Preparing our Hearts to Worship
In an effort to help you prepare for the May 13, 2018, Sunday morning corporate worship gathering and to aid you in your own reflections on the God’s Story of Salvation through the Scriptures. I wanted to pose a few questions and provide a few resources to prayerfully consider over the coming days. Our sermon is entitled, “Being Faithful in times of exile & persecution” The main Scriptures for the day are Daniel 1-7. 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
Please read through Chapter 18 of The Story this week, this is a lightly edited selection of Scriptures from Daniel 1-3, 6 and Jeremiah 29-31 that seeks to maintain the broad story line of the Scriptures.
You can read or listen to them here.
You can listen to Chapter 18 of The Story here. (29 minutes)
(If you choose to read all of Daniel it will take roughly 1.25 hours.)
From the Creeds and Confessions
Heidelberg Catechism Q 94 What does the Lord require in the first commandment? That I, not wanting to endanger my own salvation, avoid and shun all idolatry, sorcery, superstitious rites, and prayer to saints or to other creatures. That I rightly know the only true God, trust him alone, and look to God for every good thing humbly and patiently, and love, fear, and honor God with all my heart. In short, that I give up anything rather than go against God’s will in any way.
Heidelberg Catechism Q 95 What is idolatry? Idolatry is having or inventing something in which one trusts in place of or alongside of the only true God, who has revealed himself in the Word.
Belgic Confession Article 24 Article 24: The Sanctification of Sinners We believe that this true faith, produced in us by the hearing of God’s Word and by the work of the Holy Spirit, regenerates us and makes us new creatures, causing us to live a new life and freeing us from the slavery of sin. Therefore, far from making people cold toward living in a pious and holy way, this justifying faith, quite to the contrary, so works within them that apart from it they will never do a thing out of love for God but only out of love for themselves and fear of being condemned. So then, it is impossible for this holy faith to be unfruitful in a human being, seeing that we do not speak of an empty faith but of what Scripture calls “faith working through love,” which moves people to do by themselves the works that God has commanded in the Word. These works, proceeding from the good root of faith, are good and acceptable to God, since they are all sanctified by God’s grace. Yet they do not count toward our justification— for by faith in Christ we are justified, even before we do good works.
From the songs, hymns and spiritual songs of the Church
My Deliverer (Tomlin): Lyrics, Video
You came to my rescue (Nockels): Lyrics, Video
Are your windows open to Jerusalem: Lyrics
Ye Servants of God Your Master proclaim: Lyrics, Video
He is able to deliver thee: Lyrics, Video
For Thoughtful Reflection, Prayer, or further Study
Watch The Bible Project’s video summary of Daniel.
What are the current places where society is calling Christians to compromise their faith? What does it mean to live faithfully in these issues?
Explore Babylonian Culture and History here.
The Sermon will be available online on May 13, 2018 at 12:30 pm.
Disclaimer: Reference to a particular article or website does not constitute endorsement or agreement with everything in that article or on that website.
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