Preparing our hearts to Worship

PIn an effort to help you prepare for the March 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, “Jesus is coming back”. The main Scriptures for the day are Revelation 22:12-13.

(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 10 of Believe this 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 Revelation 20:7-21:4, 22:1-7, 12-13, 20.

From the Creeds and Confessions

Heidelberg Catechism Q45

How does Christ’s resurrection benefit us?

First, by his resurrection he hasovercome death, that he might make us partakers of the righteousness which he has obtained for us by his death; second, we also are raised up by his power to a new life; and third, the resurrection of Christ is to us a sure pledge of our blessed resurrection.

Heidelberg Catechism Q58

How does the article concerning “life everlasting” comfort you?

That, since I now feel in my heart the beginning of eternal joy, after this life I shall possess perfect bliss, such as eye has not seen nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man—therein to praise God forever.

Belgic Confession Article 37

Finally we believe, according to the Word of God, when the time appointed by the Lord (which is unknown to all creatures) is come, and the number of the elect complete, that our Lord Jesus Christ will come from heaven, corporally and visibly, as he ascended, with great glory and majesty to declare himself judge of the quick and the dead; burning this old world with fire and flame, to cleanse it.

And then all men will personally appear before this great judge, both men and women and children, that have been from the beginning of the world to the end thereof, being summoned by the voice of the archangel, and by the sound of the trumpet of God. For all the dead shall be raised out of the earth, and their soul joined and united with their proper bodies, in which they formerly lived. As for those who shall then be living, they shall not die as the others, but be changed in the twinkling of an eye, and from corruptible, become incorruptible.

Then the books (that is to say the consciences) shall be opened, and the dead judged according to what they shall have done in this world, whether it be good or evil. Nay, all men shall give an account of every idle word they have spoken, which the world only counts amusement and jest: and then the secrets and hypocrisy of men shall be disclosed and laid open before all. And therefore the consideration of this judgment, is justly terrible and dreadful to the wicked and ungodly, but most desirable and comfortable to the righteous and elect: because then their full deliverance shall be perfected, and there they shall receive the fruits of their labor and trouble which they have borne.

Their innocence shall be known to all, and they shall see the terrible vengeance which God shall execute on the wicked, who most cruelly persecuted, oppressed and tormented them in this world; and who shall be convicted by the testimony of their own consciences, and being immortal, shall be tormented in that everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels.

But on the contrary, the faithful and elect shall be crowned with glory and honor; and the Son of God will confess their names before God his Father, and his elect angels; all tears shall be wiped from their eyes; and their cause which is now condemned by many judges and magistrates, as heretical and impious, will then be known to be the cause of the Son of God. And for a gracious reward, the Lord will cause them to possess such a glory, as never entered into the heart of man to conceive. Therefore we expect that great day with a most ardent desire to the end that we may fully enjoy the promises of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. AMEN.

From the songs, hymns and spiritual songs of the Church

Come thou long expected Jesus: Lyrics, Video

My Hope is built on nothing less: Lyrics, Video

Higher Throne (Getty): Lyrics, Video

Sing to the King (Foote): Lyrics, Video

 

For Thoughtful Reflection, Prayer, or further Study

Read and reflect upon the way Revelation uses the word “behold

Read and reflect upon Sam Storms “Reflections on one reason why Jesus has not yet returned.”

Read and reflect upon the CS Lewis Institutes article The Second Coming of Christ.

The Sermon will be available online on March 10, 2019 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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