Family Worship Guide for the Week of July 17-23rd 2022
Bible Passage for the Week
Deuteronomy 16:18-21
Matthew 21:23-32
Ephesians 2
Verse to Memorize
2 Timothy 3:14-17
Catechism Questions
Q. Where do you learn how to love and obey God?
A. In the Bible.
Q. What is the Bible?
A. The Bible is the word of God. It is eternally true and applicable for all of life.
Q. How many books are in the Bible?
A. There are 66 books contained in the Old and New Testaments which make up the Bible.
Q. Who wrote the Bible?
A. Holy men who were taught by the Holy Spirit.
People to Pray for:
Church: Clearnote Church
Pastor David Abu-sara
Ministry: Daniel Stephen Courney
Civil Magistrate: Indiana State Police
Deuteronomy 16:18-21
Matthew 21:23-32
Ephesians 2
Verse to Memorize
2 Timothy 3:14-17
Catechism Questions
Q. Where do you learn how to love and obey God?
A. In the Bible.
Q. What is the Bible?
A. The Bible is the word of God. It is eternally true and applicable for all of life.
Q. How many books are in the Bible?
A. There are 66 books contained in the Old and New Testaments which make up the Bible.
Q. Who wrote the Bible?
A. Holy men who were taught by the Holy Spirit.
People to Pray for:
Church: Clearnote Church
Pastor David Abu-sara
Ministry: Daniel Stephen Courney
Civil Magistrate: Indiana State Police
Song Recommendations:
Psalm 1 Day and Night
Psalm 1 Day and Night
Thy Word
Bible Passage for the Week
There has been a movement within some sectors of the larger church to promote what is often called “social justice.” Social justice is focused on the distribution of wealth, opportunity, and power with a desire to correct so called inequalities in this distribution. As our culture drinks from marxists philosophies such as critical theory and intersectionality, victimhood becomes celebrated because to be a victim is to be powerful. Victims are placed at the grand intersection where wealth and power can now flow to you. This is however an abuse of justice. This distortion of justice which is causing divisions in the body of Christ, might make us tempted to disregard any emphasis on justice.
Our passage in Deuteronomy keeps us from falling into that ditch. God is concerned with what is just. He taught His people to work for a justice and He defines what is just.
In the Old Testament, He commanded the people to appoint judges. These judges were to make righteous judgments. They were not to be partial or to take bribes. This is instructive for our civil magistrates but also for us as individuals in whatever calling God places us. God gives all of us places where we have responsibility and authority. We might not all be civil magistrates or church authorities but we often make decisions that impact other people. We ought to guard against an unjust partiality in our own decisions. Fathers needs to make sure that when they discipline their children that they are not just indiscriminately meting out punishment without first getting to the nature of the offense. This also goes for mothers. We are tempted to hear the kids whining or bickering and we just want it to stop. But we should be just by finding out what is actually going on. Is one child being sinned against by the other? It would not be just to mediate out punishment to the innocent party.
Speaking of unjust authorities, in the gospel of Matthew, the wicked leaders of the people confronted Jesus. The Chief Priests and the elders saw that Jesus was doing good work. They saw his miracles. They heard the soundness of his teaching. But they were threatened by His authority. Why? Because they were using their authority for their own greedy gain. And in order to protect themselves, they demanded to know by what authority did Jesus work. They should have known already. They should have known that Jesus is Authority. But they aren’t really concerned with knowing the right answer. They are trying to trap Jesus. Jesus turns the tables on them. He asks them a simple question. By what authority did John the Baptist do what he did?
The chief priests and elders couldn’t answer what they really thought because they were people pleasers. They were manipulators who couldn’t afford to offend the people. If they say, John had no authority, the people would revolt. But if they said that John had authority from God, then everyone will want to know why they didn’t believe John. The fact that they couldn’t give an answer showed that they were not really interested in knowing the right answer from Christ.
They didn’t believe John and so they won’t believe Christ. Christ won’t dignify them with an answer. But He does begin to rebuke them. He said that the worst of sinners believed John and repented. But you who are supposed to be godly, aren’t even ashamed by them into repenting yourselves.
Be on guard against pride and hypocrisy. Don’t let your familiarity with church, the things of God, and the gospel keep you from believing Christ’s authority. Don’t let your children assume that all the evil is just out there in the culture or in the system. No, we are sinners who must repent.
