Scripture Reading:
#1. Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:10-11).
#2. Which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him (Matt. 7:9-11).
Prayer of Praise to God: Refer to the verses above and hymn below.
1 A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.
2 Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God's own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.
3 And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.
4 That Word above all earthly powers
no thanks to them abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever!
Reading of the Law: Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:9-21).
Silent Confession of Sin/Confession of Sin: I, a poor sinner, acknowledge before you, my God and Creator, that I have terribly and in many ways sinned against you, not only outwardly, but much more with inward blindness, unbelief, doubts, despondency, impatience, pride, covetousness, envy, hatred, malice, and other sinful affections, as you, my Lord and God, know well, and I cannot deeply enough deplore. But I repent of these things, and am sorry for them, and heartily ask you for mercy, for the sake of your beloved Son Jesus Christ. Amen.
Reading of the Gospel: For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 33
Question #88
Q. What is involved in genuine repentance or conversion?
A. Two things: the dying-away of the old self, and the rising-to-life of the new.
Question #89
Q. What is the dying-away of the old self?
A. To be genuinely sorry for sin and more and more to hate and run away from it.
Question #90
Q. What is the rising-to-life of the new self?
A. Wholehearted joy in God through Christ and a love and delight to live according to the will of God by doing every kind of good work.
Question #91
Q. What are good works?
A. Only those which are done out of true faith, conform to God’s law, and are done for God’s glory; and not those based on our own opinion or human tradition.
Prayer of Thanksgiving: Thank God that his steadfast love endures forever and for allowing us come to his throne boldly in prayer and that He will hear us.
Prayer of Supplication: Ask God to bless the children’s ministries at Westminster and to continue to bring new single and married people to our church.
Bible reading and commentary:
Read: 1 Corinthians 16:19-24
Paul concludes this letter by passing along his own greetings, as well as the greetings of foreign churches, warning hypocrites of God’s judgment, and assuring the Corinthian Christians of his unwavering love for them. Reformation commentators devote space to several of the peculiar details of this passage, including the references to the church in Aquila and Priscilla’s home, the “holy kiss”, and Paul’s signing the letter in his own hand. The first part of verse 22 is probably referring to the hypocrites who teach false doctrine and most agree that the phrase “Our Lord Come” is an eschatological prayer. This means that this prayer brings us to the very edge of eternity. The great line of division is between those who love Christ and those who do not. Brothers and sisters in Christ, Christ bore our curse and now we long for his return and when he does return he will not be your judge but your advocate.Unbeliever, the curse is still resting upon you. You need to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ or He will appear as your judge who will justly condemn you. Since Adam was our federal head he represented all mankind in the covenant of works, so all people are either still under the covenant of works or have been transferred to the covenant of grace when they came to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. You are either condemned by the covenant of works or saved by the covenant of grace.
Paul’s concluding words provide important lessons for the church in our time. Scholars praise the unity and mutual concern that existed between different local churches in Paul’s day. Moreover, Paul’s fervent and stubborn love for all of the Corinthians, even those whom he has strongly rebuked in the course of his epistle, should serve as a powerful reminder that Christian ministers are called to sacrifice everything for the good of the faithful in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Also from these final verses we can conclude that Paul was probably writing from Ephesus, which was the capital city of Asia. Paul spent time with Aquila and Priscilla in Ephesus when he was their guest and they also were in the tent making business which was the craft of Paul also. They also brought Apollos to their home and were teaching him, for he had not been fully instructed in Christ as described in the Book of Acts. Paul also gave them a warm commendation in the final chapter of Romans, when he says that they risked their necks for him, and that all Gentile churches are obliged to them.
In conclusion, verses 22-24 summarize four gospel themes: (1) only a relationship with Jesus can provide freedom from the curse; (2) obedience to the instructions contained in 1 Corinthians is an expression of “love for the Lord”; (3) the life of the church is sustained by “the grace of the Lord Jesus”; and (4) this grace leads to love for all who are in “Christ Jesus.” Like the Corinthians, our lives, our relationships, and our churches may be plagued by many problems. Yet the grace of the Lord and the fellowship of his people are available to anyone who is united to him by faith.
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: We all, with unveiled faces, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (1 Cor. 3:18).
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.