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WELCOME TO NOCBC

Today’s Sermon:

2 Chronicles 36

The Background of Christmas

December 4, 2022

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Welcome

We’re glad you’re here!

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What hope we hold this starlit night�A King is born in Bethlehem�Our journey long we seek the light�That leads to the hallowed

manger ground

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What fear we felt in the silent age�Four-hundred years

can He be found�But broken by a baby’s cry�Rejoice in the hallowed

manger ground

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Emmanuel, Emmanuel�God incarnate, here to dwell�Emmanuel, Emmanuel�Praise His name Emmanuel

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The son of God

here born to bleed�A crown of thorns

would pierce His brow

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And we beheld

this offering�Exalted now

the King of kings�Praise God for the hallowed

manger ground

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Emmanuel, Emmanuel�God incarnate, here to dwell�Emmanuel, Emmanuel�Praise His name Emmanuel

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Oh, praise His name Emmanuel�Oh, praise His name Emmanuel

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Here I Am To Worship

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Light of the world�You stepped down into

darkness�Opened my eyes

Let me see

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Beauty that made�This heart adore You

Hope of a life spent with You

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So here I am to worship�Here I am to bow down�Here I am to say that

You’re my God

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You’re altogether lovely�Altogether worthy�Altogether wonderful to me

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King of all days�O so highly exalted�Glorious in heaven above

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Humbly You came

To the earth You created�All for love’s sake became

poor

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So here I am to worship�Here I am to bow down�Here I am to say that

You’re my God

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You’re altogether lovely�Altogether worthy�Altogether wonderful to me

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And I’ll never know

How much it cost�To see my sin

Upon that cross

(2x)

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So here I am to worship�Here I am to bow down�Here I am to say that

You’re my God

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You’re altogether lovely�Altogether worthy�Altogether wonderful to me

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So here I am to worship�Here I am to bow down�Here I am to say that

You’re my God

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You’re altogether lovely�Altogether worthy�Altogether wonderful to me

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Scripture Reading

2 Chronicles 34:31–33

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2 Chronicles 34:31–33

31 The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD—to follow the LORD and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book. 32 Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it; the people of Jerusalem did this in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.

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2 Chronicles 34:31–33

33 Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he had all who were present in Israel serve the LORD their God. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the LORD, the God of their ancestors.

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Worshiping God through Tithes and Offerings

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Prayer

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You were the Word at the beginning

One With God the Lord Most High

Your hidden glory in creation

Now revealed in You our Christ

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What a beautiful Name it is

What a beautiful Name it is

The Name of Jesus Christ my King

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What a beautiful Name it is

Nothing compares to this

What a beautiful Name it is

The Name of Jesus

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You didn’t want heaven without us

So Jesus You brought heaven down

My sin was great

Your love was greater

What could separate us now

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What a beautiful Name it is

What a beautiful Name it is

The Name of Jesus Christ my King

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What a wonderful Name it is

Nothing compares to this

What a wonderful Name it is

The Name of Jesus

What a wonderful Name it is

The Name of Jesus

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Death could not hold You

The veil tore before You

You silenced the boast

Of sin and grave

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The heavens are roaring

The praise of Your glory

For You are raised to life again

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You have no rival

You have no equal

Now and forever

God you reign

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Yours is the Kingdom

Yours is the glory

Yours is the Name

Above all names

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What a powerful Name it is

What a powerful Name it is

The Name of Jesus Christ my King

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What a powerful Name it is

Nothing can stand against

What a powerful Name it is

The Name of Jesus

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You have no rival

You have no equal

Now and forever

God you reign

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Yours is the Kingdom

Yours is the glory

Yours is the Name

Above all names

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What a powerful Name it is

What a powerful Name it is

The Name of Jesus Christ my King

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What a powerful Name it is

Nothing can stand against

What a powerful Name it is

The Name of Jesus

(2x)

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SERMON

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The Background of Christmas

2 Chronicles 36

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2 Chron 36

The Background of Christmas

The past demonstrates how desperately we need Jesus.

  1. Human leaders fail us.

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2 Chronicles 34:31–33 (Josiah)

34:31 The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD—to follow the LORD and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book. 32 Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it; the people of Jerusalem did this in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors. 33 Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he had all who were present in Israel serve the LORD their God. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the LORD, the God of their ancestors.

