The Guide for the Week
December 31-January 6th 2023 AD. The Second Week of Christmas
Bible Passage for the Week
Proverbs 15:1-10
Luke 2:21-40
Ephesians 2:19-22
Psalm 105
Verse to Memorize
Luke 2:29-32
Catechism Questions
Q. After Jesus was born and his parents went to the temple to offer sacrifices, who did they meet?
A. Simeon, a righteous and devoted man, looking forward to the coming of Christ.
Q. What had God promised Simeon?
A. The Holy Spirit had revealed that he would not die before he saw the Messiah with his own eyes.
Q. What did Simeon do when he saw the baby Jesus?
A. He praised God saying that he could finally depart in peace having seen the salvation of the Lord, the light to the gentiles and the glory of Israel.
Q. What does it mean that Jesus is the light of revelation to the gentiles and glory of Israel?
A. Jesus is the savior of all people, not just the Jews but of all the nations. No matter what your ethnicity, you can be saved from your sins.
Q. Who were the first gentiles to worship Jesus?
A. The Magi were the first non-Jewish people to worship Jesus.
Q. Who were the magi?
A. The Magi, sometimes called the wise men, were astrologers from Persia who had seen a star in the east representing the birth of a new king and traveled to Judea to worship this new king.
Q. What gifts did the Magi give to Jesus?
A. When the Magi saw Jesus they bowed down to worship him and presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Q. What was King Herod’s reaction to hearing that the king of the Jews was born?
A. Herod was distressed and wanted to kill baby Jesus. God protected Jesus by warning the wisemen in a dream not to return back to Herod and Joseph to flee with Mary and Jesus to Egypt.
People to Pray for:
Church: Mt Moriah Baptist Church
Pastor Jon Hancock
Ministry: Evangel Presbytery Moderator Abrahm Hess
Civil Magistrate: Indiana State Supreme Court
Notes for Parents:
Proverbs 15:1 "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
The proverbs are very helpful in correcting our sinful ways. They provide us with the wisdom of the Lord and, therefore, rebuke our laziness, cowardice, foolishness, and unjust anger. They contain axioms, general promises, and truths about how the world ordinarily works. A wise man, one who is filled with the Holy Spirit, will take these truths and apply them at the right time.
Consider the two proverbs above. And now consider some other proverbs : Proverbs 27:6 "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy." Proverbs 28:23 He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor Than he who flatters with the tongue.
The Proverbs serve as a steadfast guide to our speech. A wise man will know how to use his speech effectively. His words are meant to give life. Sometimes, this means responding with a gentle and soothing tongue. This has the effect of de-escalating a situation. When someone is angry with you and ready for confrontation, it's good to de-escalate. A calm demeanor and a gentle word can often win over your opponent.
However, you will see in scripture that there are times when a man must use harder words. He may need to rebuke. If you read some of the prophets' rebukes towards the wickedness of the people, you won’t find gentle or soothing words. Rather, they use a variety of tactics, including harsh rebuke, parody, or sarcasm. The wounds, though painful, are faithful because they are designed to expose sin and evil. They are intended to shame evil and, in the process, move the heart to repentance.
A wise man discerns the appropriate approach for each situation. He will strive to use a soothing word without it being a flattering word. He is cautious not to harm the vulnerable with his speech, yet bold in denouncing evil. The ability to discern when to speak gently and when to deliver a firm rebuke is a mark of spiritual maturity. It is evidence of a heart in tune with God's will and a mind sharpened by His Word. This takes practice and reliance on God. The tongue is a very hard thing to control. We all have much to repent of regarding our speech.
Luke 2:21-40
Have you ever really looked forward to something so much that it was hard to wait? You count down the days, dreaming along the way of what it will be like when it arrives. Kids do this with Christmas. Well, this sense of anticipation is how Simeon lived. He was a righteous and devout man, looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. And he had a guarantee from the Holy Spirit that he would get to see the Messiah before he would die. You can imagine how he waited and waited for that moment. Luke 2 recounts this encounter. He held the tiny baby in his arms and praised God. He could now go in peace because he knew that God had sent salvation. Jesus Christ had come, and now nothing would be the same again.
Do you have this same faithful anticipation and hope to be in the presence of God? Do you count down the days until you get to join with God’s people at church each Sunday? This is a foretaste of the great hope to come. You should also have the same zeal for the light of the nations as Simeon. Do you pray for and hope for Christ to be made great among all your neighbors, friends, and family?
