Family Worship Guide for July 31- August 6, 2022
Bible Passage for the Week
Deuteronomy 17:8-19
Luke 15:11-32
Ephesians 4
Psalm 33
Verse to Memorize
Genesis 2:15-17
Catechism Questions
Q. In what condition did God make Adam and Eve?
A. He made them holy and happy.
Q. What is a covenant?
A. An agreement between two or more persons.
Q. What covenant did God make with Adam?
A. The covenant of works.
Q. What was Adam bound to do by the covenant of works?
A. To obey God perfectly.
Q. What did God promise in the covenant of works?
A. To reward Adam with life if he obeyed him.
Q. What did God threaten in the covenant of works?
A. To punish Adam with death if he disobeyed.
Q. Did Adam keep the covenant of works?
A. No; he sinned against God.
People to Pray for:
Church: Holy Trinity Reformed Church
Pastor James Brown Jr.
Ministry: Small Groups
Civil Magistrate: Clark County Commissioners
Song Recommendations:
Deuteronomy 17:8-19
Luke 15:11-32
Ephesians 4
Psalm 33
Verse to Memorize
Genesis 2:15-17
Catechism Questions
Q. In what condition did God make Adam and Eve?
A. He made them holy and happy.
Q. What is a covenant?
A. An agreement between two or more persons.
Q. What covenant did God make with Adam?
A. The covenant of works.
Q. What was Adam bound to do by the covenant of works?
A. To obey God perfectly.
Q. What did God promise in the covenant of works?
A. To reward Adam with life if he obeyed him.
Q. What did God threaten in the covenant of works?
A. To punish Adam with death if he disobeyed.
Q. Did Adam keep the covenant of works?
A. No; he sinned against God.
People to Pray for:
Church: Holy Trinity Reformed Church
Pastor James Brown Jr.
Ministry: Small Groups
Civil Magistrate: Clark County Commissioners
Song Recommendations:
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of God’s unchanging love.
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Hither by Thy help I’m come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of God’s unchanging love.
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Hither by Thy help I’m come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus! Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free;
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me.
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love;
Leading onward, leading homeward, to Thy glorious rest above.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus! Spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore;
How He watches o’er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o’er them from the throne.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus! Love of every love the best:
’Tis an ocean vast of blessing, ’tis a haven sweet of rest.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus! ’Tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me.
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love;
Leading onward, leading homeward, to Thy glorious rest above.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus! Spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore;
How He watches o’er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o’er them from the throne.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus! Love of every love the best:
’Tis an ocean vast of blessing, ’tis a haven sweet of rest.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus! ’Tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!
Notes for Parents
Bible Passage for the Week
Our passage in Deuteronomy drives home our duty to obey lawful authorities and how those authorities are to obey God and his law. First, it speaks to the fact that there will need to be those who make judgements. Some cases are more difficult than others and will require a higher authority to answer. One of the functions of civil authority is to help bring peace between disputing parties. It is also a function of the elders in the church to keep peace in the church. There is authority in mediating these difficulties and in issuing judgements about crime (for the civil government) or sin (for church government). We need to heed these authorities. Respect their decisions and obey them. See the fearful punishment that God gave to those who rebel against authority.
Following this instruction regarding judges is instruction regarding the installation of a king and then instruction to the king (and all authorities) to read God’s law. God’s word is the standard by which we are to live. Wisdom is the ability to apply God’s word to your specific situation. It means knowing the right answer for the right time.
In Luke 15, we find the story often known as the parable of the prodigal son. There are three characters in this account though. The Father and two sons. When Jesus told this story it was both to highlight the merciful love of the Father and rebuke the pride of the Pharisees. They were the older son who despised the mercy of God. They thought much of themselves and little of God’s grace. Let us not be like them but come humbly to the Father relying on His good favor. Be intentional about confessing your sins with your family. As we live in a world gone crazy with immorality, it will be easy for us to develop a proud hypocrisy and to raise little Pharisees. The surest antidote against this is to confess your sins with each other often.
The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4 begins instructing us on how we are to live in light of the mercy and grace of God. Be done living in sin. There is no need to wallow in the mud like pigs when God has called us to purity. We are meant to stand firm in the faith. Do not fall for fads and chasing after all the vain opinions of men but we are to love each other and encourage each other in holiness.
