The Guide for the Week
October 8-14th 2023 AD.
19th Sunday After Pentecost
Bible Passage for the Week
Proverbs 11:1-11
Genesis 22:1-3
James 2
Psalm 93
Verse to Memorize
John 3:16
Catechism Questions
Q. What are the Two Greatest Commands
A. 1. You shall love the Lord with your will all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
2. You shall love your Neighbor as yourself.
Q. Why should you love God?
A. Because He has first loved me.
People to Pray for:
Church: Mt Moriah Baptist Church
Pastor Jon Hancock
Ministry: All Hallows Reformation Festival
Civil Magistrate: Clark County Deputy Prosecutor
Chris Carroll
Notes for Parents:
Proverbs 11:1-11
You've heard this cliché before: "The only things certain in life are death and taxes." Death is an enemy we all will face, unless the Lord returns. It's the one commonality across the globe. Poor men, rich men, fat men, skinny men, muscular men, bold men, cowardly men, wicked men, and righteous men — all must taste death. The Bible says it's been appointed once for man to die, and then comes the judgment. We don't like to think about death, and in our era, we've sanitized it to keep it at a distance. This trend partly explains the rising popularity of cremation and "life celebration" services over traditional burials and funerals. Death is painful. Ignoring it offers no relief. It's inescapable. However, acknowledging its reality and living in light of it is possible. The proverbs today mention the death of both the wicked and the righteous, starting with this reminder: "Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death." Another cliché is, "You never see a hearse towing a U-Haul." All the things the worldly pursue cannot combat this enemy. Righteousness is the only defense against death.
"When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, and the hope of strong men evaporates."
We all wish to raise our sons to be strong men. Physical fitness, exercise, and diet are essential. You should teach your sons to care for their bodies. Yet, even the best physical conditioning and strength training won't suffice on the day the Lord calls us home. Righteousness is the only genuine deliverance.
The problem is that we aren't righteous. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. That's why death exists in the first place.
However, there's hope. Christ Jesus is righteous, and through faith, we're declared righteous by God the Father due to Jesus's righteousness. If you're in Christ Jesus, you can face death with hope, confident in your ultimate deliverance.
Genesis 22:1-11
#1 Genesis 22:2 He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.”
The first use of the word love in the Bible is the love of a father for a son. And the layers of this use go deep. There is not any greater love on earth than the love of a father for his son. And yet Abraham was called to an even higher love. A love of a son for The Father. Love of God was supreme and Abraham showed it through his obedience. With the love of God supreme, God preserved the son to his father. And all of it reveals the Amazing love that God has for his people that he did not spare his Son.
Application:
1. Fathers love your sons. It is the highest earthly or natural love there is. What a shame that Satan comes to destroy especially this love and far too many fathers allow this to happen.
2. Fathers love God more than your sons. Love the honor and glory of God most. Be willing to discipline your sons and make it known that as much as you love them, you love God more.
3. God will be pleased with this love and the general promise is that those who love God first have their children preserved.
James 2
This chapter is often a challenging passage to interpret correctly. On the surface, it seems to contradict the Protestant Reformation’s cry of "Justification by faith alone." However, this is only a superficial interpretation. James is not contradicting other scriptures, especially significant passages like Ephesians 2, which states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
God chose us in Christ before time began. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross, thereby purchasing our redemption and atoning for our sins. The Holy Spirit calls us out of darkness and changes our hearts (regeneration).
Those whom God calls out of darkness and regenerates, He justifies. That is, He declares or considers them righteous, pardoning their sins. We are justified by God's grace alone, and faith alone is the instrument through which we grasp this grace. Moreover, this faith is a gift from God. In other words, we are justified by faith alone.
So, what does James mean when he speaks of works? James is describing the nature of true faith. There's a genuine faith that receives and relies on Christ alone for righteousness, and there's a dead faith, which isn't genuine faith at all. A dead faith is merely an outward expression. We all have known many who have professed faith, but they turned away from Christ and proved they weren't true believers.
James discusses the essence of genuine faith. Authentic faith is the kind that leads believers to love and obey God. The Westminster Confession of Faith articulates it this way: “Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and His righteousness, is the sole instrument of justification: yet, it is not isolated in the person justified but is always accompanied by all other saving graces. It is not a dead faith but works through love.”
Faith alone saves us, but that faith is never isolated. Genuine faith produces works. This is the only kind of faith that God gives that will justify.
Psalm 93
"Life comes at you fast, bro!" We all know what it's like to wake up one day expecting the ordinary, only to be blindsided by events that make an impact lasting far beyond just that day. Unexpected events can sweep away the mundane, leaving you feeling as though you're treading water, struggling to keep your head above the surface. In this life, we will face troubles. They often come when we least expect them. However, God is never blown off course.
