Service Guide

Sunday, December 21, 2025

Welcome & Call to Worship

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 (NIV)

Leader: Welcome to Evanston Bible Fellowship on this fourth Sunday in Advent! 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 80, reading the words in bold…

Leader: 1 Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
shine forth 2 before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Awaken your might;
come and save us.

All: 3 Restore us, O God;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.

Leader: 4 How long, Lord God Almighty,
will your anger smolder
against the prayers of your people?
5 You have fed them with the bread of tears;
you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.
6 You have made us an object of derision to our neighbors,
and our enemies mock us.

All:7 Restore us, God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.

Leader: 17 Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
the son of man you have raised up for yourself.
18 Then we will not turn away from you;
revive us, and we will call on your name.

All: 19 Restore us, Lord God Almighty;
make your face shine on us,
that we may be saved.

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

Joy To The World (Unspeakable Joy)

Verse 1
Joy to the world the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and nature sing

Verse 2
Joy to the world the Savior reigns
Let all their songs employ
While fields and floods rocks hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat repeat the sounding joy

Chorus
Joy unspeakable joy
An overflowing well
No tongue can tell
Joy unspeakable joy
It rises in my soul
Never lets me go

Verse 3
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders wonders of His love

Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, George Frideric Handel, Isaac Watts, Matt Gilder
CCLI Song #5607039
© Rising Springs Music; Vamos Publishing; worshiptogether.com songs; Ryan House Music; Wondrously Made Songs
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License #195574

O Come All Ye Faithful (His Name Shall Be)

Verse 1
O come all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye O come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the King of angels

Chorus 1
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

Verse 2
Sing choirs of angels
Sing in exultation
Sing all ye citizens of heaven above
Glory to God all
Glory in the highest

Verse 3
Yea Lord we greet thee
Born this happy morning
Jesus to Thee be all glory given
Word of the Father now in flesh appearing

Bridge
His name shall be wonderful counselor
His name shall be Everlasting Father
His name shall be Prince of Peace Mighty God
His name shall be Emmanuel

Chorus 2
We'll praise Your name forever
We'll praise Your name forever
We'll praise Your name forever
Christ the Lord

JD Myers, Kristian Stanfill
CCLI Song #7163644
© 2020 KPS 1.0; sixsteps Music; worshiptogether.com songs; Thank The Maker Music
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License #195574

Advent Week 4 Reading: Isaiah 7:10-16; Hebrews 1:1-4 (NIV)

Reader: Briefly introduce yourself (and family).

Reader: Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent—a season when we eagerly anticipate the coming of Jesus Christ. Advent means "coming" or "arrival" and refers to Christ's coming not only as a baby in a manger but also in the heart, lives, and actions of those who accept him as Savior. We also anticipate the future and final coming of King Jesus when he returns to make all things new. It is a season of waiting, designed to cultivate our awareness of God's actions—past, present, and future— with a special emphasis on the visions of the prophets who saw the day when the longed-for Messiah would appear, bringing hope and healing to a hurting and broken world. (Pause) Hear these words spoken by the prophet in Isaiah 7:10-16.

10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”
12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”
13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin h will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. j 15 He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, 16 for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.

Reader: Hear also these words of God’s revelation to us from Hebrews 1:1-4.

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

Reader: After the candle lighting, the response will be “prepare the way of the Lord!”
We light this candle in hope. (Light the first candle: purple.)
We light this candle in peace. (Light the second candle: purple.)
We light this candle in joy. (Light the third candle: pink.)
We light this candle in love… (Light the fourth candle: purple.)
the love that Jesus, our Savior, has lavished on us.

Response (All): Prepare the way of the Lord!

Reader: Let’s pray…
God of love and power,
you are revealed to us in your word,
in accounts of prophecy and fulfillment
that direct our attention to Jesus Christ.
Illumine us now as we sing
and hear your word proclaimed,
that we may open our hearts to him,
yearn for his coming in glory,
and serve him with joy. Amen.

Reader: Please stand (as you are able) as we sing.

