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December 7, 2025
See TodayAdvent 2
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
- First Reading
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Isaiah 11:1–10 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Psalm
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Psalm 72:1–7 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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- Epistle
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Rom. 15:4–13 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
ESV Scripture text
4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Christ the Hope of Jews and Gentiles
8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,
and sing to your name.”
10 And again it says,
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”
11 And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and let all the peoples extol him.”
12 And again Isaiah says,
“The root of Jesse will come,
even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;
in him will the Gentiles hope.”
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
(ESV)
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- Gospel
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Matt. 3:1–12 (read in ESV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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Advent 2
Three-Year Lectionary · Series A
About this service
By the Preaching of Repentance, We Are Prepared for the Coming of the Lord
“John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ‘Repent’” (Matt. 3:1–2). His preaching of repentance for the forgiveness of sins prepared people for the coming of Christ into the world. St. John’s work was historically complete with the incarnate advent of Jesus, but his vital ministry continues in preaching Law and Gospel. The Son of God has come in the flesh, “a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots” (Is. 11:1), and continues to bear the fruits of righteousness. His good tree of the cross is “a signal for the peoples” (Is. 11:10), by which He calls the nations to repentance. “With the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips” (Is. 11:4), He slays the wicked and brings the dead to life, making sons of Abraham out of lifeless stones. So also the “root of Jesse” comes to us, “even he who arises to rule the Gentiles” (Rom. 15:12), that “we might have hope” and be filled “with all joy and peace in believing” (Rom. 15:4, 13).
Source: LCMS Worship, Lectionary Summaries — Three-Year Lectionary Series A (opens in a new tab). Used by permission. These pages may be reproduced for congregational use only. Commercial reproduction, or reproduction for sale of this work or any portion of this work, without the written permission of the copyright holder, is prohibited. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Scripture quoted in the summary is from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Introit, Gradual and Verse
Source: LCMS Three-Year Series (A) Propers Chart (opens in a new tab). Citations only; no liturgical or Scripture text is reproduced.
Prayers of the Church
Prayers of the Church for December 7, 2025 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Merciful God, You remember Your covenant forever, for a thousand generations. Teach us to remember Your wondrous works and seek Your strength and presence continually. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, the voice of Your prophet broke the silence to prepare the way for Your Son. Give Your people the courage to speak Christ to the nations and teach those still in darkness and death about His gift of light and life. Keep us from being ashamed of the Gospel or intimidated by the opinions of others. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gracious Father, You give Your Word to the Church for encouragement and instruction in endurance. Continue to instruct us by Your Word, that we may abound in hope. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, You preserved Jesse’s faithful line by the incarnation of Your Son. Give families and individuals strength to faithfully fulfill their vocations to love and forgive one another, that we may be trained up in Your fear, love and trust. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful Lord, Your Son rules over creation with justice and righteousness. Endow those in authority with the desire and ability to protect the innocent, punish the wicked and work for the common welfare. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Holy God, St. John spoke the promise of healing to the broken and wounded. Give to all afflicted in body or mind the riches of Your grace, healing according to Your will, and grace to carry them through the day of their trouble. [We pray especially for _____________.] Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Stir up our hearts, O Lord, and make ready the way of Your only begotten Son, who comes to us this day in His true body and precious blood for the forgiveness of our sins. May all who feast upon Him do so in repentance and faith. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord God, heavenly Father, grant us all things needful and keep from us all things harmful to us and to our salvation, that with confidence in Your will, we may say “amen” to our prayers and live in contentment and peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: LCMS Worship, Prayers of the Church — Series A 2025–2026 (opens in a new tab). Prepared by LCMS Worship for congregational use. Used by permission. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Prayers of the Church for December 7, 2025 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For God’s covenant people, that He would teach them to remember His wondrous works and to seek His strength and presence, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For courage to speak Christ to the nations and to teach those still in darkness and death about His gift of light and life; and that God would keep us from being ashamed of His Gospel or intimidated by the opinions of others, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those who grow in the faith, that God’s Word of encouragement and instruction in endurance would cause them to abound in hope, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For families, that they would faithfully fulfill their vocations to love and forgive one another, even as they grow in the fear, love and trust of the Lord, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For civil authorities, that they would govern with justice and righteousness as leaders appointed by God to protect the innocent, punish the wicked and work for the common welfare of all, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those afflicted in body or mind, [especially _____________,] that they would receive the riches of God’s grace, healing according to His will, and grace to carry them through the day of trouble, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who commune this day, that their hearts would be stirred up to make ready the way of the Lord Jesus, who comes in His body and blood, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
O Lord God, heavenly Father, grant us all things needful and keep from us all things harmful to us and to our salvation, that with confidence in Your will, we may say “amen” to our prayers and live in contentment and peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: LCMS Worship, Prayers of the Church — Series A 2025–2026 (opens in a new tab). Prepared by LCMS Worship for congregational use. Used by permission. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Hymn of the Day
LSB 344 On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry
The LCMS study identifies this as the Hymn of the Day for the Second Sunday in Advent in Series A, B and C.
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day Studies for Advent — Three-Year Lectionary (revised Dec. 21, 2021), pp. 3–4 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry — Historical TLH Edition
Historical text notice: This is the public-domain text from TLH 63, not the Lutheran Service Book 344 text. Wording and stanza form may differ.
1. On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
Announces that the Lord is nigh;
Come, then, and hearken, for he brings
Glad tidings from the King of kings.
2. Then cleansed by ev’ry Christian breast
And furnished for so great a Guest.
Yea, let us each our hearts prepare
For Christ to come and enter there.
3. For Thou art our Salvation, Lord,
Our Refuge, and our great Reward.
Without Thy grace our souls must fade
And wither like a flower decayed.
4. Lay on the sick Thy healing hand
And make the fallen strong to stand;
Show us the glory of Thy face
Till beauty springs in every place.
5. All praise, eternal Son, to Thee
Whose advent sets Thy people free,
Whom, with the Father, we adore
And Holy Ghost forevermore.
TLH 63
Text: Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:3
Author: Charles Coffin, 1676–1749
Translator: John Chandler, 1806–1876 (stanzas 1–3); unknown (stanzas 4–5)
Tune: PUER NOBIS NASCITUR
Source: Project Wittenberg; The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn 63; Handbook to The Lutheran Hymnal (1942), pp. 51–52 (opens in a new tab). Public domain. Project Wittenberg permits distribution, copying and printing.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 348 The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns
- Distribution LSB 636 Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness
- Distribution LSB 354 Arise, O Christian People
- Closing LSB 346 When All the World Was Cursed
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn Suggestions — Three-Year Lectionary Series A 2025–26 (opens in a new tab). Hymn numbers and titles only; hymn texts are not reproduced. Reproduction for individual, church or school use does not require permission. © The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.