Praise is becoming to the upright says Psalm 33. Hearing the truth should always move us to praise. Scripture says we are to sing. “Becoming” means appropriate and beautiful. Praise makes what is appropriate for us and it makes us beautiful. It adorns us. Some people do not sing because they are embarrassed, and they do not think they are cut out for it. But scripture says it is a perfect fit for you if you are upright.
Catechism/ Memory Verse
God is a covenant making and keeping God. He lowers himself or condescended to us to reveal himself. He enters into covenant with us. He is a great king, and we are his subjects. The covenant is governing document of our relationship with God. It defines how we are to live and what we may expect from God.
The first covenant was a covenant of works. Adam was commanded to obey God perfectly and he would live. If Adam disobeyed, he and all his posterity would die. Adam disobeyed and broke the covenant. His sin brought death upon us all and we are all guilty before God because of this. Adam is our representative in the covenant of works, and he represented us well for we all sin and fall short of the glory of God.
People to Pray for:
When Sovereign King Church first began, we were only a handful of people. To help us think through how public worship should look like, we would travel on Sunday mornings to some different churches. One of these churches was Holy Trinity Reformed Church. At the time, this church was not yet joined to the presbytery but one of the things that stood out to us then was the fear of God present in the worship and in particular the reverence during the Lord’s Supper. Now years later, we are both sister churches in Evangel Presbytery. The daughter and son-in-law of the church now at Sovereign King. It is good to be in communion with brothers and sisters not only of our own congregation but over other congregations. Let us pray that God preserves the bonds of peace and fellowship in the churches of our Presbytery. Pray that Holy Trinity will experience God’s strength and grace for growth and maturity. Pray that they maintain the fear of the Lord and that they are strengthened by his mercy.
Speaking of fellowship, please pray that God will use our small groups to grow our affection for each other and our Christian forbearance with each other. May God use them to grow us in faith, hope, and love.
Lastly, pray for the Clark County Commissioners. This office is rarely spoke of when one thinks of civil government and yet it has great power and influence over the county. Pray that those who hold this office will make wise decisions about zoning, property assessment, and other duties.
Church History Spotlight
Maltbie Davenport Babcock (August 3, 1858 – May 18, 1901) was a noted American clergyman and writer of the 19th century. He authored the familiar hymn, This is My Father's World, among others.
Be strong!
We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;
We have hard work to do, and loads to lift;
Shun not the struggle—face it; ’tis God’s gift.
Be strong!
Say not, “The days are evil. Who’s to blame?”
And fold the hands and acquiesce—oh shame!
Stand up, speak out, and bravely, in God’s name.
Be strong!
It matters not how deep intrenched the wrong.
How hard the battle goes, the day how long;
Faint not—fight on! To-morrow comes the song.
This is my Father's world: why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King; let the heavens ring! God reigns; let the earth be glad!
Highlight from the Westminster Shorter Catechism
What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: For the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation.
Brothers and Sisters, A lot of things come at us in this world. We often feel like we are caught in a whirlwind being hit from all sides with the debris that is flung up by the dust storm. In the midst of this, it is easy to lose sight of what God created you for. In love, He made us to reflect His glory and in doing so to find infinite joy. If you are His children in Christ, then nothing in this life is for your destruction. It is all designed and orchestrated by God to bring you to everlasting happiness found in Him. Whatever you face this week, trust in God and do not be afraid. Isaiah said that God is his strength and song. Trust your cares to him. He will empower you to stand firm in the storm and even sing a song during it. It is there you will find joy and God will be glorified.
Our passage in Deuteronomy drives home our duty to obey lawful authorities and how those authorities are to obey God and his law. First, it speaks to the fact that there will need to be those who make judgements. Some cases are more difficult than others and will require a higher authority to answer. One of the functions of civil authority is to help bring peace between disputing parties. It is also a function of the elders in the church to keep peace in the church. There is authority in mediating these difficulties and in issuing judgements about crime (for the civil government) or sin (for church government). We need to heed these authorities. Respect their decisions and obey them. See the fearful punishment that God gave to those who rebel against authority.
Following this instruction regarding judges is instruction regarding the installation of a king and then instruction to the king (and all authorities) to read God’s law. God’s word is the standard by which we are to live. Wisdom is the ability to apply God’s word to your specific situation. It means knowing the right answer for the right time.
