Preparing our Hearts to Worship

In an effort to help you prepare for the Sunday morning corporate worship  gathering on January 10, 2016 and to aid you in your own reflections about church health and vitality, I wanted to pose a few questions and provide a few resources to prayerfully consider over the coming days. Our sermon is about the centrality of the Word of God and the scriptures below are all referenced in the message. Consider engaging in one or more of the following devotional exercises prior to Sunday morning:

1. Read the Belgic Confession Articles 3, 4, 5, 6 and/or 7. Consider these Questions:
   1. Why is the Bible a “holy and divine” writing?
   2. What does it mean for the Scripture to “regulate, found and establish” our faith?
   3. What role does fulfilled prophecy have in authenticating the Scripture as God’s Word?
   4. For what purpose can the apocryphal books be read? What limits do they have?
   5. Since human writings are fallible, what benefits do confessions or catechisms bring to a believer? Is it wrong to consult these works for help in understanding the Bible?
2. Read and pray Psalm 119, 2Tim 3:15-17, 2Peter 1:20-21, and/or Romans 15:4 for yourself and our congregation.
3. Read, Sing or meditate upon any of these songs and hymns:
   1. “The Word” based on Hebrews 4:12 from Seeds Family Worship here
   2. “Speak, O Lord” by the Getty’s. Lyrics and video here
   3. “Teach Me, O Lord, Your Way of Truth” (PH276) or on youtube here
   4. “Holy Spirit, Mighty God” (PH278)
   5. “The Lord Almighty Spoke the Word” (PH283)
4. Write a paragraph describing what a church centered on the Word of God would look like. What kinds of things would they do, not do? What element would be present in their worship? How would disputes and decisions be made?