he came to a certain place
and stayed there that night,
because the sun had set.
Taking one of the stones of the place,
he put it under his head
and lay down in that place to sleep.
12 And he dreamed, and behold,
there was a ladder set up on the earth,
and the top of it reached to heaven.
And behold, the angels of God
were ascending and descending on it!
13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said,
“I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father
and the God of Isaac.
The land on which you lie I will give
to you and to your offspring.
14 Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth,
and you shall spread abroad to the west and
to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring
shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
15 Behold, I am with you
and will keep you wherever you go,
and will bring you back to this land.
For I will not leave you until I have done
what I have promised you.”
16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said,
“Surely the Lord is in this place,
and I did not know it.”
17 And he was afraid and said,
“How awesome is this place!
This is none other than the house of God,
and this is the gate of heaven.”
18 So early in the morning Jacob took the stone
that he had put under his head
and set it up for a pillar
and poured oil on the top of it.
19 He called the name of that place Bethel,
but the name of the city was Luz at the first.
20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying,
“If God will be with me and will keep me
in this way that I go, and will give me
bread to eat and clothing to wear,
21 so that I come again
to my father’s house in peace,
then the Lord shall be my God,
22 and this stone,
which I have set up for a pillar,
shall be God’s house.
And of all that you give me
I will give a full tenth to you.”
Genesis 28:10-22 (ESV)
SONG
Title
BENEDICTION
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly
than all that we ask or think,
according to the power at work within us,
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus
throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21
CONNECTION
Thank you for worshiping with us, let’s stay in touch.
Sign up for the Friday update.
Email prayer requests.
Let us know how God is leading you to serve.
Want to know more about flourishing in Jesus? Email us.