Preparing our Hearts to Worship
In an effort to help you prepare for the September 15, 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, “Growing in Joy”. The main Scriptures for the day are the Luke 2:8-11, 20.
(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 22 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 these other New Testament passages 3John 4, John 16:24, 15:11, Luke 15:7, 10; Matthew 13:44, Romans 14:17, 15:13, Acts 15:3.
From the Creeds and Confessions
Heidelberg Catechism Q52 What comfort is it to you that Christ shall come to judge the living and the dead? That in all my sorrows and persecutions, with uplifted head I look for the very same Person who before has offered himself for my sake to the tribunal of God, and has removed all curse from me, to come as Judge from heaven; who shall cast all his and my enemies into everlasting condemnation, but shall take me with all his chosen ones to himself into heavenly joy and glory.
Heidelberg Catechism Q58 58.What comfort do you derive from the article of the life everlasting? 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.
Heidelberg Catechism Q90 What is the quickening of the new man?
A. It is heartfelt joy in God through Christ, and with love and delight to live according to the will of God in all good works.
From the songs, hymns and spiritual songs of the Church
Joyful, Joyful we adore thee: Lyrics, Video
Joy (Rend Collective): Lyrics, Video
Joy to the World: Lyrics, Video
For Thoughtful Reflection, Prayer, or further Study
Read and reflect upon Spurgeon’s sermon “The Fruit of the Spirit – Joy.”
The Sermon will be available online on September 15, 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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