Do you have a desire to see Jesus face to face? 1 Peter 1 says, 'Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.'
If you are a child of God, you are to look forward with anticipation to being in the presence of the light of the nations. This is your hope, and it should drive you to obedience in this life.
Ephesians 2:19-22
It would be helpful to flip back first to Ephesians 2:12, which says, 'Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.' You were once strangers to God.
I really enjoy hearing the testimonies of God’s people and how God saved them. I like to listen to them any chance I can get. It would be helpful for your children to hear your testimony. They should hear how God has worked in your life to rescue you from darkness. You don’t have to go into all kinds of details about all the sins you committed. Sometimes testimonies dwell too much on this side of things, and yet scripture reminds us that we were once separated from God and His people. We once had no rights to the things of God. And yet, because of the Gospel, we must also remember verse 19 of Ephesians 2: 'So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.'
We used to be far off, but we are no longer strangers to God's promises. We're not aliens. Aliens don't have rights to the resources of the nation they're a part of; they're not connected. They don't receive the promises. But we're not that anymore. We are fellow citizens with the saints, and we are of God's household. We have been built on a foundation, with Jesus Christ as our cornerstone, and we are being built up together in the Lord. Don’t forget what God has done for you and is doing for you.
He is building us up in the Church. He will grow us in maturity and in holiness. He will protect us and provide for us all we need.
Therefore, in light of this, walk by faith and walk in the light.
Psalm 105
Our call to worship this week was drawn from Psalm 105, a Psalm of praise, summoning all to gratitude and song. The psalmist specifically exhorts us to praise God for His steadfast adherence to His covenant commitments. God pledged to Abraham that his lineage would bless all nations. This Psalm recounts has kept that promise. It tells how God's chosen were enslaved in Egypt, yet God, through Moses, liberated them from their shackles. Despite their afflictions, God remained true to His vows. He guided His people through the barren wilderness, providing for their needs, leading them to the promised land . He designated them as His own, to bless them abundantly, so they would worship Him in joy and obey His law.
God's loyalty in the Exodus serves as a testament to the psalmist of His unchanging fidelity to His covenant to Abraham. We now have something greater than the Exodus, and a leader surpassing Moses. God fulfilled His promise to Abraham. Jesus Christ has delivered us from the grip of evil and sin. He has emancipated us from bondage. Furthermore, He sent the Holy Spirit to shepherd and console us as we march forth heralding the magnificence of our God.
Let us, thus, sing with joy and thankfulness. Let us heed our God's commands. And let us acknowledge that He persistently honors His covenantal commitments to us and our children.
One of the key calls to worship in this passage is the call to remember. We are to remember God’s work as creator, sustainer, and redeemer. We can also remember that He is still working now to guide us and lead us. In reflecting on the past year at Sovereign King Church, we have seen the Lord's hand guiding us, growing us through challenges and trials. We've navigated debates, like the one on the Family Integrated Church Movement, not as a church divided, but as a body united in seeking truth and clarity in Scripture. We've learned that conflicts, when rooted in a quest for truth, can lead to deeper unity and understanding.
As we stand at the threshold of another year, let us move forward with our eyes fixed on God’s faithfulness. Remember His works, His deliverance, His provision in our lives and in the life of our church. Let this remembrance be the fuel for our worship, the foundation of our joy, and the catalyst for our obedience. For in remembering what God has done, we find strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.
So with those things in mind, having remembered where God has brought us from and the blessings He has given us, let me briefly talk about where I believe God is directing us in the coming year. Sovereign King Church is still a young church, just seven years old, and we're looking forward to what lies ahead. Here are our goals for this year:
1. Westminster-Rooted Discipleship: We want to firmly ground ourselves in the core tenets of Christianity, ensuring a deep and nuanced understanding of who God is, the essence of the gospel, and the expectations set forth in God's law. We will embed the principles of the Westminster Confession of Faith into all our discipleship programs.
2. Cultivating Joyful and Reverent Worship: Our worship should be characterized by both joyfulness and reverence. We want our worship to reflect the triumphant nature of the gospel, emphasizing serving with gladness and engaging in spiritual battle. Our prayers are beneficial to the nations, and we want to take these aspects of worship more seriously.
