Family Worship Guide
“Grace” (1918)
The leadership at Westminster is committed to serving and enabling godly families in their pursuit of truth, obedience, and sanctification. We believe that the family is God’s design for people everywhere. Because of this, we are excited to offer you this resource to assist you in family worship. Look for a new guide every week.
Family Worship Guide
Scripture Reading:
#1. Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth. He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! (Psalm 47:1-6)
#2. You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrusted to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also (2Tim 2:1-2).
Prayer of Praise to God: Refer to the verses above and hymn below.
1. Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea:
A great High Priest whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on his hands,
My name is written on his heart.
I know that while in Heav'n he stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart,
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
2. When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see him there,
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free,
For God the just is satisfied
To look on him and pardon me,
To look on him and pardon me.
3. Behold him there, the risen Lamb,
My perfect, spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace.
One with himself I cannot die;
My soul is purchased by his blood.
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God,
With Christ, my Savior and my God.
Reading of the Law: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. “You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Exodus 20:12-17)
Silent Confession of Sin/Confession of Sin: Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men; We acknowledge that we were conceived and born in iniquity, and mourn our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against Your Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly Your wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; The remembrance of them is grievous unto us; The burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; For Your Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, Forgive us all that is past; And grant that we may hereafter Serve and please You In newness of life, To the honor and glory of Your name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reading of the Gospel: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy (1 Peter 2:9-10)
Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 41
Question #108
Q. What is God’s will for you in the seventh commandment?
A. That God condemns all unchastity, and that therefore we should thoroughly detest it and live decent and chaste lives, within or outside of the holy state of marriage.
Question #109
Q. Does God, in this commandment, forbid only such scandalous sins as adultery?
A. We are temples of the Holy Spirit, body and soul, and God wants both to be kept clean and holy. That is why God forbids all unchaste actions, looks, talk, thoughts, or desires, and whatever may incite someone to them.
Prayer of Thanksgiving: For his blessing of sending visitors to our church and for our faith no matter how weak or strong it is.
Prayer of Supplication: A sk God to heal those who are suffering and to help those in need of a job or a better job.
.Bible reading and commentary:
Read: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6
In verse 6 of Chapter 4, Paul references Genesis 3:1 “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” In doing so Paul shows that the work of God in revealing the light of the gospel in our hearts is a new act of creation. It is the means by which the veil is removed from our eyes (4:3) and we are transferred from darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). This new work of creation is tied to Christ’s death and resurrection. Jesus who is the Light of the World (John 8:12; 9:5), endured “the power of darkness” (Luke 22:53) in order to rescue us from eternal outer darkness (Matt. 8:12; 25:30). And it is through his “being the first to rise from the dead” that he now “proclaims light” (Acts 26:23). The result is that our minds are no longer blinded by unbelief (2 Cor. 4:4). Instead, we are now creatures who are called to “walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8).
The gospel is the ultimate source of light that puts all of life into proper perspective. Because we view life according to how we are seen in the sight of God, we are free to abandon underhanded ways in favor of a transparent, grace-dependent life. All other ways of seeing will lead to blindness; other light sources represent darkness (Luke 11:34-36). God graciously exposes this darkness and empowers us to live as “children of light” (1 Thess. 5:5) who are being transformed by the work of the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18).
Paul implies in verse 2 that there are counterfeit gospels. When we proclaim the gospel, we are in conflict with ignorance and with counterfeit gospels. Throughout the history of the church, the gospel has been twisted, changed, ignored, and forgotten. These are all false gospels and not to be believed. We should be upset with these counterfeit gospels. People that teach these false gospels teach them with what seems like authority but is blasphemous. That’s why Christians need to know the truths of the faith given to us by God himself through the preaching of faithful men and the truthful teaching of both men and women.
Christians are also engaged in spiritual warfare with the god of this world, Satan. He tries to obscure the truth by placing ‘a veil’ over the minds of men and women so that they can’t understand the good news. It is specifically the glory of the Lord Jesus, the image of God, which Satan does not want people to understand. Satan is not really concerned when we talk about religion, or even Christianity. He is disturbed when we proclaim the Lord Jesus.
Closing Hymn: The Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Closing Scripture: You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Pet. 2:9).
The Lord’s Prayer (together): Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.