January 21-27th Family Worship Guide 2024

The Guide for the Week
 January 21-27th 2024 AD.
 The Third Week of Epiphany

Bible Passage for the Week
Proverbs 15:31-16:3
1 Corinthians 3
Matthew 7:24
Psalm 108

Verse to Memorize
1 Corinthians 6:20
 
Catechism Questions
Q. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach?
A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.

Bible Passages:  
John 5:39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me
John 20:31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
1 Corinthians 6:20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
 
People to Pray for:
Church:  Trinity Presbyterian Church
                 Pastor Andrew Dionne
Ministry:  Prayer for the Family Ministry of SKC
                      
Civil Magistrate: Clark County Circuit Court #2
                                Magistrate William Dawkins
                           
Notes for Parents:
Proverbs 15:31-16:

Verse 3: "Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established."
Why do you do what you do? Why do you go to work? Why do you plan things around the home? Why do you get out of bed in the morning? Who are you serving?
Those are not rhetorical questions. Go ahead and answer them. Scripture declares, "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it." You can devote your life to myriad pursuits. But absent God's hand, there's little hope for enduring impact. Many chase wealth or earthly rewards, yet ultimately, such endeavors are fruitless. The wealthy man cannot carry his riches beyond death; they are left for others to squander.
In contrast, the righteous man, dedicating his efforts to the Lord, finds his endeavors bear lasting fruit. His toil is not futile, regardless of how successors handle his legacy. His labors serve God's kingdom. So, reassess your motivations.
Before answering, heed this proverb:, “All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, but the Lord weighs the motives.”

1 Corinthians 3
Vs 10. According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder, I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it.
The Apostle Paul continues in this chapter to work to heal divisions in the church by reminding them that Jesus is their foundation. He reminds them that the other ministers are all merely fellow workers of God. The workers who help build the building are not the foundation. They are not even its architect.

The foundation is none other than Jesus Christ and His Gospel. As we mature as Christians and the church expands, our growth is predicated on this foundational truth. Our labor in the church is to foster holiness and truth. In this endeavor, it is crucial for us to build the church upon the immutable truths of God, nurturing it to flourish in obedience to God's law, transforming it into a resplendent cathedral that magnifies God's glory.

A very glorious foundation has been laid; why would we build a shanty on top of it made out of straw? We must resist the temptation to base our building on human ideologies, or worse, our own selfish, sinful inclinations. Nor should we elevate the personas of celebrities. No, we want it to look glorious.

Paul makes it clear that the manner in which we build upon the Gospel's foundation will be revealed. The way we build our lives on God's Word will become apparent. God orchestrates times of trial, where fire purges impurities and refines what is precious. Every Christian and every church will encounter these trials. They serve as God's method to eliminate the transient and clarify the enduring.

Thus, our objective is to build with foresight, cultivating the fruits of the Spirit. Reflect on the words of Peter in his second epistle:
Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 7:24
As a Christian in 21st century America, what does it mean to be a man or woman? What does it mean to be a father, mother, son, daughter, boss, employee, professor, or student? How and when do we confront the evils of our time? Although some Bible answers to these questions are more popular than others, all of God's commands are good. At Sovereign King Church, we believe that God's word should influence every aspect of life. Our world has been built on a foundation of sinful rebellion against God, resulting in negative impacts on our families, culture, and the nation. However, through the sacrifice of Christ, God not only forgives our sins but invites us to rebuild our lives on the solid foundation of His word. By faith, not only is our place in heaven secured, but we have the opportunity to live a life of new beginnings.
As followers of Christ, men are taught to embody responsibility, love, and leadership for those in their care, while women are encouraged to cultivate the gentle spirit that God prizes. Children are considered blessings from God, not obstacles to be avoided. They are taught to honor those who came before and follow the Lord. In the workplace, our focus is not just on pleasing an employer, but on serving Christ our King. As Christians, we aim to be model citizens, praying for our civil leaders while advocating for God-given liberty found in his law. With courage and determination, we oppose evil and vigilantly protect what is good. This work can only be done through humble dependence on Christ acknowledging our own shortcomings and transgressions. He is the master builder, and we are merely His workers. Christ is saving sinners, reclaiming the world, and summoning us to participate in this magnificent mission with Him.