Psalm 93 is a short but powerful hymn of praise that declares the Lord's majesty and eternal reign over the world. The psalmist emphasizes the strength and stability of God's rule, likening it to the vastness and power of the seas. Despite the chaotic forces of nature, God's throne stands firm, and His rule is everlasting. The psalm reminds us of the trustworthiness of God's decrees and the holiness that characterizes His house.
God is in control. He's not caught off guard by what happens. He is the steady, unmovable foundation amidst all the storms of life. You can trust Him. He is your rock and redeemer.
Catechism/ Memory Verse
Love. It’s the one virtue that will outlast this world. And that’s because it predates this world. God the Father loved God the Son for eternity past. This is because God is love. And therefore it is the highest of our virtues and duties. We must love God and our neighbor.
How to Pray for Those we are praying for:
Mt. Moriah Baptist Church and Pastor Jon Hancock
Pray for growth and maturity in the Lord. Pray for them as they reach their community. They are also going to have a booth at our festival.
All Hallow’s Reformation Festival
Heavenly Father,
We come before You in anticipation of the All Hallow’s Reformation Festival. Firstly, we pray for favorable weather that would allow us to gather and celebrate without hindrance.
We lift up to You the volunteers who have dedicated their time and energy to this event. May they remain in good health, and may their efforts shine as a testament to both each other and our community.
For the vendors and performers who aren't part of our church, we pray that they find encouragement in our gathering. Let the truth of the gospel resonate with them, so they may come to a fuller understanding of Your love and grace.
Finally, for the attendees, we ask that they hear and receive the gospel's message. Let them be strengthened in their faith, and we pray for a bountiful turnout from our community, that many might come and be blessed.
In Jesus' name, we pray.
Amen.
Clark County Deputy Prosecutor Chris Carroll
Heavenly Father,
We lift up to You Clark County Deputy Prosecutor Chris Carroll. As he serves in a demanding court environment, dealing with numerous low-level felonies, grant him wisdom, patience, and discernment. We recognize his heart and dedication, not only in his professional responsibilities but also in his personal and family life. May Your comforting hand be upon him, and may he feel Your presence in every challenge.
Lord, we earnestly pray that Chris might come to know the grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ. May he find in Jesus a rock and refuge, and may his work be guided by Your law and carried out for the glory of Christ. Please strengthen him in his family responsibilities, and bless their home with love, understanding, and unity.
In Jesus' name, we pray.
Amen.
Church History Spotlight
Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln
9 October 1253
Had the leaders of the thirteenth century heeded this preacher, many of the disasters of the following three centuries might have been avoided. Robert was a peasant lad from Suffolk, born about 1175. He distinguished himself at Oxford in law, medicine, languages, natural sciences, and theology. He became what is now called Chancellor of Oxford University.
In 1235, he was elected Bishop of Lincoln, in area the largest diocese in England. He promptly visited all the churches in the diocese and quickly removed many of the prominent clergy because they were neglectng their pastoral duties. He vigorously opposed the practice by which the Pope appointed Italians as absentee clergy for English churches (collecting salaries from said churches without ever setting foot in the country). He insisted that his priests spend their time in the service of their people, in prayer, and in study. He went on a pilgrimage to Rome, where he spoke out boldly against ecclesiastical abuses. Back in England, he spoke against unlawful usurpations of power by the monarch, and was one of those present at the signing of the Magna Carta.
Grosseteste's scholarly writings embraced many fields of learning. He translated into Latin the Ethics of Aristotle and the theological works of John of Damascus and of the fifth-century writer known as Dionysius the Areopagite. He was skilled in poetry, music, architecture, mathematics, astronomy, optics, and physics (one of his pupils was Roger Bacon). His writings on the first chapter of Genesis include an interesting anticipation of modern cosmological ideas. (He read that the first thing created was light, and said that the universe began with pure energy exploding from a point source.) He knew Hebrew and Greek, and his Biblical studies were a notable contribution to the scholarship of the day.
