North Platte Berean Church
Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Lights, decorations, presents, the smells of special dishes… Christmas traditions add so much joy to the season! At the root of our joy, of course, is the good news that God, in the person of Jesus, became human to rescue us from sin and death. In his first Advent ("Coming") he lived a perfect life, endured an obedient and sacrificial death, resurrected in triumph, and ascended in glory. And because the child Jesus was the long-expected Deliverer, the whole world can have joy – for God has declared peace on earth and goodwill to men! Join in as we use the four Christmas carols (another joyful tradition!) hidden in that last sentence to help us celebrate Christ's first Advent and anticipate his second.
Locations & Times
North Platte Berean Church
202 W 8th St, North Platte, NE 69101, USA
Sunday 8:00 AM
Sunday 9:15 AM
Sunday 11:00 AM
ConnectCard
We’d love to connect and be a spiritual resource for you – please fill out a ConnectCard (in seat pocket or npberean.org/cc). If you’re new, bring it to the information center for a welcome gift.
https://npberean.org/ccThe Latest
• Advent Calendars: Sun. 12/1
• Share the Joy: Sun. 12/1-12/15
• Partnership Exploration: Sun. 12/8, 9:15-10:30 a.m.
• Christmas Eve gatherings: Tue. 12/24, 2, 3:15, 4:30, or 6 p.m.
• Highlighting missionaries and organizations
For more details, check these out in the app!
• Advent Calendars: Sun. 12/1
• Share the Joy: Sun. 12/1-12/15
• Partnership Exploration: Sun. 12/8, 9:15-10:30 a.m.
• Christmas Eve gatherings: Tue. 12/24, 2, 3:15, 4:30, or 6 p.m.
• Highlighting missionaries and organizations
For more details, check these out in the app!
Office Info
• Hours this week: Mon.-Thu. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. (closed Tue. 1:30-2:30 p.m. for staff meeting)
• Contact us: npberean.org, npberean@npberean.org, 308-532-7448
• Hours this week: Mon.-Thu. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. (closed Tue. 1:30-2:30 p.m. for staff meeting)
• Contact us: npberean.org, npberean@npberean.org, 308-532-7448
New Here?
• Sunday large gatherings: 8, 9:15, 11 a.m. & 6 p.m. (livestream info: npberean.org/live)
• Bibles: available free at information center
• Sound levels: assisted listening devices and earplugs available at sound booth
• PDF bulletin: npberean.org/sundayprint
• Bibles: available free at information center
• Sound levels: assisted listening devices and earplugs available at sound booth
• PDF bulletin: npberean.org/sundayprint
Worship as a Family
• Mother's Room: Care for your baby and still connect to the gathering via livestream – follow signs north of auditorium.
• Children (infant-grade 6): Kids Connect is available at 9:15 and 11 a.m. – check-in inside east doors or upstairs from foyer. Kids also welcome in large gatherings; activity bags at back of auditorium to help them engage.
• Students (grades 6-12): Sola gathers on Wednesdays – middle school from 6-7:45 p.m. and high school from 7:30-9 p.m.
• Children (infant-grade 6): Kids Connect is available at 9:15 and 11 a.m. – check-in inside east doors or upstairs from foyer. Kids also welcome in large gatherings; activity bags at back of auditorium to help them engage.
• Students (grades 6-12): Sola gathers on Wednesdays – middle school from 6-7:45 p.m. and high school from 7:30-9 p.m.
Worship through Prayer
• Saturday evening: 7-7:30 p.m., meet at main office to start.
• Prayer space: Drop in anytime during office hours to pray quietly in the Auditorium.
• This week: Pray for those we’ll serve at the Salvation Army Christmas Dinner and Royal Family KIDS Mentoring Club, that these precious people would experience and know the love, hope, and healing of Christ this Advent season.
• Prayer space: Drop in anytime during office hours to pray quietly in the Auditorium.
• This week: Pray for those we’ll serve at the Salvation Army Christmas Dinner and Royal Family KIDS Mentoring Club, that these precious people would experience and know the love, hope, and healing of Christ this Advent season.
Worship in Song
• Hark the Herald Angels Sing – Jeremy Riddle
• All Hail King Jesus – Bethel Music
• Come Thou Long Expected Jesus – Meredith Andrews
• Come Lord Jesus (Even So Come) – Passion
• All Hail King Jesus – Bethel Music
• Come Thou Long Expected Jesus – Meredith Andrews
• Come Lord Jesus (Even So Come) – Passion
Worship by Giving
• Sunday: Use wooden boxes by auditorium doors.
• Online: npberean.org/givenew
• Text: Text any amount to 1-888-364-GIVE (4483).
• Mail: 202 W. 8th St., North Platte, NE 69101
• Online: npberean.org/givenew
• Text: Text any amount to 1-888-364-GIVE (4483).
