Prayer: Grant, Almighty God, that since thou hast once stretched forth thy hand to consecrate us a people to thyself, -- O grant, that thy paternal favor may perpetually shine on us, and that we may, on the other hand, strive always to glorify thy name, so that having once embraced us thou mayest continue thy goodness, until we shall at length enjoy the fullness of all blessings in thy celestial kingdom, which has been obtained for us by the blood of thine only-begotten Son. Amen
-- John Calvin
The Morning Devotional for February 22, 2021:
The Christian and His Word
Read MoreA faithful man will abound with blessings,
but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 28:20, ESV)
Sermon: Mark 2:23-3:6
Discussion Questions:
What are the two scenes that frame the entire narrative and the subject of the Lord’s day?
What two ways do the Pharisees respond to these events? What does that communicate about these men?
How does Jesus correct the bad understanding of the Sabbath? What two areas are highlighted by the response of Christ?
What are acts of mercy? Brainstorm with your family what things you can do on the Lord’s day that are properly defined as “acts of mercy.”
What are acts of necessity? Brainstorm with your family what things are necessary things that are lawful to do on the Lord’s Day.
Prayer: Our Father, we look out across this world that you have made, and we take note of the effects of sin and the misery that comes from living in a fallen world. We mourn the mess wicked and depraved men have made, and we sometimes wonder why the heart of man is so desperately wicked. Because of sin, man rebels against you and all that you command. In their arrogance, they profess to be wise and, yet, they are fools because they refuse to bow the knee to the only true God of heaven and earth. We know that man will rebel, and we know that the only solution is the gospel of your Son. Therefore, we plead with you to work in a mighty way in our land. We pray for true revival that comes when your people humble themselves and pray. We ask that you would cause your church to seek first your kingdom and righteousness and point men to the only hope that they have -- the Lord Jesus. We pray for our nation, her leaders. We pray for our loved ones who are facing a tragic end. Please open our leaders' eyes and the eyes of our friends and family that they might behold you in all of your beauty and glory. We pray these things in the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.
Read MorePrayer: Our great God in heaven, you who are full of loving-kindness and compassion, we thank you for your church and the fellowship of the saints that we enjoy as we pilgrim through this world. In your wisdom and grace, you have provided us brothers and sisters, purchased by your Son and our Savior. We are grateful that we can lean upon our fellow family members and count on their acts of kindness and grace. We are thankful that we can reach out to them and ask for prayer and help whenever we need it. We know that we do not always behave like a family, and we confess that we sometimes act selfishly. Yet, we bless you for granting to us fellow pilgrims as we all labor together to reach our heavenly rest. Thank you for forgiving us. Help us to love one another with brotherly love as Christ loved us as our elder brother. We pray this in the game of the Savior. Amen.
Read MorePrayer: Our God in heaven: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we praise your name today because you have been patient and kind to your people. Your Word tells us of the love that you have for your people and how you demonstrated that love by being pleased to crush your Son for those you choose to redeem. We thank you for the love of Christ. We are thankful that his love is patient and kind, that it is not boastful or arrogant. We thank you that his love is not rude and that he ministered to others insisting on your glory and honor. We thank you that his love does not keep a record of wrong but is quick to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We pray that you would increase our love for you and others. Please help us to love as the Lord Jesus loves. We pray these things for the sake of your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for February 16, 2021:
The Sluggard (Part two)
Read More13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!
There is a lion in the streets!”
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
so does a sluggard on his bed.
15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven men who can answer sensibly. (Proverbs 26;13-16, ESV)
Prayer: Our God, we were blessed to hear your Word preached on the Lord's Day, and we thank you for this ordinary and primary means of grace. We thank you that you have given us this means to help us and strengthen us and give us direction on our pilgrimage to our heavenly rest. We do not want to be like the church of old that heard your prophets and refused to respond in faith and repentance. We do not want to be like those who came out of Egypt who saw your mighty power and heard your voice and enjoyed the benefits of your presence and yet rebelled, failing to trust you. WE ask that you would make us doers of the Word and not mere hearers of it. We ask that you would bring great fruit from your Word proclaimed that it would not return to you void but will accomplish the purpose you have for it. Please grant us the grace we need, Lord. We pray all of these things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for February 15, 2021:
The Sluggard (Part one)
Read More6 Go to the ant, O sluggard;
consider her ways, and be wise.
7 Without having any chief,
officer, or ruler,
8 she prepares her bread in summer
and gathers her food in harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man. 9Proverbs 6:6-11, ESV)
Prayer: Our God in heaven, we praise your name today because you have called us apart from the world and placed your name upon us. We are humbled that you have redeemed us and called us your treasured possession. Since we belong to you, we are called to live our lives as living sacrifices before you. It is reasonable for us to offer our whole lives to you sincerely and promptly. We are your servants, and we are listening to your Word, knowing that it will conform us more and more to the image of your Son. We confess our failure and weakness -- our sin before you. We know that we do not always live in pursuit of holiness and righteousness as you have commanded. We are ashamed at how easy we stray from your commands. We pray that you would help us, by your Spirit, to do all you have told us. We pray this in the name of Christ our Lord. Amen.
Read MoreThe Word of God makes it clear that we are to worship the living and true God corporately each week (E.g., Ps. 100). As we gather, we come to meet with the living and true God as his people called out from the world. Our goal in worship is to honor and adore the triune God. We do so with the means that He has given to us in his word. At Providence Church, we worship according to the regulative principle — that is, we worship by doing what God commands as we approach him. As we gather, we must worship him with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. Sometimes people worship without a full understanding of what they are doing. Over the next few articles, I want to briefly highlight our liturgy and why we are doing what we are doing. This article will discuss the importance of music in worship.
Read MorePrayer: Our glorious God and majestic king, you have made us to worship you. From the very beginning, when you created our first parents and throughout all ages, you have called your people to adore and commune with you. After the fall, you condescended with man, drawing men to your presence as a holy obligation to worship you. As we prepare for the lord's Day and the day of worship, we ask that you would be gracious to us by impressing on our hearts and minds the importance and vitality of corporate worship. We ask that you would cause us to see the great importance of gathering with your people, singing your praises, praying, and hearing from you through the reading, but especially the preaching of your Word. We confess that we often see this critical time as another thing we do each week. Forgive us for not seeing the beauty of corporate worship. Today, please prepare us for what we will do as your people on the day you have established as a small picture of that great day when we will worship you in holy perfection. We pray these things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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