Psalm 108
Charles calls this psalm, “The Warrior's Morning Song,” with which he adores his God and strengthens his heart before entering upon the conflicts of the day. Matthew Henry calls it "an assurance of God's answer and salvation."

It is good to praise God when you wake up and before you face the day. How many times do we hop out of bed, head out to work, and strive in our own strength? As was said regarding the Proverbs, "Unless the Lord builds the house, we labor in vain." The Psalmist knows this and he is ready to wake the dawn with shouts of praise. He is determined each day to see God’s name glorified among the nations and throughout all the earth.

David knows that he must have God to be his savior or he is sunk. In verses 7-9, he recounts how God has promised to keep his people and defeat his enemies. Even when it seems that things are going wrong and God has forgotten (v. 11), David still calls on God to go forth with him.

David will wake up ready to face battle because his hope is in God. It isn’t in the deliverance of man. No, it is through God that we do valiantly. God makes us brave and He gives us victory over the enemy.

So, make it a habit to praise God first thing in the morning. Wake the dawn with shouts of his renown.

Catechism Questions:
As part of our goal this year to work on grounding ourselves in our confession of faith, the children will be working through the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Each week during the worship gathering, they will be asked to stand in their pew and recite the catechism question. They will also learn three verses that are connected with that question. On the fourth Sunday of the month, they will be invited to come to the front of the sanctuary during the service to review the previous three weeks' questions. It is our hope that this will be a help not only to the children but also to the whole congregation in reviewing the foundations of our Christian faith.
Here is the devotional for the 3rd question.


Q: What do the scriptures principally teach?
A: The scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.
Joshua 1:18 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
I have always loved to read.  Growing up, I would read just about anything that had words.  If we set down for breakfast, I read the cereal box.  I loved reading mysteries, fantasy, and science fiction.  Today, I love reading about history, political theory, and biographies.  Reading for me can be a way to unwind, to be entertained, or to just past the time.  Some of you might be able to relate to that.  Others may think I am nuts.  Reading is always a chore to them.  They hated it in school and they don’t read unless they really have to now.   Whether you love to read or hate to read, some of it comes down to natural temperament and some of it comes down to training
Unlike other books which may serve to entertain, to inform and educate, to unwind, or to spark your interest, the Bible is different.

 It is not that it can’t do all of the things mentioned, but rather it has a greater purpose.  Its purpose it to show us what we ought to believe.  It is designed by God to be our foundation.  It teaches you what to believe about God. Because it teaches us that He is creator, it also teaches us what to believe about creation and, therefore, what we ought to believe about ourselves.  The Bible has a purpose and our reading it should be with that purpose in mind.  We read it to learn what to believe and that means we must read it with faith looking for faith.  Though we do not deserve it, God has not left us to grope about in darkness trying to figure out what we ought to believe. He has given us His word.

Notice in the catechism that belief comes before duty.  This is because without belief, without faith, it is impossible to please God.  Our belief leads to what we do.  And we can only do our duty if we believe what God has told us.  Therefore, because the Bible is this foundational, then we ought to heed the words of Joshua.  We must not let this book depart from us.  It does not matter whether you are naturally disposed to reading or not, the Bible should never be far from you.  We ought to read it, dwell on it, and think about it both in the day and at night.  In doing so, we will know what to believe and how to live.  It comes with this promise: Read it, believe it, and do it, and then you will know true prosperity and have real success.

How to Pray for Those we are praying for:
Trinity Presbyterian Church Pastor Andrew Dionne

Almighty God,
We pray for our dear brothers and sisters at Trinity Reformed Church and Pastor Andrew Dionne. Lord, fill them with Your Spirit's power, wisdom, and passion for Your Word.  Endow them with divine wisdom and a burning zeal for Your Word and Your works.
Bless their church with growth in faith and numbers. Let them be a strong witness of Your gospel.
Guide Pastor Dionne in his work at Evangel Presbytery. Give him joy and success in teaching and leading behind the scenes. May his work bear abundant fruit in the lives of those he ministers to and in the broader community. We pray that men in his church rise up to support him, sharing the burden and the joy of ministry. Strengthen their fellowship and collaboration, that together they may effectively serve Your kingdom.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.


