Audlem Baptist Church Online Service for the
23rd November 2025
Unwrapping the Names of
Christmas
This is the
first service in our Advent series.
Welcome and Introduction
This series of sermons comes from Twin
Lakes Church in California and was their Advent series last year. The series title is Unwrapping the Names
of Christmas. Using the first Gospel
we will delve into the Names that Matthew tells us Jesus was given: Messiah,
Jesus, Emmanuel, King and Shepherd. We
are using the same series for our in-person services at ABC.
Hymn: Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
As an introduction to Advent I have
chosen a hymn that reminds us that Jesus had been ‘expected’ for centuries, but
had not yet come. We have the benefit of
hindsight and our perspective is, therefore, very different
Click here to watch
the video.
Reading: Psalm 2
It is good
to have an Old Testament reading so that we understand why Jesus’ names were so
important to those who lived with him for three years. As you read this Psalm try to pick out the
places where the writer is being given a glimpse of the coming of God’s Son.
Click here to open the passage in a new tab.
Hymn: Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
Messiah
means ‘anointed’, which is the reason I have chosen this hymn as our second
one.
Click here to watch the video.
The First Name: Messiah
This message
is the first in our series. If you have
a Bible or Bible app to hand, you might like to follow in Matthew chapter 1.
This week Mark Spurlock brings the
message.
Click here to watch the message video.
If it starts with no sound, click the loudspeaker at the left of the
Vimeo panel shown below.
You can adjust the video settings using the controls
at the bottom right of the screen. The
gear wheel on the left adjusts the quality (480 may be enough) and the icon on
the right shows the video full screen.
The loudspeaker on the left is a volume control (make sure it is not
muted!) and the CC icon on the left toggles the subtitles on or off,
which may help you (and works noticeably better than YouTube subtitles).
Our Own Prayers
I realise that I use these words every week to guide your
thoughts and I still think they are a helpful summary.
As you watched the message
today was there a moment when you sensed the Holy Spirit speaking directly to you? Then tell Jesus about it. Or maybe you simply had a ‘lightbulb’ moment
which you would like to thank God for.
Spend a few moments to thank
God for all his goodness to you in the last week.
Spend a few minutes in confession.
Take a few minutes to pray
for others who you feel burdened
for. If you have received the Church email,
it will give you some suggestions.
Now spend a few moments praying for the fellowship of the
church to which we belong and its witness
to friends, family, neighbours, the young and the old, and to the wider world.
Song: You Are the King of Glory
This song seems
to capture several things that Mark spoke about. Interestingly
it is not a carol or an advent hymn and can equally well be used for Palm
Sunday because it affirms that Jesus in his birth, life, death and resurrection
fulfilled all God’s promises. I might
well choose this as a closing song again during our series.
Click here to watch
the video.
A Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We thank You for sending Jesus, our
promised Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the Living God, who is both Lord and
Saviour.
Thank you for His redeeming work
and for working in our hearts today, as we walk by faith in Him.
Help us to live out the good news,
to be bearers of Your light and love.
And now may the grace of our Lord
Jesus, the anointed Messiah, and the love of God, the Father, and the
fellowship and companionship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now and for
ever,
Amen.