A Prayer thanking God for Robert Grosseteste
O God our heavenly Father, who raised up your faithful servant Robert Grosseteste to be a bishop and pastor in your Church and to feed your flock: Give to all pastors abundant gifts of your Holy Spirit, that they may minister in your household as true servants of Christ and stewards of your divine mysteries; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Upcoming Events:
Morning Study Hour With Pastor 6-7AM
October 8 New Members Class
October 11 Women’s Bible Study
October 15 Genevan Pub
October 18 King’s Men and Daughters of the King
October 28 All Hallows Reformation Festival
November 3-4 Men’s Retreat
Proverbs 11:1-11
Genesis 22:1-3
James 2
Psalm 93
Verse to Memorize
John 3:16
Catechism Questions
Q. What are the Two Greatest Commands
A. 1. You shall love the Lord with your will all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
2. You shall love your Neighbor as yourself.
Q. Why should you love God?
A. Because He has first loved me.
People to Pray for:
Church: Mt Moriah Baptist Church
Pastor Jon Hancock
Ministry: All Hallows Reformation Festival
Civil Magistrate: Clark County Deputy Prosecutor
Chris Carroll
Notes for Parents:
Proverbs 11:1-11
You've heard this cliché before: "The only things certain in life are death and taxes." Death is an enemy we all will face, unless the Lord returns. It's the one commonality across the globe. Poor men, rich men, fat men, skinny men, muscular men, bold men, cowardly men, wicked men, and righteous men — all must taste death. The Bible says it's been appointed once for man to die, and then comes the judgment. We don't like to think about death, and in our era, we've sanitized it to keep it at a distance. This trend partly explains the rising popularity of cremation and "life celebration" services over traditional burials and funerals. Death is painful. Ignoring it offers no relief. It's inescapable. However, acknowledging its reality and living in light of it is possible. The proverbs today mention the death of both the wicked and the righteous, starting with this reminder: "Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death." Another cliché is, "You never see a hearse towing a U-Haul." All the things the worldly pursue cannot combat this enemy. Righteousness is the only defense against death.
"When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish, and the hope of strong men evaporates."
We all wish to raise our sons to be strong men. Physical fitness, exercise, and diet are essential. You should teach your sons to care for their bodies. Yet, even the best physical conditioning and strength training won't suffice on the day the Lord calls us home. Righteousness is the only genuine deliverance.
The problem is that we aren't righteous. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. That's why death exists in the first place.
However, there's hope. Christ Jesus is righteous, and through faith, we're declared righteous by God the Father due to Jesus's righteousness. If you're in Christ Jesus, you can face death with hope, confident in your ultimate deliverance.
Genesis 22:1-11
#1 Genesis 22:2 He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.”
The first use of the word love in the Bible is the love of a father for a son. And the layers of this use go deep. There is not any greater love on earth than the love of a father for his son. And yet Abraham was called to an even higher love. A love of a son for The Father. Love of God was supreme and Abraham showed it through his obedience. With the love of God supreme, God preserved the son to his father. And all of it reveals the Amazing love that God has for his people that he did not spare his Son.
Application:
1. Fathers love your sons. It is the highest earthly or natural love there is. What a shame that Satan comes to destroy especially this love and far too many fathers allow this to happen.
2. Fathers love God more than your sons. Love the honor and glory of God most. Be willing to discipline your sons and make it known that as much as you love them, you love God more.
3. God will be pleased with this love and the general promise is that those who love God first have their children preserved.
James 2
This chapter is often a challenging passage to interpret correctly. On the surface, it seems to contradict the Protestant Reformation’s cry of "Justification by faith alone." However, this is only a superficial interpretation. James is not contradicting other scriptures, especially significant passages like Ephesians 2, which states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
God chose us in Christ before time began. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross, thereby purchasing our redemption and atoning for our sins. The Holy Spirit calls us out of darkness and changes our hearts (regeneration).
Those whom God calls out of darkness and regenerates, He justifies. That is, He declares or considers them righteous, pardoning their sins. We are justified by God's grace alone, and faith alone is the instrument through which we grasp this grace. Moreover, this faith is a gift from God. In other words, we are justified by faith alone.
So, what does James mean when he speaks of works? James is describing the nature of true faith. There's a genuine faith that receives and relies on Christ alone for righteousness, and there's a dead faith, which isn't genuine faith at all. A dead faith is merely an outward expression. We all have known many who have professed faith, but they turned away from Christ and proved they weren't true believers.
James discusses the essence of genuine faith. Authentic faith is the kind that leads believers to love and obey God. The Westminster Confession of Faith articulates it this way: “Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and His righteousness, is the sole instrument of justification: yet, it is not isolated in the person justified but is always accompanied by all other saving graces. It is not a dead faith but works through love.”
Faith alone saves us, but that faith is never isolated. Genuine faith produces works. This is the only kind of faith that God gives that will justify.
Psalm 93
"Life comes at you fast, bro!" We all know what it's like to wake up one day expecting the ordinary, only to be blindsided by events that make an impact lasting far beyond just that day. Unexpected events can sweep away the mundane, leaving you feeling as though you're treading water, struggling to keep your head above the surface. In this life, we will face troubles. They often come when we least expect them. However, God is never blown off course.
