Scripture Reading:
#1. to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, (Eph.1:6-7)
#2. To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thess. 1:11-12)
Prayer of Praise to God: Refer to the verses above and hymn below.
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
Refrain:
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand,
all other ground is sinking sand.
In ev’ry rough and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the vale.
When all around my soul gives way, he then is all my hope and stay. [Refrain]
Not earth, nor hell, my soul can move; I rest upon unchanging love.
I trust his righteous character, his counsel, promise, and his pow’r. [Refrain]
When he shall come with trumpet sound, oh, may I then in him be found,
dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne. [Refrain]
Reading of the Law: Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21)
Silent Confession of Sin/Confession of Sin: Holy Lord, we have sinned times without number, and been guilty of pride and unbelief, of failure to find your mind in your Word, of neglect to seek you in our daily lives. Our transgressions and short-comings present us with a list of accusations, but we bless thee that they will not stand against us, for all have been laid on Christ.
Reading of the Gospel: If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared (Psalm 130:3-4)
Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 19
Question #50
Q. Why the next words: “and is seated at the right hand of God”?
A. Because Christ ascended to heaven to show there that he is head of his church, the one through whom the Father rules all things.
Question #51
Q. How does this glory of Christ our head benefit us?
A. First, through his Holy Spirit he pours out gifts from heaven upon us his members. Second, by his power he defends us and keeps us safe from all enemies.
Question #52
Q. How does Christ’s return “to judge the living and the dead” comfort you?
A. In all distress and persecution, with uplifted head, I confidently await the very judge who has already offered himself to the judgment of God in my place and removed the whole curse from me. Christ will cast all his enemies and mine into everlasting condemnation, but will take me and all his chosen ones to himself into the joy and glory of heaven.
Prayer of Thanksgiving: Thank God for giving us a Kingdom where we can worship our great God and Shepherd-King.
Prayer of Supplication: Pray for those who are infirm and those who are searching for employment.
Bible reading and commentary:
Read: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
In the first part of Chapter 12, Paul describes how the one true God imparts various spiritual gifts on his people. Therefore the Corinthian believers should live in harmony with one another; using their gifts to serve the common good rather than to promote themselves. Protestant commentators share Paul’s primary concern that spiritual gifts should be used to glorify God and edify his church.
The unity of the church is also in discussion in this text. Paul wants them to be led by the Spirit who never dishonors Christ, and who alone can enable us to trust Jesus as Lord, which is essential for salvation.
Paul provides a Trinitarian understanding of the spiritual gifts. There are a variety of gifts that originate from the one, true, and triune God. This emphasizes the unity in diversity theme of the chapter. It also shows the ignorance of placing one gift, tongues, in place of superiority. God gives his Spirit to every believer to empower them to the service of his church not for themselves.
Paul provides a partial list of the spiritual gifts, reflective of the various kinds of gifts that serve the benefit of the body. Wisdom is the spiritual ability to apply God’s truth to specific situations. Knowledge is the ability to understand and clearly explain biblical truth. In speaking about tongues and the interpretation of tongues this is the supernatural ability to speak and understand languages not otherwise known (1 Corinthians 14:2; Acts 2:4-6). Tongues and interpretation functioned similarly to prophecy because both are revelatory speech gifts (Acts 2:16-18; 19:6). Therefore they, like the gift of the apostles, were foundational to the church and no longer part of its experience (Eph. 2:20). The distribution of gifts is according to the sovereign will of God. Christians are not to boast in self or in the fact that they have one gift over another.
John Calvin on Unity in the Spirit precludes self-sufficiency: “One and the same Spirit who apportions …” From this it follows that those people act wrongly who, without any concern for sharing, destroy that sacred unity where all the parts agree with one another and all act in harmony under the leading of the same Spirit. Paul again calls the Corinthians back to unity, when he reminds them that, whatever gifts they possess, they have obtained from the same source. At the same time, he instructs them that no one possesses so much that they are sufficient in themselves and do not need the help of other people. For this is what was meant by the phrase, “apportions to each one individually as he wills.” The Spirit of God, therefore, distributes these gifts among us, in order that we all might contribute to the common good. He does not impart everything to a single individual, lest anyone become so satisfied with their portion that they cut themselves off from others, and live solely for themselves. (Commentary on 1 Corinthians 12:11)
John Trapp - Different people have different gifts: It was reported that in Luther’s house was found written: “Substance and eloquence, Philip Melanchthon. Substance without eloquence, Martin Luther. Eloquence without substance, Desiderius Erasmus.” Every person has their own share, and all are not gifted alike. (Commentary on 1 Corinthians 12:11)
Closing Hymn: The Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Closing Scripture: The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ (Luke 18:11-13).
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.