Service Guide

Sunday, November 30, 2025

Welcome & Call to Worship

Psalm 122 (NIV)

Leader: Welcome to Evanston Bible Fellowship on this first Sunday in Advent! It’s also family worship, so kids, come on up, grab an instrument, and help us with the first two songs. If you’re new, we invite you to scan the QR code in front of you and fill out the connection card to let us know you’re here. Please stand for our call to worship from Psalm 122, reading the words in bold…

Leader: 1 I rejoiced with those who said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

All: 2 Our feet are standing
in your gates, Jerusalem.

Leader: 3 Jerusalem is built like a city
that is closely compacted together.
4 That is where the tribes go up—
the tribes of the Lord—
to praise the name of the Lord
according to the statute given to Israel.

All: 5 There stand the thrones for judgment,
the thrones of the house of David.

Leader: 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
“May those who love you be secure.
7 May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels.”

All: 8 For the sake of my family and friends,
I will say, “Peace be within you.”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your prosperity.

Leader: Let’s lift up our hearts and voices in worship!

This I Believe (The Creed)

Verse 1
Our Father everlasting
The all creating One
God Almighty
Through Your Holy Spirit
Conceiving Christ the Son
Jesus our Saviour

Chorus 1
I believe in God our Father
I believe in Christ the Son
I believe in the Holy Spirit
Our God is three in One
I believe in the resurrection
That we will rise again
For I believe in the Name of Jesus

Verse 2
Our judge and our defender
Suffered and crucified
Forgiveness is in You
Descended into darkness
You rose in glorious life
Forever seated high

Bridge
I believe in You
I believe You rose again
I believe that Jesus Christ is Lord

Chorus 2
I believe in life eternal
I believe in the virgin birth
I believe in the saints' communion
And in Your holy Church
I believe in the resurrection
When Jesus comes again
For I believe in the Name of Jesus

Ben Fielding, Matt Crocker
CCLI Song #7018338
© 2014 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License #195574

God Is For Us

Verse 1
We won't fear the battle
We won't fear the night
We will walk the Valley with You by our side
You will go before us
You will lead the way
We have found a refuge only You can save

Chorus
Sing with joy now our God is for us
The Father's love is a strong and mighty fortress
Raise your voice now no love is greater
Who can stand against us if our God is for us

Verse 2
Even when I stumble
Even when I fall
Even when I turn back still Your love is sure
You will not abandon
You will not forsake
You will cheer me onward with never ending grace

Bridge
Neither height nor depth can separate us
Hell and death will not defeat us
He who gave His Son to free us
Holds me in His love

James Ferguson, James Tealy, Jesse Reeves, Jonny Robinson, Michael Farren, Rich Thompson, Tiarne Tranter
CCLI Song #7121853
© 2018 BEC Worship; WriterWrong Music; CityAlight Music; Farren Love And War Publishing; Integrity's Alleluia! Music; My Eleiht Songs
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License #195574

Come Behold The Wondrous Mystery

Verse 1
Come behold the wondrous myst'ry
In the dawning of the King
He the theme of heaven's praises
Robed in frail humanity
In our longing in our darkness
Now the light of life has come
Look to Christ who condescended
Took on flesh to ransom us

Verse 2
Come behold the wondrous myst'ry
He the perfect Son of Man
In His living in His suff'ring
Never trace nor stain of sin
See the true and better Adam
Come to save the hell-bound man
Christ the great and sure fulfillment
Of the law in Him we stand

Verse 3
Come behold the wondrous myst'ry
Christ the Lord upon the tree
In the stead of ruined sinners
Hangs the Lamb in victory
See the price of our redemption
See the Father's plan unfold
Bringing many sons to glory
Grace unmeasured love untold

Verse 4
Come behold the wondrous myst'ry
Slain by death the God of life
But no grave could e'er restrain Him
Praise the Lord He is alive
What a foretaste of deliv'rance
How unwavering our hope
Christ in power resurrected
As we will be when He comes

Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, Michael Bleecker
CCLI Song #7026028
© 2012 Getty Music Hymns and Songs; Getty Music Publishing; Love Your Enemies Publishing; Bleecker Publishing; McKinney Music, Inc.
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License #195574

Advent Week 1 Reading:

Isaiah 2:1-5; Colossians 1:15-23 (NIV)

Reader: Today we begin the celebration of Advent—a season when we eagerly anticipate the coming of Jesus Christ. We celebrate Advent on the four Sundays leading up to Christmas by hearing Scripture, lighting candles, singing praises, and remembering the hope, peace, joy, and love that Jesus brings. The purple candles remind us of royalty—Jesus is the Prince of Peace. The evergreen reminds us that Jesus brings eternal life, and the wreath reminds us that his kingdom will have no end. Hear now the words spoken by the prophet in Isaiah 2:1-5:

1 This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
2 In the last days
the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.
3 Many peoples will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.
5 Come, descendants of Jacob,
let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Reader: Hear also these words of hope in Colossians 1:15-23:

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Reader: (Lights candle)
Prepare the way of the Lord.
We light this candle in hope,
the hope of our coming Savior, Jesus.

All: Prepare the way of the Lord!

Reader: Let’s pray…
God of all hope,
open our hearts in welcome,
that your Son, Jesus Christ, at his coming
may find in us a dwelling prepared for him,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and forever. Amen.

Reader: Please stand (as you are able) as we sing “O Come O Come Emmanuel.”

O Come O Come Emmanuel

Verse 1
O come O come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear

Chorus
Rejoice rejoice Emmanuel
Shall come to thee O Israel

Verse 2
O come Thou Dayspring come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight

Verse 3
O come Thou Wisdom from on high
And order all things far and nigh
To us the path of knowledge show
And cause us in her ways to go

Verse 4
O come Desire of nations bind
All peoples in one heart and mind
Bid envy strife and quarrels cease
Fill the whole world with heaven's peace

Message: Pastor Tim Allen

"The Heart & Hope of the Gospel" (Col 1:15-23)

Ethos Questions:

Read the text. Then read it again in another version. Then summarize the text as best you can.
What stands out to you from the text? What questions does it raise?
What does this text reveal to us about God?
What does this text reveal to us about ourselves and how we should respond to God?
How does this text in particular drive these truths home?
If this text did not exist, what would we be missing?
What problem or question is the text solving or answering? What issue is it addressing?
What solution or answer does the text offer to the primary issue it is addressing?
How does the text connect with the gospel?
How will you commit to obey the text this week?
With whom can you share what you have learned from the text?

Prayers of the People & Communion

Jesus You Alone

Verse 1
Who is the great King of glory
Seated on high in the heavens
Oh Jesus You alone
You are the Lord God Almighty
Strong in compassion and mercy
Oh Jesus You alone

Pre-Chorus
I've searched the world
For a love that could fill my heart
Nothing compares
To the wonder of who You are

Chorus 1
Holy all the earth singing
Holy all the angels cry
Holy Jesus You alone
Jesus You alone

Verse 2
You set the stars in the heavens
You set the world into motion
Oh Jesus You alone
You breathed Your life in creation
You walked among Your created
Oh Jesus You alone

Chorus 2
Holy all the earth singing
Holy all the angels cry
Holy Jesus You alone
Jesus You alone
Worthy all creation sings
Worthy all the heavens
Exalt Thee Jesus You alone
Jesus You alone
(Jesus You alone)

Verse 3
You shed Your blood for salvation
You broke the curse for our freedom
Oh Jesus You alone
You rose from death with the morning
You'll come again in Your glory
Oh Jesus You alone
Oh Jesus You alone

Chorus 3
Holy
I can't help but sing holy
How my heart cries out holy
Jesus You alone
Worthy
I lift my voice and sing worthy
I bow my life to exalt Thee
Jesus You alone
Jesus You alone