Psalm 93 is a short but powerful hymn of praise that declares the Lord's majesty and eternal reign over the world. The psalmist emphasizes the strength and stability of God's rule, likening it to the vastness and power of the seas. Despite the chaotic forces of nature, God's throne stands firm, and His rule is everlasting. The psalm reminds us of the trustworthiness of God's decrees and the holiness that characterizes His house.
God is in control. He's not caught off guard by what happens. He is the steady, unmovable foundation amidst all the storms of life. You can trust Him. He is your rock and redeemer.
Catechism/ Memory Verse
Love. It’s the one virtue that will outlast this world. And that’s because it predates this world. God the Father loved God the Son for eternity past. This is because God is love. And therefore it is the highest of our virtues and duties. We must love God and our neighbor.
How to Pray for Those we are praying for:
Mt. Moriah Baptist Church and Pastor Jon Hancock
Pray for growth and maturity in the Lord. Pray for them as they reach their community. They are also going to have a booth at our festival.
All Hallow’s Reformation Festival
Heavenly Father,
We come before You in anticipation of the All Hallow’s Reformation Festival. Firstly, we pray for favorable weather that would allow us to gather and celebrate without hindrance.
We lift up to You the volunteers who have dedicated their time and energy to this event. May they remain in good health, and may their efforts shine as a testament to both each other and our community.
For the vendors and performers who aren't part of our church, we pray that they find encouragement in our gathering. Let the truth of the gospel resonate with them, so they may come to a fuller understanding of Your love and grace.
Finally, for the attendees, we ask that they hear and receive the gospel's message. Let them be strengthened in their faith, and we pray for a bountiful turnout from our community, that many might come and be blessed.
In Jesus' name, we pray.
Amen.
Clark County Deputy Prosecutor Chris Carroll
Heavenly Father,
We lift up to You Clark County Deputy Prosecutor Chris Carroll. As he serves in a demanding court environment, dealing with numerous low-level felonies, grant him wisdom, patience, and discernment. We recognize his heart and dedication, not only in his professional responsibilities but also in his personal and family life. May Your comforting hand be upon him, and may he feel Your presence in every challenge.
Lord, we earnestly pray that Chris might come to know the grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ. May he find in Jesus a rock and refuge, and may his work be guided by Your law and carried out for the glory of Christ. Please strengthen him in his family responsibilities, and bless their home with love, understanding, and unity.
In Jesus' name, we pray.
Amen.
Church History Spotlight
Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln
9 October 1253
Had the leaders of the thirteenth century heeded this preacher, many of the disasters of the following three centuries might have been avoided. Robert was a peasant lad from Suffolk, born about 1175. He distinguished himself at Oxford in law, medicine, languages, natural sciences, and theology. He became what is now called Chancellor of Oxford University.
In 1235, he was elected Bishop of Lincoln, in area the largest diocese in England. He promptly visited all the churches in the diocese and quickly removed many of the prominent clergy because they were neglectng their pastoral duties. He vigorously opposed the practice by which the Pope appointed Italians as absentee clergy for English churches (collecting salaries from said churches without ever setting foot in the country). He insisted that his priests spend their time in the service of their people, in prayer, and in study. He went on a pilgrimage to Rome, where he spoke out boldly against ecclesiastical abuses. Back in England, he spoke against unlawful usurpations of power by the monarch, and was one of those present at the signing of the Magna Carta.
Grosseteste's scholarly writings embraced many fields of learning. He translated into Latin the Ethics of Aristotle and the theological works of John of Damascus and of the fifth-century writer known as Dionysius the Areopagite. He was skilled in poetry, music, architecture, mathematics, astronomy, optics, and physics (one of his pupils was Roger Bacon). His writings on the first chapter of Genesis include an interesting anticipation of modern cosmological ideas. (He read that the first thing created was light, and said that the universe began with pure energy exploding from a point source.) He knew Hebrew and Greek, and his Biblical studies were a notable contribution to the scholarship of the day.
A Prayer thanking God for Robert Grosseteste
O God our heavenly Father, who raised up your faithful servant Robert Grosseteste to be a bishop and pastor in your Church and to feed your flock: Give to all pastors abundant gifts of your Holy Spirit, that they may minister in your household as true servants of Christ and stewards of your divine mysteries; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Upcoming Events:
Morning Study Hour With Pastor 6-7AM
October 8 New Members Class
October 11 Women’s Bible Study
October 15 Genevan Pub
October 18 King’s Men and Daughters of the King
October 28 All Hallows Reformation Festival
November 3-4 Men’s Retreat