Scripture Reading:
#1. But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the LORD!” As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God! (Psalm 40:16-17)
#2. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
Prayer of Praise to God: Refer to the verses above and hymn below.
Hymn: All Authority and Power
All authority and power,
ev'ry status and domain,
now belongs to him who suffered
our redemption to obtain;
angels, demons, kings and rulers,
over all shall Jesus reign!
All the nations owe him worship,
ev'ry tongue shall call him Lord;
how are men to call upon him,
if his name they have not heard?
Therefore go and make disciples,
preach his gospel, spread his word.
All the clear commands of Jesus
must be heeded and obeyed;
full provision for our weakness
in his teaching he has made;
in the Gospel words and symbols,
saving truth to us conveyed.
All the time he will be with us,
always, to the end of days,
with his own believing people,
who keep steadfast in his ways;
God the Father, Son, and Spirit,
bless us, and to him the praise!
Reading of the Law: As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy (1 Peter 1:14-16).
Silent Confession of Sin/Confession of Sin: Lord God, eternal and almighty Father: We acknowledge before your holy majesty that we are poor sinners, conceived and born in guilt and in corruption, prone to do evil, unable of our own power to do good. Because of our sin, we endlessly violate your holy commandments. But, O Lord, with heartfelt sorrow we repent and turn away from all our offenses. We condemn ourselves and our evil ways, with true sorrow asking that your grace will relieve our distress. Have compassion on us, most gracious God, Father of mercies, for the sake of your son Jesus Christ our Lord. And in removing our guilt, also grant us daily increase of the grace of your Holy Spirit, and produce in us the fruits of holiness and of righteousness pleasing in your sight: Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reading of the Gospel: For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit (1 Peter 3:18)
Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 30
Question #80
Q. How does the Lord’s Supper differ from the Roman Catholic Mass?
A. The Lord’s Supper declares to us that all our sins are completely forgiven through the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which he himself accomplished on the cross once for all. It also declares to us that the Holy Spirit grafts us into Christ, who with his true body is now in heaven at the right hand of the Father where he wants us to worship him. [But the Mass teaches that the living and the dead do not have their sins forgiven through the suffering of Christ unless Christ is still offered for them daily by the priests. It also teaches that Christ is bodily present under the form bread and wine where Christ is therefore to be worshiped. Thus the Mass is basically nothing but a denial of the one sacrifice and suffering of Jesus Christ and a condemnable idolatry.]**
Question #81
Q. Who should come to the Lord’s table?
A. Those who are displeased with themselves because of their sins, but who nevertheless trust that their sins are pardoned and that their remaining weakness is covered by the suffering and death of Christ, and who also desire more and more to strengthen their faith and to lead a better life. Hypocrites and those who are unrepentant, however, eat and drink judgment on themselves.
Question #81
Q. Should those be admitted to the Lord’s Supper who show by what they profess and how hey live that they are unbelieving and ungodly?
A. No, that would dishonor God’s covenant and bring down God’s wrath upon the entire ongregation. Therefore, according to the instruction of Christ and his apostles, the Christian church is duty-bound to exclude such people, by the official use of the keys of the kingdom, until they reform their lives.
Prayer of Thanksgiving: Give praise and thanks to God for his faithfulness towards his people and for his steadfast love that endures forever.
Prayer of Supplication: Ask God to increase our love for the lost and for the Spirit to lead us to be more like Christ.
Bible reading and commentary:
Read: 1 Corinthians 16:1-4
As Paul concludes his letter to the Corinthians, he encourages them to gather a collection for the poor believers in Jerusalem (see also: Acts 11:28-29; 24:17; Rom. 15:25-26; 2 Cor. 8-9; Gal. 2:10). There are a number of important principles in Paul’s thoughts on giving. Christian giving is a voluntary act of generosity rather than a mandatory payment of a debt; churches need to discriminate between the deserving poor and lazy freeloaders; and Christian workers must avoid all appearance of greed or financial misconduct. As Christians show mercy and generosity toward the needy, they are imitating their Father in heaven.
In verse 2 Paul implies that each church would collect these gifts on the first day of the week so that all would be ready upon his arrival. Giving is considered an act of worship (Phil. 4:18; Heb. 13:16). Since this was Paul’s directive to the churches of Galatia too (v. 1), the church as a whole was evidently meeting for Sabbath worship on the first day (Acts 20:7), called the “Lord’s day” (Rev. 1:10) because Christ was raised on it (Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1; John 20:1) and Christ declared Himself Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28).
It is interesting to note that Paul is careful not to arouse suspicion about him handling the collection by telling the Corinthians to choose someone to deliver the money to Jerusalem (v 3). But in verse 4 Paul says that he is willing to go with them if necessary.
The collection for the saints in Jerusalem reminds us that the church of Jesus Christ is one church. Throughout the book Paul focuses on unity within the local church. It is not just the local church that is to be one, but also the universal, visible church. While it is not possible to meet every need of every believer in the world, Christians ought to have a broader vision of the kingdom of God on earth and seek to help in any way they are able. There are many applications of this truth. Some may contribute to missionary work or helping children through various church led organizations or supporting local food kitchens and homeless shelters. These are only a few of the ways Christians can help the poor.
Quotable Quotes on giving: William Secker: “Some observe that the most barren grounds are nearest to the richest mines. It is too often true in a spiritual sense that those whom God hath made fruitful in estates are most barren in good works. It is too generally true that the rich spend their substance wantonly, while the poor give their alms willingly. A penny comes with more difficulty out of a bag that is pressing full than a shilling out of a purse half empty.”
John Trapp: “They are fools that fear to lose their wealth by giving, but fear not to lose themselves by keeping it.”
Ralph Venning: “He that detains a penny from the poor puts a plague into his own purse.”
John Owen: “I shall not value his prayers at all, be he ever so earnest and frequent in them, who gives not alms according to his ability.”
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: “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer. 29:11 NIV).
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.
*Q&A 80 was altogether absent from the first edition of the catechism but was present in a shorter form in the second edition. The translation here given is of the expanded text of the third edition.
**In response to a mandate from Synod 1998, the Christian Reformed Church’s Interchurch Relations Committee conducted a study of Q&A 80 and the Roman Catholic Mass. Based on this study, Synod 2004 declared that “Q&A 80 can no longer be held in its current form as part of our confession.” Synod 2006 directed that Q&A 80 remain in the CRC’s text of the Heidelberg Catechism but that the last three paragraphs be placed in brackets to indicate that they do not accurately reflect the official teaching and practice of today’s Roman Catholic Church and are no longer confessionally binding on members of the CRC.
The Reformed Church in America retains the original full text, choosing to recognize that the catechism was written within a historical context which may not accurately describe the Roman Catholic Church’s current stance.