3. Leadership Development: We will continue to identify, train, and equip potential leaders within the church. This includes working with men who may be nominated for eldership and deacon roles.
4. Building Strong Families: Families are the backbone of society, and a strong church will have strong families. We will provide training and support in areas such as marriage, parenting, and family discipleship.
5. Strategic and Well-Planned Outreach: We will become more intentional and thoughtful in our outreach efforts, shining the light of Christ wherever we go.
How to Pray for Those we are praying for:
Mt. Moriah Baptist Church
Heavenly Father,
We come before You with thankful hearts, lifting up our brothers and sisters at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church and their shepherd, Pastor Jon Hancock. Lord, we ask that You pour out Your Holy Spirit upon them, granting them strength and courage to stand firm in Your truth. Bestow upon Pastor Hancock a spirit of wisdom and a fervent zeal for Your Word, that he may lead his flock with conviction and clarity.
We also pray for the growth of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, not only in number but in spiritual maturity. May they grow deeper in their understanding of Your Word and stronger in their faith. Let their community in Henryville and beyond witness the transforming power of the gospel through their faithful service and testimony.
In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Abrahm Hess- Moderator Of Evangel Presbytery
Almighty God, our Kind Father,
We lift up Abram Hess, the Moderator of Evangel Presbytery, before Your throne of grace. As he leads the Presbytery this year, we earnestly seek Your divine wisdom and guidance for him. May his leadership be an instrument in promoting Your will, maintaining peace and purity of the church and enabling wisdom and growth within the Presbytery.
We also pray for the expansion and blessing of the Presbytery. Let it flourish under Your sovereign hand. We ask that all the pastors under its care be filled with the Holy Spirit, their ministries strengthened, and their congregations sanctified. May they lead with conviction, preaching Your Word with boldness and clarity.
In all their endeavors, let Your name be glorified, and Your kingdom advanced through their faithful service. We ask this in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
Indiana State Senate
Heavenly Father, Our Good Governor and King,
We approach Your throne of grace with a burden for our leaders, specifically the justices of the Indiana State Supreme Court. Your Word instructs us to pray for those in authority, and we do so now with sincere hearts. We ask that You endow these judges with wisdom that aligns with Your laws and Your righteousness. May their decisions reflect Your truth, particularly concerning the dignity and rights of the unborn.
We also pray, Lord, that You would intervene in the appointment of judges. Replace those who do not judge by Your law with men who seek Your face, who understand and uphold Your precepts in their rulings. May their leadership be marked by justice that mirrors Your divine justice.
In all things, we ask that Your will be done, and Your name be glorified through the rulings and leadership of our judiciary. We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, the Sovereign King. Amen.
Church History Spotlight
Epiphany January 6th
Epiphany" is a word of Greek origin, related to such English words as "theophany," "phenotype," and "phenomenon." It means an appearance, a displaying, a showing forth, a making clear or public or obvious. On this day, Christians have traditionally celebrated the making known of Jesus Christ to the world.
Several events have been thought of as special instances of the making known of Our Lord, such as: His birth; the coming of the Magi; His Baptism; His first miracle at Cana. Current majority usage, at least in the West, celebrates His birth on 25 December, the coming of the Magi on 6 January, and His Baptism on the next Sunday.
On January 6th, many Christians around the world remember then the coming of the Magi to worship Jesus and give him gifts. The magi were the first fruits signaling a day when all the peoples of the earth will acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord, God, and Savior. The visit of the Magi is recorded in the second chapter of Matthew. MAGI (MAGOI), the Latin (Greek) plural of MAGUS (MAGOS), referred originally to the priests of Parsiism, the monotheistic religion preached in Persia by Zoroaster in about the sixth century BC. In later years it came to mean magicians, priests, physicians, scribes, scholars, or learned men. From it we derive our word "magic." The KJV Bible translates the word as "wise men." Matthew tells us how they came to Jerusalem and then to Bethlehem, and gave gifts to the infant Jesus. Christian writers have interpreted the gold as a sign that Jesus is King, the Frankincense as a sign that He is God, and the myrrh (used in embalming) as a sign that He is by His death and Resurrection the Savior of the world.