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2 Chronicles 35:18 (Josiah)

35:18 The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the Levites and all Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem.

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2 Chronicles 35:20–24 (Josiah)

35:20 After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Necho king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah marched out to meet him in battle. 21 But Necho sent messengers to him, saying, “What quarrel is there, king of Judah, between you and me? It is not you I am attacking at this time, but the house with which I am at war. God has told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or he will destroy you.” 22 Josiah, however, would not turn away from him, but disguised himself to engage him in battle. He would not listen to what Necho had said at God’s command but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo. 23 Archers shot King Josiah, … [and he died and was buried in Jerusalem].

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2 Chronicles 36:2–3 (Jehohaz)

36:2 Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. 3 The king of Egypt dethroned him in Jerusalem and imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.

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2 Chronicles 36:5–6 (Jehoiakim/Eliakim)

36:5 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD his God. 6 Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked him and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.

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2 Chronicles 36:9–10 (Jehoiachin)

36:9 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD. 10 In the spring, King Nebuchadnezzar sent for him and brought him to Babylon, together with articles of value from the temple of the LORD, and he made Jehoiachin’s uncle, Zedekiah, king over Judah and Jerusalem.

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2 Chronicles 36:11–13 (Zedekiah)

36:11 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. 12 He did evil in the eyes of the LORD his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the LORD. 13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him take an oath in God’s name. He became stiff-necked and hardened his heart and would not turn to the LORD, the God of Israel.

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2 Chron 36

The Background of Christmas

The past demonstrates how desperately we need Jesus.

  1. Human leaders fail us.
  2. We demonstrate unfaithfulness.

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2 Chronicles 36

36:14 All the leading priests and the people also were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations; and they polluted the house of the LORD that he had consecrated in Jerusalem.

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2 Chronicles 36

36:15 The LORD, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against his people and there was no remedy.

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2 Chronicles 36

36:17 He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians, who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and did not spare young men or young women, the elderly or the infirm. God gave them all into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. 18 He carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the LORD’S temple and the treasures of the king and his officials. 19 They set fire to God’s temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value there. 20 He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power.

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2 Chron 36

The Background of Christmas

The past demonstrates how desperately we need Jesus.

  1. Human leaders fail us.
  2. We demonstrate unfaithfulness.
  3. We desperately need God’s presence.

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2 Chronicles 36

2 Chron 36:22 In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of Persia so that he sent a herald throughout all his kingdom and also declared in a written edict:

Ezra 1:1 In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of Persia so that he sent a herald throughout all his kingdom, and also in a written edict declared:

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2 Chronicles 36

2 Chron 36:23 “Thus says King Cyrus of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the LORD his God be with him! Let him go up.”

Ezra 1:2 “Thus says King Cyrus of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. 3 Any of those among you who are of his people—may their God be with them!—are now permitted to go up to Jerusalem in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel …

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Application

  1. Lead and influence others like Josiah, not like those who came after him.
  2. Demonstrate faithfulness in thoughts, speech, actions.
  3. Seek God’s presence.

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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

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O come let us adore Him�O come let us adore Him�O come let us adore Him�Christ the Lord

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Sing choirs of angels

Sing in exultation�O sing all ye citizens of heav’n

above�Glory to God all glory in the

highest

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O come let us adore Him�O come let us adore Him�O come let us adore Him�Christ the Lord

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Yea Lord we greet Thee

Born this happy morning�Jesus to Thee be all glory giv’n�Word of the Father

Now in flesh appearing

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O come let us adore Him�O come let us adore Him�O come let us adore Him�Christ the Lord

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Semiannual Business Meeting:

Sun., Dec. 11, 12:30 pm.

Agenda:

  1. New member induction
  2. 2023 New deacon nominations
    • Br. Dong Lin, Br. Kevin Zheng, Sis. Min Chen, Br. Vincent Chan, Br. Qingbo Shu
  3. 2023 Church budget
  4. 2023–2025 Church Board of Trustees nominations
    • Br. Shung-Kwok Chiu, Br. David Lee, Sr. Anita Lui, Br. Donglai Yang,

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Friday Night Fellowship

  • Time: 6:15–8:00 p.m.
  • Where: Gym

Come grow your relationship with God and each other!

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Closing Prayer

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Share your faith!

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English Fellowship Cleaning Day Today!

  • Set up tables for fellowship lunch
  • Clean up gymnasium after lunch