• Mail: 202 W. 8th St., North Platte, NE 69101
This Week's Sermon: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
Come thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set thy people free,
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in thee,
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth thou art,
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart
Born to set thy people free,
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in thee,
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth thou art,
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart
Joy of those who long to see thee,
Dayspring from on high appear,
Come, thou promised rod of Jesse,
Of thy birth we long to hear,
O’er the hills the angels singing news,
Glad tidings of a birth,
Go to him your praises bringing,
Christ the Lord has come to earth
Dayspring from on high appear,
Come, thou promised rod of Jesse,
Of thy birth we long to hear,
O’er the hills the angels singing news,
Glad tidings of a birth,
Go to him your praises bringing,
Christ the Lord has come to earth
Come to earth to taste our sadness,
He whose glories knew no end,
By his life he brings us gladness
Our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend,
Leaving riches without number,
Born within a cattle stall,
This the everlasting wonder,
Christ was born the Lord of all
He whose glories knew no end,
By his life he brings us gladness
Our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend,
Leaving riches without number,
Born within a cattle stall,
This the everlasting wonder,
Christ was born the Lord of all
Born thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a king,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring,
By thine own eternal Spirit,
Rule in all our hearts alone,
By thine all-sufficient merit,
Raise us to thy glorious throne
Born a child and yet a king,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring,
By thine own eternal Spirit,
Rule in all our hearts alone,
By thine all-sufficient merit,
Raise us to thy glorious throne
Red Mountain Music
This rendition stays faithful to only put in the original words and leaves the original very much in tact. It's the version I've probably listened to most in the pondering of this sermon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRAFQCOkjgEMeredith Andrews
This maintains the original tune in many ways, but adds a section near the end about longing with anticipation for the SECOND coming of Jesus. It's a faster rendition with more instrumentation and stirs my heart.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOxJFN-9_vsShane and Shane
I just found this version recently. A much slower version - this allows for one to really contemplate the words of what is being sung. From A Worship Initiative Christmas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv535LQSSmgChristy Nockels
This offering is an a cappella version that has a simplicity and slowness that grabbed my heart when I heard it. Perhaps this one will speak to your soul too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMPjxl2xj2oFernando Ortega
Never heard of Fernando Ortega? I couldn't resist throwing this in when I saw he had covered this song. He was one of my mom's favorite artists (check out "Give Me Jesus" if you appreciate this version). May your heart be drawn to the beauty of Jesus!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dmO8UPlWooBeyond Sunday
Growing with Jesus isn’t just for Sundays. Make it an everyday, everywhere, with everyone mission by going “beyond Sunday”!
Engage in these resources on your own and with your Grow Group*, family, or a friend:
Grow
• Consider exploring this advent video series for a deeper look at themes in this hymn: npberean.org/beyond18
• Pick a few lines from this hymn and turn them into a prayer that you can pray daily this week as we anticipate Christ’s coming at Christmas.
Share
• Write out one of the passages referenced in the sermon. How can you share this truth through your words and actions this week?
• Listen to Come Thou Long Expected Jesus (npberean.org/beyond19) several times. Then journal how this song can help you to celebrate Christmas differently this year.
Connect
• Why do we often long for things of this world more than Jesus? What can we do to push back against this?
• This hymn encourages us to celebrate Christ’s first coming and anticipate his second coming. What is one way we can practically do that together this month?
• Explore Isaiah 35 together to prepare for next week’s sermon.
* Connecting in community with other believers is crucial for spiritual growth. Explore group options at npberean.org/gg
Growing with Jesus isn’t just for Sundays. Make it an everyday, everywhere, with everyone mission by going “beyond Sunday”!
Engage in these resources on your own and with your Grow Group*, family, or a friend:
Grow
• Consider exploring this advent video series for a deeper look at themes in this hymn: npberean.org/beyond18
• Pick a few lines from this hymn and turn them into a prayer that you can pray daily this week as we anticipate Christ’s coming at Christmas.
Share
• Write out one of the passages referenced in the sermon. How can you share this truth through your words and actions this week?
• Listen to Come Thou Long Expected Jesus (npberean.org/beyond19) several times. Then journal how this song can help you to celebrate Christmas differently this year.
Connect
• Why do we often long for things of this world more than Jesus? What can we do to push back against this?
• This hymn encourages us to celebrate Christ’s first coming and anticipate his second coming. What is one way we can practically do that together this month?
• Explore Isaiah 35 together to prepare for next week’s sermon.
* Connecting in community with other believers is crucial for spiritual growth. Explore group options at npberean.org/gg
Next Week's Sermon
We'll continue our Advent series, "Christmas Hymns" as we explore the biblical foundations for "Joy to the World!" As we look back to the First Coming and look ahead to the Second Coming we'll delight in the hope that is rooted in the past and assured in the future! What will that coming future look like? Read Isaiah 35!
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2035&version=NLT