A prayer of thanksgiving for the visit of the Magi:
O God, who by the leading of a star manifested your only Son to the Peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Announcements for the Week of December 24 - December 30, 2023
Prayer Concerns:
Schedule Updates and Events:
Growing Kids God Way Playlist:
Additional Resources:
For more information and updates, please visit our website.
Proverbs 15:1-10
Luke 2:21-40
Ephesians 2:19-22
Psalm 105
Verse to Memorize
Luke 2:29-32
Catechism Questions
Q. After Jesus was born and his parents went to the temple to offer sacrifices, who did they meet?
A. Simeon, a righteous and devoted man, looking forward to the coming of Christ.
Q. What had God promised Simeon?
A. The Holy Spirit had revealed that he would not die before he saw the Messiah with his own eyes.
Q. What did Simeon do when he saw the baby Jesus?
A. He praised God saying that he could finally depart in peace having seen the salvation of the Lord, the light to the gentiles and the glory of Israel.
Q. What does it mean that Jesus is the light of revelation to the gentiles and glory of Israel?
A. Jesus is the savior of all people, not just the Jews but of all the nations. No matter what your ethnicity, you can be saved from your sins.
Q. Who were the first gentiles to worship Jesus?
A. The Magi were the first non-Jewish people to worship Jesus.
Q. Who were the magi?
A. The Magi, sometimes called the wise men, were astrologers from Persia who had seen a star in the east representing the birth of a new king and traveled to Judea to worship this new king.
Q. What gifts did the Magi give to Jesus?
A. When the Magi saw Jesus they bowed down to worship him and presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Q. What was King Herod’s reaction to hearing that the king of the Jews was born?
A. Herod was distressed and wanted to kill baby Jesus. God protected Jesus by warning the wisemen in a dream not to return back to Herod and Joseph to flee with Mary and Jesus to Egypt.
People to Pray for:
Church: Mt Moriah Baptist Church
Pastor Jon Hancock
Ministry: Evangel Presbytery Moderator Abrahm Hess
Civil Magistrate: Indiana State Supreme Court
Notes for Parents:
Proverbs 15:1 "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
The proverbs are very helpful in correcting our sinful ways. They provide us with the wisdom of the Lord and, therefore, rebuke our laziness, cowardice, foolishness, and unjust anger. They contain axioms, general promises, and truths about how the world ordinarily works. A wise man, one who is filled with the Holy Spirit, will take these truths and apply them at the right time.
Consider the two proverbs above. And now consider some other proverbs : Proverbs 27:6 "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy." Proverbs 28:23 He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor Than he who flatters with the tongue.
The Proverbs serve as a steadfast guide to our speech. A wise man will know how to use his speech effectively. His words are meant to give life. Sometimes, this means responding with a gentle and soothing tongue. This has the effect of de-escalating a situation. When someone is angry with you and ready for confrontation, it's good to de-escalate. A calm demeanor and a gentle word can often win over your opponent.
However, you will see in scripture that there are times when a man must use harder words. He may need to rebuke. If you read some of the prophets' rebukes towards the wickedness of the people, you won’t find gentle or soothing words. Rather, they use a variety of tactics, including harsh rebuke, parody, or sarcasm. The wounds, though painful, are faithful because they are designed to expose sin and evil. They are intended to shame evil and, in the process, move the heart to repentance.
A wise man discerns the appropriate approach for each situation. He will strive to use a soothing word without it being a flattering word. He is cautious not to harm the vulnerable with his speech, yet bold in denouncing evil. The ability to discern when to speak gently and when to deliver a firm rebuke is a mark of spiritual maturity. It is evidence of a heart in tune with God's will and a mind sharpened by His Word. This takes practice and reliance on God. The tongue is a very hard thing to control. We all have much to repent of regarding our speech.
Luke 2:21-40
Have you ever really looked forward to something so much that it was hard to wait? You count down the days, dreaming along the way of what it will be like when it arrives. Kids do this with Christmas. Well, this sense of anticipation is how Simeon lived. He was a righteous and devout man, looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. And he had a guarantee from the Holy Spirit that he would get to see the Messiah before he would die. You can imagine how he waited and waited for that moment. Luke 2 recounts this encounter. He held the tiny baby in his arms and praised God. He could now go in peace because he knew that God had sent salvation. Jesus Christ had come, and now nothing would be the same again.
