November 29, 2014 - Church at Worship

Sermon: "The Headliner: Mary" Part 1: The Players - Randy Roberts

Pastoral Welcome: Miguel Mendez

Lighting of the Advent Candle: Constanzo Family, Wagner Family

Child Dedication: Roshan Aaron Rajah - Terry Swenson; Tyler Joseph Kelikani - Randy Roberts

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26–33 - Zealand Coutsoumpos

It’s just two days after Thanksgiving, and already we enter Advent. From now till the end of the year, it seems that time speeds up! First, it is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is already over! Then, it’s even harder to believe that Christmas is upon us! All around us, the trees go up and the lights blink on, the carols play and sales begin, the fires burn and the candles flicker. But what about us? As we turn our thoughts and hearts toward Bethlehem, what is our focus this year?

Our Advent sermon series is titled: The Players. It asks the question: When it’s time to save the world, which players does God choose? The drama in which our world is caught up—what we as Seventh-day Adventists have long called “the great controversy”—has certain foci of great importance: Creation and fall at Eden, Revelation and redemption at Calvary, Christ’s second coming. Nestled in among those is a seemingly insignificant village called Bethlehem.  But, at Advent, it is about to become center stage in the drama. Consider the following:

“The fallen world is the battlefield for the greatest conflict the heavenly universe and earthly powers have ever witnessed. It was appointed as a theater on which would be fought out the grand struggle between good and evil, between heaven and hell. Every human being acts a part in this conflict. No one can stand on neutral ground.” — Ellen G. White, Amazing Grace, p. 36.

Which players will God choose at Bethlehem? And what do those players tell us about who it is that God continues to choose today for roles in his grand drama?

Join us, as we consider, learn, and choose. Today, The Headliner: Mary.

Randy Roberts
Senior Pastor