Preparing our Hearts to Worship
In an effort to help you prepare for the February 10, 2019, Sunday morning corporate worship gathering and to aid you in your own reflections on What God wants us to Believe, Do, and Become. I wanted to pose a few questions and provide a few resources to prayerfully consider over the coming days. Our sermon is entitled, “The Church is God’s Plan”. The main Scriptures for the day are 1Peter 2:9-12.
(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 6 of Believethis week, this is an edited selection of Scriptures from the NIV that seeks to show how certain beliefs, ways of living and character qualities are elaborated upon throughout all of Scripture.
You may also like to read and reflect upon 1Peter 2:9-12, Dt 10:15, Is 43:20-21, Ex 19:6, Num 18:7, Ps 30:4, 1Chr 16:4, Josh 18:7, Heb 11:10, Lk 9:23.
From the Creeds and Confessions
Heidelberg Catechism Q54 What do you believe concerning the holy catholic Church? That the Son of God, out of the whole human race, from the beginning to the end of the world, gathers, defends, and preserves for himself, by his Spirit and Word, in the unity of the true faith, a Church chosen to everlasting life; and that I am, and forever shall remain, a living member thereof.
Westminster Confession 19.3 Beside this law, commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel, as a church under age, ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, his graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits; and partly, holding forth divers instructions of moral duties. All which ceremonial laws are now abrogated, under the new testament.
Belgic Confession, Article 27 Article 27: Of the Catholic Christian Church. We believe and profess, one catholic or universal Church, which is an holy congregation, of true Christian believers, all expecting their salvation in Jesus Christ, being washed by his blood, sanctified and sealed by the Holy Ghost. This Church hath been from the beginning of the world, and will be to the end thereof; which is evident from this, that Christ is an eternal King, which, without subjects, cannot be. And this holy Church is preserved or supported by God, against the rage of the whole world; though she sometimes (for a while) appears very small, and in the eyes of men, to be reduced to nothing: as during the perilous reign of Ahab, the Lord reserved unto him seven thousand men, who had not bowed their knees to Baal. Furthermore, this holy Church is not confined, bound, or limited to a certain place or to certain persons, but is spread and dispersed over the whole world; and yet is joined and united with heart and will, by the power of faith, in one and the same spirit.
From the songs, hymns and spiritual songs of the Church
Come People of the Risen King (Getty): Lyrics, Video
All Around the World (Getty): Lyrics, Video
All hail the Power of Jesus Name (PH 471):Lyrics, Video
Church of God, elect and glorious (LUYH 252):Lyrics, Video
For Thoughtful Reflection, Prayer, or further Study
Read and thoughtful reflect this first things article “Why are the Jews Chosen?”
Read and reflect upon a jewish perspective, “Are the Jewish People Chosen?”
Consider what other great pastors through the ages have said about 1Peter 2:9-10.
The Sermon will be available online on February 10, 2019 at 12:30 pm. edit
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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