Do you have this same faithful anticipation and hope to be in the presence of God? Do you count down the days until you get to join with God’s people at church each Sunday? This is a foretaste of the great hope to come. You should also have the same zeal for the light of the nations as Simeon. Do you pray for and hope for Christ to be made great among all your neighbors, friends, and family?
Do you have a desire to see Jesus face to face? 1 Peter 1 says, 'Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.'
If you are a child of God, you are to look forward with anticipation to being in the presence of the light of the nations. This is your hope, and it should drive you to obedience in this life.
Ephesians 2:19-22
It would be helpful to flip back first to Ephesians 2:12, which says, 'Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.' You were once strangers to God.
I really enjoy hearing the testimonies of God’s people and how God saved them. I like to listen to them any chance I can get. It would be helpful for your children to hear your testimony. They should hear how God has worked in your life to rescue you from darkness. You don’t have to go into all kinds of details about all the sins you committed. Sometimes testimonies dwell too much on this side of things, and yet scripture reminds us that we were once separated from God and His people. We once had no rights to the things of God. And yet, because of the Gospel, we must also remember verse 19 of Ephesians 2: 'So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.'
We used to be far off, but we are no longer strangers to God's promises. We're not aliens. Aliens don't have rights to the resources of the nation they're a part of; they're not connected. They don't receive the promises. But we're not that anymore. We are fellow citizens with the saints, and we are of God's household. We have been built on a foundation, with Jesus Christ as our cornerstone, and we are being built up together in the Lord. Don’t forget what God has done for you and is doing for you.
He is building us up in the Church. He will grow us in maturity and in holiness. He will protect us and provide for us all we need.
Therefore, in light of this, walk by faith and walk in the light.
Psalm 105
Our call to worship this week was drawn from Psalm 105, a Psalm of praise, summoning all to gratitude and song. The psalmist specifically exhorts us to praise God for His steadfast adherence to His covenant commitments. God pledged to Abraham that his lineage would bless all nations. This Psalm recounts has kept that promise. It tells how God's chosen were enslaved in Egypt, yet God, through Moses, liberated them from their shackles. Despite their afflictions, God remained true to His vows. He guided His people through the barren wilderness, providing for their needs, leading them to the promised land . He designated them as His own, to bless them abundantly, so they would worship Him in joy and obey His law.
God's loyalty in the Exodus serves as a testament to the psalmist of His unchanging fidelity to His covenant to Abraham. We now have something greater than the Exodus, and a leader surpassing Moses. God fulfilled His promise to Abraham. Jesus Christ has delivered us from the grip of evil and sin. He has emancipated us from bondage. Furthermore, He sent the Holy Spirit to shepherd and console us as we march forth heralding the magnificence of our God.
Let us, thus, sing with joy and thankfulness. Let us heed our God's commands. And let us acknowledge that He persistently honors His covenantal commitments to us and our children.
One of the key calls to worship in this passage is the call to remember. We are to remember God’s work as creator, sustainer, and redeemer. We can also remember that He is still working now to guide us and lead us. In reflecting on the past year at Sovereign King Church, we have seen the Lord's hand guiding us, growing us through challenges and trials. We've navigated debates, like the one on the Family Integrated Church Movement, not as a church divided, but as a body united in seeking truth and clarity in Scripture. We've learned that conflicts, when rooted in a quest for truth, can lead to deeper unity and understanding.
As we stand at the threshold of another year, let us move forward with our eyes fixed on God’s faithfulness. Remember His works, His deliverance, His provision in our lives and in the life of our church. Let this remembrance be the fuel for our worship, the foundation of our joy, and the catalyst for our obedience. For in remembering what God has done, we find strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.
So with those things in mind, having remembered where God has brought us from and the blessings He has given us, let me briefly talk about where I believe God is directing us in the coming year. Sovereign King Church is still a young church, just seven years old, and we're looking forward to what lies ahead. Here are our goals for this year:
1. Westminster-Rooted Discipleship: We want to firmly ground ourselves in the core tenets of Christianity, ensuring a deep and nuanced understanding of who God is, the essence of the gospel, and the expectations set forth in God's law. We will embed the principles of the Westminster Confession of Faith into all our discipleship programs.
2. Cultivating Joyful and Reverent Worship: Our worship should be characterized by both joyfulness and reverence. We want our worship to reflect the triumphant nature of the gospel, emphasizing serving with gladness and engaging in spiritual battle. Our prayers are beneficial to the nations, and we want to take these aspects of worship more seriously.