Holy Forever

Verse 1
A thousand generations falling down in worship
To sing the song of ages to the Lamb
And all who've gone before us
And all who will believe
Will sing the song of ages to the Lamb

Pre-Chorus
(Jesus) Your name is the highest
Your name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all
All thrones and dominions
All powers and positions
Your name stands above them all

Chorus 1
And the angels cry Holy
All creation cries Holy
You are lifted high Holy
Holy forever

Verse 2
If you've been forgiven and if you've been redeemed
Sing the song forever to the Lamb
If you walk in freedom and if you bear His name
Sing the song forever to the Lamb
We'll sing the song forever and amen

Chorus 2
Hear Your people sing Holy
To the King of Kings Holy
You will always be Holy
Holy forever

Tag
You will always be Holy
Holy forever

Brian Johnson, Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram, Jenn Johnson, Phil Wickham
CCLI Song #7201044
© 2022 Brian and Jenn Publishing; Capitol CMG Paragon; S. D. G. Publishing; Be Essential Songs; My Magnolia Music; Phil Wickham Music; Simply Global Songs; Bethel Music Publishing
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License #195574

Message: Pastor Tim Allen

"God's Final Word (Hebrews 1:1-4)

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?

Behold Him

Verse 1
He who was before there was light
Walked across the pages of time
He who made every living thing
Behold Him
He who heard humanity's cry
Left His throne to wake as a child
He became like the least of us
Behold Him

Chorus 1
Jesus Son of God Messiah
The Lamb the roaring Lion
Oh be still and behold Him

Verse 2
He who dined with sinners and saints
Healed the blind the lost and the lame
Even now He is in our midst
Behold Him
He who chose a criminal's end
Paid with blood to settle our debt
Buried death as He rose to life
Behold Him

Chorus 2
Jesus Son of God Messiah
The Lamb the roaring Lion
Oh be still and behold Him
Jesus Alpha and Omega
Our God the risen Savior
Oh be still and behold Him

Bridge
Holy holy holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Worthy worthy worthy
To receive all praise

Mitch Wong, Paul Baloche
CCLI Song #7133698
© 2019 A Wong Made Write Publishing; Integrity Worship Music; Integrity's Praise! Music; Leadworship Songs
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License #195574

Prayers of the People & Communion

Prayer Points:

Praise God for his final Word to us in his Son, Jesus Christ!
For boldness in proclaiming God’s final Word to those around us
For Annie and Yi-Ping who welcomed the birth of their son, Luke Kai-Shuan Chen, on December 8th
For those traveling over the holidays, remembering loved ones who passed, or anticipating difficult family gatherings
For those in our community facing food insecurity, financial struggles, loneliness, or other challenges
Is there anything else we can be praying for one another?

King Of Kings

Verse 1
In the darkness we were waiting
Without hope without light
Till from Heaven You came running
There was mercy in Your eyes

To fulfil the law and prophets
To a virgin came the Word
From a throne of endless glory
To a cradle in the dirt

Chorus
Praise the Father
Praise the Son
Praise the Spirit three in one
God of Glory
Majesty
Praise forever to the King of kings

Verse 2
To reveal the kingdom coming
And to reconcile the lost
To redeem the whole creation
You did not despise the cross

For even in Your suffering
You saw to the other side
Knowing this was our salvation
Jesus for our sake You died

Verse 3
And the morning that You rose
All of heaven held its breath
Till that stone was moved for good
For the Lamb had conquered death

And the dead rose from their tombs
And the angels stood in awe
For the souls of all who'd come
To the Father are restored

Verse 4
And the Church of Christ was born
Then the Spirit lit the flame
Now this Gospel truth of old
Shall not kneel shall not faint

By His blood and in His Name
In His freedom I am free
For the love of Jesus Christ
Who has resurrected me

Brooke Ligertwood, Jason Ingram, Scott Ligertwood
CCLI Song #7127647
© 2019 Fellow Ships Music; So Essential Tunes; Hillsong Music Publishing Australia
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License #195574