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December 14, 2025
See TodayThird Sunday in Advent
One-Year Lectionary
- First Reading
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Isaiah 40:1–8 (9–11) (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins.
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. 6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. 8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! 10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. 11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
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- Psalm
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Psalm 85 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.
1 LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.
4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.
8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.
13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.
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- Epistle
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1 Cor. 4:1–5 (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
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- Gospel
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Matt. 11:2–10 (11) (read in KJV on Bible Gateway, opens in a new tab)
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2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
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Third Sunday in Advent
One-Year Lectionary
About this service
John the Baptizer Prepares the Way for the Lord
The voice of the Baptizer cried out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord . . .” (Isa. 40:1). John called the people to be made ready for the Messiah’s coming through repentance, for “all flesh is grass” (Isa. 40:6). Now He asks from prison, “Are you the one who is to come . . .?” (Matt. 11:2). Jesus’ works bear witness that He is. The sick are made well; the dead are raised, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them. Their iniquity is pardoned; they have received from the Lord’s hand double forgiveness for all their sins. The “stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Cor. 4:1) still deliver Christ’s overflowing forgiveness to the poor in spirit, comforting God’s people with the word of the Gospel which stands forever. This Gospel produces rejoicing among all those who believe.
Source: LCMS Worship, Lectionary Summaries — One-Year Lectionary (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 One-Year Series Propers Chart (opens in a new tab). Citations only; no liturgical or Scripture text is reproduced.
Collect
Historical Collect — Third Sunday in Advent
LORD, we beseech Thee, give ear to our prayers, and lighten the darkness of our hearts, by Thy gracious visitation; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Source: Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book (Baltimore, 1893), Introits and Collects for the Church Year (opens in a new tab). Public-domain text (published 1893), transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of the Princeton Theological Seminary Library copy.
Prayers of the Church
Prayers of the Church for December 14, 2025 — Responsive Form
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Blessed are You, heavenly Father. Give joy to Your Church at the glad tidings of our coming Savior, and comfort us with the Good News of His perfect life and sacrificial death for our salvation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O almighty God, through Your Son You bring to light the things hidden in darkness and disclose the purposes of the heart. Give Your Church faithful stewards of Your mysteries, servants of Christ who are trustworthy to proclaim You alone as Lord and Judge. Tend Your flock by Your Word and Spirit, that Your lambs may be gathered into Your arms and gently led to eternal life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, restore to all Christian hearts the joy of Your salvation by the blood of Christ, and make us eager to hear the voice of the Gospel in the forgiveness of sins. So, in turn, lead every Christian household — husbands, wives and children — to speak the truth with our neighbors and to forgive one another as Christ has forgiven us. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, bless Congress and the justices of our nation; Donald, our president; _____________, our governor; and all others in positions of civil authority. Lead them to administer their duties diligently in all godly wisdom, justice, compassion and contentment for the well-being of our nation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, to our prayers [especially for _____________]. Give healing, courage and perseverance to all who cry to You, that they may find comfort in Your enduring Word and the certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life with Christ. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of comfort, grant joy to those who come to Your altar today in the eating and drinking of Christ’s body and blood for the forgiveness of their sins. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
We thank and praise You, O Lord, for the prophets and all faithful saints who spoke in the name of the Lord before us. Make us steadfast in faith to look with hope for the revealing of Jesus Christ, our great God and Savior, on the Last Day. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
All these things and whatever else You know that we need, grant us, Father, for the sake of Him who died and rose again and now lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen.
Source: LCMS Worship, Prayers of the Church — One-Year 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 14, 2025 — Ektene Form
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Church, that she would rejoice in the glad tidings of her coming Savior and be comforted by the Good News of His perfect life and sacrificial death for her salvation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Church, that God would give us faithful stewards of His mysteries and servants of Christ who are trustworthy to proclaim Him alone as Lord and Judge; and that the Lord would tend His flock by His Word and Spirit, that Christ’s lambs may be gathered into God’s arms and gently led to eternal life, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For husbands, wives, children and all Christians, that we would be eager to hear the voice of the Gospel in the forgiveness of sins and, in turn, speak the truth with our neighbors, forgiving one another as Christ has forgiven us, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For Congress and the justices of our nation; Donald, our president; _____________, our governor; and all others in positions of civil authority, that they may diligently administer their duties in all godly wisdom, justice, compassion and contentment for the well-being of our nation, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the sick and sorrowing, [especially _____________,] that the Shepherd of Israel would give ear to their need; and for healing, courage and perseverance to all who cry out to God, that they may find comfort in His enduring Word and the certain hope of the resurrection, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those that come to the Lord’s altar today, that the God of comfort would grant joy to all communicants as they eat the body and drink the blood of Christ for their forgiveness, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the prophets and all faithful saints who spoke in the name of the Lord before us, let us give thanks and praise to God; and for steadfastness in faith, that we might look with hope for the revealing of Jesus Christ, our great God and Savior, on the Last Day, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
O Lord, heavenly Father, we gratefully remember the sufferings and death of Your dear Son, Jesus Christ, for our salvation. Rejoicing in His victorious resurrection from the dead, we draw strength from His ascension before You, where He ever stands for us as our own High Priest. Gather us together from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers, deliver and preserve us, for to You alone we give all glory, honor and worship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: LCMS Worship, Prayers of the Church — One-Year 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 345 Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding
The LCMS studies identify this as the Hymn of the Day for the Third Sunday in Advent in the One-Year Lectionary and Series A, B and C.
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn of the Day Studies for Advent — One-Year and Three-Year lectionaries (revised 2021), pp. 5–6 (opens in a new tab). Appointment identity only. Lutheran Service Book text and LCMS study content are not reproduced.
Suggested hymns
- Entrance LSB 349 Hark the Glad Sound
- Distribution LSB 350 Come, Thou Precious Ransom, Come
- Distribution LSB 354 Arise, O Christian People
- Distribution LSB 338 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
- Closing LSB 345 Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding
Source: LCMS Worship, Hymn Suggestions — One-Year Lectionary Series 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.