Preparing our Hearts to Worship
In an effort to help you prepare for the June 30, 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, “God’s Reign and Rule”. The main Scriptures for the day are the Psalm 2.
(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 and reflect upon Psalm 2.
You may also like to read and reflect upon these other New Testament passages: Revelation 6:15-16, Romans 13.
From the Creeds and Confessions
Belgic Confession Article 2
Article 2: By what means God is made known unto us.
We know him by two means: first, by the creation, preservation and government of the universe; which is before our eyes as a most elegant book, wherein all creatures, great and small, are as so many characters leading us to contemplate the invisible things of God, namely, his power and divinity, as the apostle Paul saith, Romans 1:20. All which things are sufficient to convince men, and leave them without excuse. Secondly, he makes himself more clearly and fully known to us by his holy and divine Word, that is to say, as far as is necessary for us to know in this life, to his glory and our salvation.
Belgic Confession Article 36
Article 36: Of Magistrates.
We believe that our gracious God, because of the depravity of mankind, hath appointed kings, princes and magistrates, willing that the world should be governed by certain laws and policies; to the end that the dissoluteness of men might be restrained, and all things carried on among them with good order and decency. For this purpose he hath invested the magistracy with the sword, for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the protection of them that do well. And their office is, not only to have regard unto, and watch for the welfare of the civil state; but also that they protect the sacred ministry; and thus may remove and prevent all idolatry and false worship (see note below); that the kingdom of anti-Christ may be thus destroyed and the kingdom of Christ promoted.
They must therefore countenance the preaching of the Word of the gospel everywhere, that God may be honored and worshipped by everyone, of what state, quality, or condition so ever he may be, to subject himself to the magistrates; to pay tribute, to show due honor and respect to them, and to obey them in all things which are not repugnant to the Word of God; to supplicate for them in their prayers, that God may rule and guide them in all their ways, and that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. Wherefore we detest the Anabaptists and other seditious people, and in general all those who reject the higher powers and magistrates, and would subvert justice, introduce community of goods, and confound that decency and good order, which God hath established among men.
From the songs, hymns and spiritual songs of the Church
The Lord Reigns: Lyrics, Video
For Your Name (Hillsong): Lyrics, Video
God He Reigns (Hillsong): Lyrics, Video
Let Your Kingdom Come (Sovereign Grace): Lyrics, Video
For Thoughtful Reflection, Prayer, or further Study
Read and reflect upon Herbert Titus’ Biblical Principles of Law.
Read and reflect upon David Guzik’s Study Guide for Psalm 2.
The Sermon will be available online on June 30, 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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