Ephesians 2 must be true of us. We are saved by grace through faith. It is not of works. Teach your children the fear of the Lord. And teach them the gospel. Don’t assume that is understood.
Catechism/ Memory Verse
This week our catechism questions and our memory verses deal with the authority of the Word of God. The Bible is the Highest authority we have. It teaches us what God demands of us and His good work of salvation for us. The Bible is eternally true and applicable for all of life. Everything we do as a Church must stand firmly on the word of God. Build your home on this sure foundation. Are there areas in your thinking and life that you leave untouched by scripture? Repent.
People to Pray for:
Clearnote Church is a sister church in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are roughly the same size as Sovereign King Church. They are in the process of installing an associate pastor to help Pastor David Abu-sara. Pray that God will use this new pastor to help strengthen the congregation and to allow for more growth. Pray that their influence grows in Indy.
Daniel Courney is a foreign missionary that we financially support as a church. His main work is in Nepal but he often travels to other countries to preach the gospel. He recently preached in Ukraine for example. Pray for his safety and for the success of his work. Pray that God will bring Nepal into the Church.
There has been a movement within some sectors of the larger church to promote what is often called “social justice.” Social justice is focused on the distribution of wealth, opportunity, and power with a desire to correct so called inequalities in this distribution. As our culture drinks from marxists philosophies such as critical theory and intersectionality, victimhood becomes celebrated because to be a victim is to be powerful. Victims are placed at the grand intersection where wealth and power can now flow to you. This is however an abuse of justice. This distortion of justice which is causing divisions in the body of Christ, might make us tempted to disregard any emphasis on justice.
Our passage in Deuteronomy keeps us from falling into that ditch. God is concerned with what is just. He taught His people to work for a justice and He defines what is just.
In the Old Testament, He commanded the people to appoint judges. These judges were to make righteous judgments. They were not to be partial or to take bribes. This is instructive for our civil magistrates but also for us as individuals in whatever calling God places us. God gives all of us places where we have responsibility and authority. We might not all be civil magistrates or church authorities but we often make decisions that impact other people. We ought to guard against an unjust partiality in our own decisions. Fathers needs to make sure that when they discipline their children that they are not just indiscriminately meting out punishment without first getting to the nature of the offense. This also goes for mothers. We are tempted to hear the kids whining or bickering and we just want it to stop. But we should be just by finding out what is actually going on. Is one child being sinned against by the other? It would not be just to mediate out punishment to the innocent party.
Speaking of unjust authorities, in the gospel of Matthew, the wicked leaders of the people confronted Jesus. The Chief Priests and the elders saw that Jesus was doing good work. They saw his miracles. They heard the soundness of his teaching. But they were threatened by His authority. Why? Because they were using their authority for their own greedy gain. And in order to protect themselves, they demanded to know by what authority did Jesus work. They should have known already. They should have known that Jesus is Authority. But they aren’t really concerned with knowing the right answer. They are trying to trap Jesus. Jesus turns the tables on them. He asks them a simple question. By what authority did John the Baptist do what he did?
The chief priests and elders couldn’t answer what they really thought because they were people pleasers. They were manipulators who couldn’t afford to offend the people. If they say, John had no authority, the people would revolt. But if they said that John had authority from God, then everyone will want to know why they didn’t believe John. The fact that they couldn’t give an answer showed that they were not really interested in knowing the right answer from Christ.
They didn’t believe John and so they won’t believe Christ. Christ won’t dignify them with an answer. But He does begin to rebuke them. He said that the worst of sinners believed John and repented. But you who are supposed to be godly, aren’t even ashamed by them into repenting yourselves.
Be on guard against pride and hypocrisy. Don’t let your familiarity with church, the things of God, and the gospel keep you from believing Christ’s authority. Don’t let your children assume that all the evil is just out there in the culture or in the system. No, we are sinners who must repent.
Ephesians 2 must be true of us. We are saved by grace through faith. It is not of works. Teach your children the fear of the Lord. And teach them the gospel. Don’t assume that is understood.
Catechism/ Memory Verse
This week our catechism questions and our memory verses deal with the authority of the Word of God. The Bible is the Highest authority we have. It teaches us what God demands of us and His good work of salvation for us. The Bible is eternally true and applicable for all of life. Everything we do as a Church must stand firmly on the word of God. Build your home on this sure foundation. Are there areas in your thinking and life that you leave untouched by scripture? Repent.
