Daily Prayer for April 6: WSC Q4 (3)
Q4 What is God?
God is a Spirit, (John 4:24) infinite, (Job 11:7–9) eternal, (Ps. 90:2) and unchangeable, (James 1:17) in his being, (Exod. 3:14) wisdom, (Ps. 147:5) power, (Rev. 4:8) holiness, (Rev. 15:4) justice, goodness, and truth. (Exod. 34:6–7)
Prayer: Our great and glorious God, we bless and praise your name today because you are the only true God, and there is no other. Your Word tells us what you are, and it reveals your nature to your creatures. We praise you for disclosing yourself to us though we are unworthy of your self-revelation. In your Word, we read of your infinite nature -- you are the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Words fail to describe your infinitude adequately, and, as such, we struggle to explain it. You are from everlasting to everlasting, and your wisdom and power are without end. Because you are infinite, you know all things and hold all things in your hand. Therefore, we can trust you with every detail of our lives. Forgive us for forgetting about your infinite care and love for us. Forgive us for worrying about matters we cannot control. Grant to us a renewed understanding of your character and help us, by your Spirit, to lean wholly upon you. We pray these things with thanksgiving and confidence in our Great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Read More
The Morning Devotional: 1 Cor. 9:19-22; Eph. 4:12; WLC 159
The Morning Devotional for April 6, 2021
The Preaching of God's Word, Part 7
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, (Eph. 4:12, ESV)
Q. 159. How is the Word of God to be preached by those that are called thereunto?
A. They that are called to labor in the ministry of the word, are to preach sound doctrine, diligently, in season and out of season; plainly, not in the enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power; faithfully, making known the whole counsel of God; wisely, applying themselves to the necessities and capacities of the hearers; zealously, with fervent love to God and the souls of his people; sincerely, aiming at his glory, and their conversion, edification, and salvation.
Read More
Daily Prayer for April 5, 2021
Q4 What is God?
God is a Spirit, (John 4:24) infinite, (Job 11:7–9) eternal, (Ps. 90:2) and unchangeable, (James 1:17) in his being, (Exod. 3:14) wisdom, (Ps. 147:5) power, (Rev. 4:8) holiness, (Rev. 15:4) justice, goodness, and truth. (Exod. 34:6–7)
Prayer: Our God in heaven: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, it is a great wonder that you have determined to reveal yourself to helpless sinners. You have done so in creation. You have also done so clearly in your Word. You have declared that you are a Spirit and, therefore, it is a great sin to make any image or representation of you. Men, however, pervert your glory and all that you say about yourself by carving images and posting pictures that appear to depict you. The foolishness of our own hearts thinks that somehow we can capture your majesty, and we fall short each time. Forgive your church, O God, for such stupidity and violently breaking your command not to make any representation of the Godhead. Help us dwell on your beauty without these feeble aids and grant us a greater zeal to uphold your Word. We pray these things in the name of the Savior. Amen.
Read More
The Morning Devotional: Acts 18:25; WLC 159
The Morning Devotional for April 5, 2021
The Preaching of God's Word, Part 6
Q. 159. How is the Word of God to be preached by those that are called thereunto?
A. They that are called to labor in the ministry of the word, are to preach sound doctrine, diligently, in season and out of season; plainly, not in the enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power; faithfully, making known the whole counsel of God; wisely, applying themselves to the necessities and capacities of the hearers; zealously, with fervent love to God and the souls of his people; sincerely, aiming at his glory, and their conversion, edification, and salvation.
Read More
Daily Prayer for April 4, 2021
Prayer: Our God in heaven, you who made us from the dust of the ground and breathed into us the breath of life and made us a living soul, we bless and praise you for your great work of creation. You placed our first parents in a perfect world made by your hands. They rebelled against you and plunged us all under the weight of misery and death. Yet, you promised them a redeemer who would come and shatter sin and the grave. Through his life of suffering and eventual agony on the cross and the glorious resurrection, he did exactly as you promised. Though we die, we do not fear death. Though we still suffer under the weight of sin, we know that there is the hope of the new heavens and the new earth. Through our redeemer's labor, all that was lost is being made new. Thank you, our Father, for your plan and purpose of saving a people for yourself. We long to be free of this life and to ever be with our risen Lord. We pray these things in the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.
Read More
God's Plan for Corporate Worship
The subject of corporate worship is a significant one in the life of the believer. How one views corporate worship and how seriously one approaches it will be the Christian life baseline. The following podcast recommendation speaks to that issue as well as others.
