3rd Sunday of Advent · United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church edition — hymn suggestions lead with The United Methodist Hymnal. See the general version.
December 13, 2026 — liturgical color: purple or blue
Jump to your tradition's hymnal & calendar notes:
Readings for 3rd Sunday of Advent
- First ReadingIsaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
- PsalmPsalm 126 OR Luke 1:47-55
- Second Reading1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
- GospelJohn 1:6-8, 19-28
Sermon angles to start your study
Starting points for your OWN study — not finished sermons.
Start with the Gospel
Begin your study in John 1:6-8, 19-28 — read it aloud, slowly, more than once, and note the first image or line that snags your attention before turning to commentaries.
Read the first reading alongside it
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 was chosen to sit next to the Gospel this week — ask what conversation the two texts are having with each other, and let that conversation shape your outline.
Let the Psalm set the tone
Psalm 126 OR Luke 1:47-55 is this week's prayer language — its emotional register (lament, praise, trust, complaint) is a clue to how the congregation may be arriving on Sunday.
Illustrations from the tradition
Teasers from Sermon Helper's illustration archive, matched to this week's texts.
Humility
“I am the Voice but not the Word; I am the torch but not the Light; the Star that rises before the Sun of Righteousness.”
Evangelism
“John, the servant of that Logos, being no other than a voice, yet uses his voice to point to the Logos.”
Humility
“When John himself said that he was only a "voice," as though he were inferior to the prophets, this declaration proceeded not from a pretended humility; he meant to signify that he was not intrusted with a proper embassy, but acted merely…”
Hymn suggestions by hymnal
Cross-referenced to this week's texts via the Hymnary.org scripture index.
- All Praise to Thee, for Thou, O King DivineNo. 166
- Angels We Have Heard on HighNo. 238
- Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly LightNo. 223
- Christ Is the World's LightNo. 188
- Christ, Whose glory fills the skiesNo. 173
- Come, Thou Almighty KingNo. 61
- Angels We Have Heard on HighNo. 113
- At the Name of JesusNo. 264
- Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly LightNo. 130
- Christ, Whose glory fills the skiesNo. 662
- Come, Thou Almighty KingNo. 2
- Arise, Your Light Is Come!No. 744
- Angels We Have Heard on HighNo. 289
- At the Name of JesusNo. 416
- Christ, Whose glory fills the skiesNo. 553
- Come, Thou Almighty KingNo. 408
- Awake! Awake, and Greet the New MornNo. 242
- Come, Thou long expected JesusNo. 254
- All Praise to Thee, for Thou, O King DivineNo. 477
- Angels We Have Heard on HighNo. 96
- At the Name of JesusNo. 435
- Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly LightNo. 91
- Christ, Whose glory fills the skiesNo. 6
- Come, Thou Almighty KingNo. 365
Call to worship
One responsive reading for each of the day's lessons — original compositions grounded in the passage. Free to adapt.
Based on Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Based on Psalm 126 OR Luke 1:47-55
Based on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Based on John 1:6-8, 19-28
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