People to Pray for:
Clearnote Church is a sister church in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are roughly the same size as Sovereign King Church. They are in the process of installing an associate pastor to help Pastor David Abu-sara. Pray that God will use this new pastor to help strengthen the congregation and to allow for more growth. Pray that their influence grows in Indy.
Daniel Courney is a foreign missionary that we financially support as a church. His main work is in Nepal but he often travels to other countries to preach the gospel. He recently preached in Ukraine for example. Pray for his safety and for the success of his work. Pray that God will bring Nepal into the Church.
Te Deum laudamus,
Latin for 'Thee, O God, we praise') is a Latin Christian hymn traditionally ascribed to AD 387 authorship, but with antecedents that place it much earlier. It is sometimes known as the "Ambrosian Hymn.”
The hymn follows the outline of the Apostles' Creed, mixing a poetic vision of the heavenly liturgy with its declaration of faith. Calling on the name of God immediately, the hymn proceeds to name all those who praise and venerate God, from the hierarchy of heavenly creatures to those Christian faithful already in heaven to the Church spread throughout the world.
The hymn then returns to its credal formula, naming Christ and recalling his birth, suffering and death, his resurrection and glorification. At this point the hymn turns to the subjects declaiming the praise, both the universal Church and the singer in particular, asking for mercy on past sins, protection from future sin, and the hoped-for reunification with the elect.
The petitions at the end of the hymn are a selection of verses from the book of Psalms.
In addition to being a hymn it also used a prayer. Pastor Joseph used it this past Sunday for our opening prayer.
We praise you, O God; we acclaim you as Lord; all creation worships you, the Father everlasting. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, the cherubim and seraphim, sing in endless praise: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. The glorious company of apostles praise you. The noble fellowship of prophets praise you. The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:
Father, of majesty unbounded, your true and only Son, worthy of all praise, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide. You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father. When you took our flesh to set us free you humbly chose the Virgin’s womb. You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God’s right hand in glory. We believe that you will come to be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting. Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance; govern and uphold them now and always. Day by day we bless you; we praise your Name for ever. Keep us today, Lord, from all sin; have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy. Lord, show us your love and mercy, for we have put our trust in you. In you, Lord, is our hope; let us never be put to shame. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the eternal son of God who reigns with you Father and the Holy Spirit One God forever and ever. Amen
Below are a few musical versions of it. One more traditional and another more contemporary. The last one is latin gregorian chant. This is what it may sounded like a thousand years ago.
Latin for 'Thee, O God, we praise') is a Latin Christian hymn traditionally ascribed to AD 387 authorship, but with antecedents that place it much earlier. It is sometimes known as the "Ambrosian Hymn.”
The hymn follows the outline of the Apostles' Creed, mixing a poetic vision of the heavenly liturgy with its declaration of faith. Calling on the name of God immediately, the hymn proceeds to name all those who praise and venerate God, from the hierarchy of heavenly creatures to those Christian faithful already in heaven to the Church spread throughout the world.
The hymn then returns to its credal formula, naming Christ and recalling his birth, suffering and death, his resurrection and glorification. At this point the hymn turns to the subjects declaiming the praise, both the universal Church and the singer in particular, asking for mercy on past sins, protection from future sin, and the hoped-for reunification with the elect.
The petitions at the end of the hymn are a selection of verses from the book of Psalms.
In addition to being a hymn it also used a prayer. Pastor Joseph used it this past Sunday for our opening prayer.
We praise you, O God; we acclaim you as Lord; all creation worships you, the Father everlasting. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, the cherubim and seraphim, sing in endless praise: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. The glorious company of apostles praise you. The noble fellowship of prophets praise you. The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:
Father, of majesty unbounded, your true and only Son, worthy of all praise, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide. You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father. When you took our flesh to set us free you humbly chose the Virgin’s womb. You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God’s right hand in glory. We believe that you will come to be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting. Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance; govern and uphold them now and always. Day by day we bless you; we praise your Name for ever. Keep us today, Lord, from all sin; have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy. Lord, show us your love and mercy, for we have put our trust in you. In you, Lord, is our hope; let us never be put to shame. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the eternal son of God who reigns with you Father and the Holy Spirit One God forever and ever. Amen
Below are a few musical versions of it. One more traditional and another more contemporary. The last one is latin gregorian chant. This is what it may sounded like a thousand years ago.