NOTE: I can't entirely agree with everything the guest says, especially when he starts talking about items of systemic racism, social justice, etc. (which comprises about five minutes or less of the forty-minute episode). However, what he does say regarding corporate worship is very good and helpful.
Read More
Worship Preparation for April 4, 2021
Call to Worship: Psalm 117
Confession of Faith: the Apostles’ Creed
Hymns and Psalter Selections:
Hymn: Christ the Lord is Risen Today
Psalm: The LORD has Spoken to My Lord
Hymn: Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed
Hymn: Jesus, Thank You
Sermon: John 20:1-23
Discussion Questions:
What is the “timestamp” of the events that occur in John 20:1-23?
What is the setting of this narrative? Who are the people involved?
What is the overall purpose of John in this narrative?
How does Jesus show kindness and care for the people, both individually and corporately?
Read More
Worship Preparation for March 21, 2021
Call to Worship: Isaiah 40:1-2
Confession of Faith: Westminster Shorter Catechism Q23-26
Hymns and Psalter Selections:
#99A The LORD God Reigns on High
#245 Great Is Thy Faithfulness
#219 O Worship the King
Sermon: Mark 3:22-30
Discussion Questions:
Who are the people that bring a charge against Christ? What is that charge?
Who is Beelzebul?
What does the accusation of the “theologians” in this passage teach you regarding the world today?
Jesus responds with a parable. What is a parable, and what is the parable Jesus employs in this passage?
What is the warning that Jesus offers? What is the unpardonable sin? Does that sin occur today? How?
Read More
The Morning Devotional: 1 Cor. 3:2; Heb. 5:12-14; WLC 159
The Morning Devotional for March 17, 2021
The Preaching of God's Word, Part Five
I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, (1 Cor. 3:2, ESV).
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. (Heb. 5:12-14, ESV).
Read More
The Morning Devotional: Acts 20:27; WLC 159
The Morning Devotional for March 16, 2021
The Preaching of God's Word, Part Four
for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. (Acts 20:27)
Q. 159. How is the Word of God to be preached by those that are called thereunto?
A. They that are called to labor in the ministry of the word, are to preach sound doctrine, diligently, in season and out of season; plainly, not in the enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power; faithfully, making known the whole counsel of God; wisely, applying themselves to the necessities and capacities of the hearers; zealously, with fervent love to God and the souls of his people; sincerely, aiming at his glory, and their conversion, edification, and salvation.
Read More
Daily Prayer for March 16, 2021
Q4 What is God?
God is a Spirit, (John 4:24) infinite, (Job 11:7–9) eternal, (Ps. 90:2) and unchangeable, (James 1:17) in his being, (Exod. 3:14) wisdom, (Ps. 147:5) power, (Rev. 4:8) holiness, (Rev. 15:4) justice, goodness, and truth. (Exod. 34:6–7)
Prayer: Our God in heaven, you are holy, and in your Word, you have told us what you are. You are the eternal God, infinite in glory and goodness. You are a God who cannot change, and therefore we can trust your promises and works. Your wisdom is beyond searching out, but you have promised us wisdom as we ask for it from you. Your power is immeasurable. Therefore you can accomplish all that you decree to do. Your justice is perfect, unlike the weak efforts of men. For these reasons and many more, we have reason to praise you, love you, and obey you. Please forgive us for failing to think of your beauty and majesty. Please forgive our shortcomings and our sin. Thank you for revealing yourself to us and for being a God who delights in the forgiveness of sin. We pray these things in the name of the Savior. Amen.
Read More
Daily Prayer for March 15, 2021: WSC Q3 (3)
Q3 What do the scriptures principally teach?
The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man. (2 Tim. 1:13, 2 Tim. 3:16)
Prayer: our great God in heaven, you who have revealed yourself in creation and your Word, we thank you that you have not left us to wander in darkness. On the Lord's day, we hear from men called by you to preach your Word to our hearts. Through this primary means of grace, we have what is required of your people. We are told what we must believe, and we are told what we must do. We not only hear your Word, but we are told to obey what we hear. We thank you that you have given us the mind of Christ and his living voice through the proclamation of your Word. We confess that we are often slow to learn and slow to incorporate what we hear each Lord's day into our daily lives. We do not want to be dull of hearing, and we desire to be diligent in duty. Please help us, by your Spirit, and grant us a greater willingness, with obedience when we hear your Word preached. We pray these things in the name of the Savior. Amen.
Read More
