Preparing our Hearts to Worship
Spurring one another to growth
In an effort to help you prepare for the June 25th, 2017, Sunday morning corporate worship gathering and to aid you in your own reflections on the Life of Elijah. I wanted to pose a few questions and provide a few resources to prayerfully consider over the coming days. Our sermon is entitled, “Spurring one another on to growth”. The main Scripture for the day is 1Kings 18:1-16. The other passages are either referenced in the message or provide additional insight for reflection.
(Pick and choose from the many resources and options, which I have tried to make available for your devotional life.)
From the Scriptures
Read and prayerfully reflect upon some or all of these Scriptures. Ask God to shape your life and your church’s life to match the heart of God:
Read or listen to 1Kings 18:1-16, 2Timothy 1:7, Proverbs 27:17, Hebrews 10:19-24.
(You can read or listen to all of these passages in a variety of translations at Bible.is.)
From the Creeds and Confessions
Heidelberg Catechism Question 54
Q54. What do you believe concerning the holy catholic Christian church?
A54. I believe that the Son of God,1
out of the whole human race, 2
from the beginning of the world to its end, 3
gathers, defends, and preserves for himself, 4
by his Spirit and Word, 5
in the unity of the true faith, 6
a church chosen to everlasting life. 7
And I believe that I am 8
and forever shall remain a member of it. 9
Heidelberg Catechism Question 55
Q55. What do you understand by the communion of saints?
A55. First, that believers, all and everyone, as members of Christ have communion with him and share in all his treasures and gifts. 1
Second, that everyone is duty-bound to use his gifts readily and cheerfully for the benefit and well-being of the other members.
2. Rom 12:4-8; 1 Cor 12:20-27; 13:1-7; Phil 2:4-8.
Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 26
CHAPTER XXVI.
Of the Communion of the Saints.
- All saints that are united to Jesus Christ their head, by his Spirit and by faith, have fellowship with him in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory: and, being united to one another in love, they have communion in each other’s gifts and graces, and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, as to conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.
- Saints by profession, are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification; as also in relieving each other in outward things, according to their several abilities and necessities. Which communion, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended unto all those who, in every place, call upon the name of the Lord Jesus.
- This communion which the saints have with Christ, doth not make them in any wise partakers of the substance of the Godhead, or to be equal with Christ in any respect: either of which to affirm, is impious and blasphemous. Nor doth their communion one with another as saints, take away or infringe the title or property which each man hath in his goods and possessions.
From the songs, hymns and spiritual songs of the Church
My life is in you, Lord: Lyrics, Video
Faith begins in letting go: Lyrics
God of grace and God of glory: Lyrics, Video
For Thoughtful Reflection, Prayer, or further Study
In what ways is Obadiah faithful to God?
In what ways is Obadiah’s faithfulness to God incomplete?
Where are areas of your life where you may need to grow in being a witness for Christ?
How have others helped to spur you on your Christian witness?
How do you help others grow in their Christian life?
Read and reflect on Spurgeon’s Obadiah and Elijah
Read and reflect on Elijah and Obadiah
Read and reflect on Ligonier’s Sharpening One Another
Read and Reflect on this J Hampton Keathley III’s article: Elijah ministers to Obadiah
The Sermon will be available online on June 25, 2017 at 12:30 pm.
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