Scripture Reading:
#1. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of God our Father (Gal. 1:3-4).
#2. The King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matt. 25:34-35).
Prayer of Praise to God: Refer to the verses above and hymn below.
Hymn: He Will Hold Me Fast
When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast;
When the tempter would prevail, He can hold me fast!
Refrain:
He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast;
For my Savior loves me so, He will hold me fast.
I could never keep my hold, He must hold me fast;
For my love is often cold, He must hold me fast. [Refrain]
I am precious in His sight, He will hold me fast;
Those He saves are His delight, He will hold me fast. [Refrain]
He'll not let my soul be lost, Christ will hold me fast;
Bought by Him at such a cost, He will hold me fast. [Refrain]
Reading of the Law: If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Cor. 13:1-7)
Silent Confession of Sin/Confession of Sin: Our great and glorious God, You who know and judge the secrets of every human heart, we do acknowledge and confess that we have followed our father Adam in revolting against your commandments. We have turned from your ways and from your blessed Presence and have reaped the misery of turning away from You, the very Author of life. None of us is righteous, no not one. None of us has understanding, none of us seeks God. We use our tongues to deceive, our mouths are full of cursing and bitterness, our feet are swift to shed blood, ruin and misery are in our paths, and the way of peace we have not known. There is no fear of God before our eyes. We appeal to you, through your great mercy made manifest in Jesus Christ Your obedient Son, that you would forgive our sins for His sake, that you would make many righteous through His one act of obedience, that where our sins have increased, Your grace would abound. Just as Christ was raised from the dead by your glory, so also may we walk in newness of life. Amen
Reading of the Gospel: Do not remember against us qour former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake! (Psalm 79:8-9)
Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 20
Question #53
Q. What do you believe concerning “the Holy Spirit”?
A. First, that the Spirit, with the Father and the Son, is eternal God. Second, that the Spirit is given also to me, so that, through true faith, he makes me share in Christ and all his benefits, comforts me, and will remain with me forever.
Prayer of Thanksgiving: Give God thanks for is perfect for his people base on what Christ has done for us and for the Holy Spirit indwelling us.
Prayer of Supplication: Pray for those who are suffering for their healing and that they would know Christ better through their suffering.
Bible reading and commentary:
Read: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Uniting us to Christ our head (1 Cor. 6:17), the Holy Spirit also unites those who trust in Jesus alone to one another so that we who are many become one body (10:17). This communion of saints we confess in the Apostles’ Creed is vital to the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3). Our place in God’s kingdom depends on His electing grace and our personal faith, but we are not brought into heaven alone. We are rescued in union with others as the people of God, for our Lord redeems a corporate body for Himself. Christ laid down His life for His sheep (John 10:11), so the church is no afterthought in the Lord’s plan. It is essential to His purposes of salvation for his people, for Jesus conforms us to His image through the preached Word, sacraments, fellowship, and other benefits we receive in the church (2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 4:1–16).
When we think of the church and the doctrine of election, we should also understand that God chose each of us for the body of Christ for a specific purpose. We should all know that there was nothing in us that motivated the Lord’s election. Salvation is entirely of grace and we are not in the kingdom because we are nicer, smarter, better-looking, more spiritually sensitive, or otherwise more worthy than those whom God has passed over for redemption. But when the Lord brought us out of darkness into light, He did not do so merely to rescue us but also to put us to work in His body.
Paul tells us specifically that God Himself has arranged all the members of the body of Christ, putting us in specific positions and giving us particular gifts for the good of the whole (1 Cor. 12:18). Just as each organ and member of the human body has its own role and function, each Christian has a calling that is indispensable to the health of the church. Not all of us are teachers and administrators. These public leaders are important to the body, but they are not more important than those who may work behind the scenes caring for babies in the nursery, cleaning the sanctuary, making meals for new mothers and sick families, or performing any of the other tasks that might seem trivial (vv. 14–17, 27–30). Our gifts and talents are all necessary for a well-functioning church. Next week we will take a closer look at verse 31. Some say it should be the first verse in Chapter 13. Stay tuned. For His glory!!!!
(Adapted from article @ Ligonier.org)
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: By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Eph. 2:8-9).
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.