In Luke 15, we find the story often known as the parable of the prodigal son. There are three characters in this account though. The Father and two sons. When Jesus told this story it was both to highlight the merciful love of the Father and rebuke the pride of the Pharisees. They were the older son who despised the mercy of God. They thought much of themselves and little of God’s grace. Let us not be like them but come humbly to the Father relying on His good favor. Be intentional about confessing your sins with your family. As we live in a world gone crazy with immorality, it will be easy for us to develop a proud hypocrisy and to raise little Pharisees. The surest antidote against this is to confess your sins with each other often.
The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4 begins instructing us on how we are to live in light of the mercy and grace of God. Be done living in sin. There is no need to wallow in the mud like pigs when God has called us to purity. We are meant to stand firm in the faith. Do not fall for fads and chasing after all the vain opinions of men but we are to love each other and encourage each other in holiness.
Praise is becoming to the upright says Psalm 33. Hearing the truth should always move us to praise. Scripture says we are to sing. “Becoming” means appropriate and beautiful. Praise makes what is appropriate for us and it makes us beautiful. It adorns us. Some people do not sing because they are embarrassed, and they do not think they are cut out for it. But scripture says it is a perfect fit for you if you are upright.
Catechism/ Memory Verse
God is a covenant making and keeping God. He lowers himself or condescended to us to reveal himself. He enters into covenant with us. He is a great king, and we are his subjects. The covenant is governing document of our relationship with God. It defines how we are to live and what we may expect from God.
The first covenant was a covenant of works. Adam was commanded to obey God perfectly and he would live. If Adam disobeyed, he and all his posterity would die. Adam disobeyed and broke the covenant. His sin brought death upon us all and we are all guilty before God because of this. Adam is our representative in the covenant of works, and he represented us well for we all sin and fall short of the glory of God.
People to Pray for:
When Sovereign King Church first began, we were only a handful of people. To help us think through how public worship should look like, we would travel on Sunday mornings to some different churches. One of these churches was Holy Trinity Reformed Church. At the time, this church was not yet joined to the presbytery but one of the things that stood out to us then was the fear of God present in the worship and in particular the reverence during the Lord’s Supper. Now years later, we are both sister churches in Evangel Presbytery. The daughter and son-in-law of the church now at Sovereign King. It is good to be in communion with brothers and sisters not only of our own congregation but over other congregations. Let us pray that God preserves the bonds of peace and fellowship in the churches of our Presbytery. Pray that Holy Trinity will experience God’s strength and grace for growth and maturity. Pray that they maintain the fear of the Lord and that they are strengthened by his mercy.
Speaking of fellowship, please pray that God will use our small groups to grow our affection for each other and our Christian forbearance with each other. May God use them to grow us in faith, hope, and love.
Lastly, pray for the Clark County Commissioners. This office is rarely spoke of when one thinks of civil government and yet it has great power and influence over the county. Pray that those who hold this office will make wise decisions about zoning, property assessment, and other duties.
Church History Spotlight
Maltbie Davenport Babcock (August 3, 1858 – May 18, 1901) was a noted American clergyman and writer of the 19th century. He authored the familiar hymn, This is My Father's World, among others.
Be strong!
We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;
We have hard work to do, and loads to lift;
Shun not the struggle—face it; ’tis God’s gift.
Be strong!
Say not, “The days are evil. Who’s to blame?”
And fold the hands and acquiesce—oh shame!
Stand up, speak out, and bravely, in God’s name.
Be strong!
It matters not how deep intrenched the wrong.
How hard the battle goes, the day how long;
Faint not—fight on! To-morrow comes the song.
This is my Father's world: why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King; let the heavens ring! God reigns; let the earth be glad!
Highlight from the Westminster Shorter Catechism
What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.
Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: For the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation.
Brothers and Sisters, A lot of things come at us in this world. We often feel like we are caught in a whirlwind being hit from all sides with the debris that is flung up by the dust storm. In the midst of this, it is easy to lose sight of what God created you for. In love, He made us to reflect His glory and in doing so to find infinite joy. If you are His children in Christ, then nothing in this life is for your destruction. It is all designed and orchestrated by God to bring you to everlasting happiness found in Him. Whatever you face this week, trust in God and do not be afraid. Isaiah said that God is his strength and song. Trust your cares to him. He will empower you to stand firm in the storm and even sing a song during it. It is there you will find joy and God will be glorified.