3. Leadership Development: We will continue to identify, train, and equip potential leaders within the church. This includes working with men who may be nominated for eldership and deacon roles.
4. Building Strong Families: Families are the backbone of society, and a strong church will have strong families. We will provide training and support in areas such as marriage, parenting, and family discipleship.
5. Strategic and Well-Planned Outreach: We will become more intentional and thoughtful in our outreach efforts, shining the light of Christ wherever we go.
How to Pray for Those we are praying for:
Mt. Moriah Baptist Church
Heavenly Father,
We come before You with thankful hearts, lifting up our brothers and sisters at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church and their shepherd, Pastor Jon Hancock. Lord, we ask that You pour out Your Holy Spirit upon them, granting them strength and courage to stand firm in Your truth. Bestow upon Pastor Hancock a spirit of wisdom and a fervent zeal for Your Word, that he may lead his flock with conviction and clarity.
We also pray for the growth of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, not only in number but in spiritual maturity. May they grow deeper in their understanding of Your Word and stronger in their faith. Let their community in Henryville and beyond witness the transforming power of the gospel through their faithful service and testimony.
In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Abrahm Hess- Moderator Of Evangel Presbytery
Almighty God, our Kind Father,
We lift up Abram Hess, the Moderator of Evangel Presbytery, before Your throne of grace. As he leads the Presbytery this year, we earnestly seek Your divine wisdom and guidance for him. May his leadership be an instrument in promoting Your will, maintaining peace and purity of the church and enabling wisdom and growth within the Presbytery.
We also pray for the expansion and blessing of the Presbytery. Let it flourish under Your sovereign hand. We ask that all the pastors under its care be filled with the Holy Spirit, their ministries strengthened, and their congregations sanctified. May they lead with conviction, preaching Your Word with boldness and clarity.
In all their endeavors, let Your name be glorified, and Your kingdom advanced through their faithful service. We ask this in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
Indiana State Senate
Heavenly Father, Our Good Governor and King,
We approach Your throne of grace with a burden for our leaders, specifically the justices of the Indiana State Supreme Court. Your Word instructs us to pray for those in authority, and we do so now with sincere hearts. We ask that You endow these judges with wisdom that aligns with Your laws and Your righteousness. May their decisions reflect Your truth, particularly concerning the dignity and rights of the unborn.
We also pray, Lord, that You would intervene in the appointment of judges. Replace those who do not judge by Your law with men who seek Your face, who understand and uphold Your precepts in their rulings. May their leadership be marked by justice that mirrors Your divine justice.
In all things, we ask that Your will be done, and Your name be glorified through the rulings and leadership of our judiciary. We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, the Sovereign King. Amen.
Church History Spotlight
Epiphany January 6th
Epiphany" is a word of Greek origin, related to such English words as "theophany," "phenotype," and "phenomenon." It means an appearance, a displaying, a showing forth, a making clear or public or obvious. On this day, Christians have traditionally celebrated the making known of Jesus Christ to the world.
Several events have been thought of as special instances of the making known of Our Lord, such as: His birth; the coming of the Magi; His Baptism; His first miracle at Cana. Current majority usage, at least in the West, celebrates His birth on 25 December, the coming of the Magi on 6 January, and His Baptism on the next Sunday.
On January 6th, many Christians around the world remember then the coming of the Magi to worship Jesus and give him gifts. The magi were the first fruits signaling a day when all the peoples of the earth will acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord, God, and Savior. The visit of the Magi is recorded in the second chapter of Matthew. MAGI (MAGOI), the Latin (Greek) plural of MAGUS (MAGOS), referred originally to the priests of Parsiism, the monotheistic religion preached in Persia by Zoroaster in about the sixth century BC. In later years it came to mean magicians, priests, physicians, scribes, scholars, or learned men. From it we derive our word "magic." The KJV Bible translates the word as "wise men." Matthew tells us how they came to Jerusalem and then to Bethlehem, and gave gifts to the infant Jesus. Christian writers have interpreted the gold as a sign that Jesus is King, the Frankincense as a sign that He is God, and the myrrh (used in embalming) as a sign that He is by His death and Resurrection the Savior of the world.
A prayer of thanksgiving for the visit of the Magi:
O God, who by the leading of a star manifested your only Son to the Peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Announcements for the Week of December 24 - December 30, 2023
Prayer Concerns:
- Expectant Mothers: We request special prayers for Shawn Crone, Brittany McKinney, Chelsea Mix, Rowina Spurgeon, and Maddie Sands.
- The McKinney Family: The twins are on the way! Brittany is currently on bed rest, eagerly anticipating their arrival. Please offer your support and see how you can help during this time.
- Sickness: With the prevalence of colds, flus, and viruses, remember the importance of hygiene, rest, and cleanliness. If contagious, please stay home, but return to worship as soon as you are able. Avoid letting 'Sunday Morning Sickness' disrupt your worship. Please read this blog post from elder Aaron Sabie on how to know when or when not to come to church with sicknesses. https://www.sovereignkingchurch.com/blog/2023/12/28/how-to-deal-with-sickness-on-sunday-morning
- Mt. Moriah Baptist Church: Join in prayer for our brothers and sisters at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church and their pastor, Jon Hancock. Let us unite in asking the Lord to strengthen them through the Holy Spirit, to endow them with wisdom and zeal for His Word and works. We also pray for their growth, both in number and in spiritual maturity, so they may continue to be a faithful witness to the gospel in Henryville and beyond.
- Evangel Presbytery Moderator Abrahm Hess: As he leads the Presbytery this year, we pray that God bestows upon him divine wisdom and guidance. May his leadership promote God's will, foster unity, wisdom, and growth within the Presbytery. We also seek prayers for the expansion and blessing of the Presbytery, and for all the pastors under its care to be filled with the Holy Spirit. May their ministries be strengthened and their congregations made Holy.
- Indiana State Supreme Court: The Bible instructs us to pray for our leaders. Let's pray for wisdom for our state judges that their decisions align with God's laws, especially regarding the dignity and rights of the unborn.
Schedule Updates and Events:
- Annual Head of Household Meeting: January 14, 2024. Following the worship on Sunday morning, we will have our annual Church-Wide meeting. At this meeting, we will receive nominations for the office of elder and deacon. We will vote on whether to renew Mark Cox, and Aaron Sabie for another term as elder. Lastly, we will vote on the budget for 2024. Note on nominations: A nomination is not the same thing as election to office. Nominations are sent to the Elders' Board for training and examination before office appointment. Those who are nominated and then trained and examined by the elders may then be able to be elected to office by the congregation.
- Worship Team Practice: Musicians and tech support, join us on January 3rd, 6:30-8:00 PM, for our monthly worship practice.
- Nursing Home Visit: We will move our monthly nursing home vision to the second Monday of the month, January 8th. This is a great opportunity to minister to both the older generation and to your family. The elderly love to see our little children. It brings them such a comfort.
- Women’s Bible Study Returns: January 10th marks the return of our Women’s Bible Study for 2024.
- King’s Men and Daughters of the King: Join us January 17th at Sovereign King Church for The King's Men and the Daughters of the King! This engaging ministry, designed for our young members aged 5 through 12th grade, is a cornerstone of our church's commitment to nurturing the faith and knowledge of our covenant children. For detailed information on memory work assignments, please visit our dedicated page: Sovereign King Church Student Ministry. https://www.sovereignkingchurch.com/student-ministry
- Couch Time Challenge: We will soon be beginning a friendly competition and challenge to help you and your family. Dates, Terms, and other info regarding the challenge to be released soon. Do your children know you love each other? Making your marriage a priority benefits your children and helps you to build a happy, secure and stable family. Much of your child’s sense of security comes from them seeing the relationship between you and your spouse functioning smoothly. When they can see that Mom and Dad really do love each other, they can rest in the assurance that the two most important people in their life are there to stay. “When the workday is over, take ten or fifteen minutes to sit on the couch as a couple. Couch time is to take place when the children are awake, not after they go to bed. Couch time provides children with a visual sense of your togetherness. It is one tangible way your child can measure Mom and Dad’s love relationship and have that inner need satisfied. In addition, couch time provides a forum for Mom and Dad’s personal and relational needs to be met.” For those who don't know what couch time is, read about it here:
Growing Kids God Way Playlist:
Additional Resources:
- Sovereign King Academy: Missed the informational meeting? Watch the recording here: YouTube - Sovereign King Academy Meeting
For more information and updates, please visit our website.