Prayer for the Family Ministry of SKC 
Heavenly Father,
We humbly come before You to lift up the family ministry of Sovereign King Church and its shepherd, Assistant Pastor Greg Anglen. Empower him with divine wisdom and fervent zeal as he leads and nurtures families in Your ways. Grant him the insight to guide parents in training their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, building strong, God-centered homes.
We pray for the children and youth of our church. May their hearts be captivated by Your love, dedicating their lives to loving You with all their heart, soul, and mind. Protect them, O Lord, from the snares of worldly temptations and the deceit of the evil one. Shield their minds and hearts, and let Your truth be their guiding light.
Raise up these young souls to be bold witnesses of Your glory. Prepare them to take their place in the coming generations of the church, to be leaders and champions of faith. May they stand as beacons of Your love and truth in a world that so desperately needs it.
In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray,
Amen.


Clark County Circuit Court #2
Magistrate William Dawkins

Heavenly Father,
We come before You today to lift up Magistrate William Dawkins of Clark County Circuit Court #2. Lord, guide his judgments, that they may align with Your laws. Grant him wisdom and discernment, particularly in upholding the dignity and rights of the unborn and in safeguarding the vulnerable.
May Your justice prevail in his courtroom, where the wicked face consequences and the innocent are shielded. Strengthen him, O Lord, to stand firm against the tide of evil and to champion Your truth.
We also pray for Magistrate Dawkins' personal salvation. Draw him close to You, that he may know Your love and grace. Bless his health, granting him strength and vitality to fulfill his duties. Watch over his family, providing them with Your peace and protection.
We pray for all who enter his courtroom. May their hearts be stirred to repentance, acknowledging their sins before they stand in the ultimate courtroom of Christ Jesus. May Your mercy lead them to a transformation that honors You. In Jesus' Mighty name, we pray,
 Amen.


Church History Spotlight
Agnes of Rome, Martyr
21 January 304

Agnes is a Christian martyr who died at Rome around 304 in the persecution of Diocletian: the last and fiercest of the persecutions of Christianity by the Roman emperors. The anniversary of her martyrdom is observed on 21 January. Her name means "pure" in Greek and "lamb" in Latin. She is said to have been only about twelve or thirteen when she died, and the remains preserved in St Agnes' Church in Rome are in agreement with this. It is said that her execution shocked many Romans and helped bring an end to the persecutions.

Some said, "It is contrary to Roman law to put a virgin to death. Our leaders say that it is necessary to kill Christians in order to preserve the old Roman ways: but they are themselves scorning those ways in the process."

Others said, "Do young girls constitute such a threat to Rome that it is necessary to kill them?"
Others said, "If this religion can enable a twelve-year-old girl to meet death without fear, it is worth checking out."

 A prayer of thanksgiving for St. Agnes of Rome:
Almighty and everlasting God, who choose those whom the world deems powerless to put the powerful to shame: Grant us so to cherish the memory of your youthful martyr Agnes, that we may share her pure and steadfast faith in you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Announcements for the Week 
Prayer Concerns:
  • Expectant Mothers: We request special prayers for Shawn Crone, Chelsea Mix, Rowina Spurgeon, and Maddie Sands.
  • 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
  • Trinity Presbyterian Church: Join in prayer for our brothers and sisters at Trinity Reformed Church and their pastor, Andrew Dionne 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.   Pray for the work that Pastor Dionne does in Evangel Presbytery, too.   He is a leader behind the scenes.  He is always answering questions or helping all of us that are new to Presbyterianism to understand its principles.  Pray for him to have joy in his work and that other men in his church will give him much support.
  • Prayer for Family Ministry of Our Church:  Pray for Assistant Pastor Greg Anglen as he leads the family ministry of Sovereign King Church.  Pray for him to have wisdom and zeal for strengthening families to train up their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.  Pray for our children and youth of the church that they will love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and minds.  Pray that God would spare them from the temptations of the world and the lies of the devil.  Pray that they would rise up and take their place among the coming generations in the church.  
  • Clark County Circuit Court #2 Magistrate William Dawkins: The Bible instructs us his decisions align with God's laws, especially regarding the dignity and rights of the unborn and the protection of the weak. Pray that the wicked would be punished and the innocent preserved.  Pray for his salvation and for his health and family. 

Schedule Updates and Events:
  • Women’s Bible Study Returns: January 24th 6:30-8:30 PM
  • Genevan Pub:  The men of Sovereign King will meet on Sunday January 21st at the church building for a time of brews and bible.  We will be working through the Westminster Confession of Faith. Zac Jackson will lead us.  
  • Nursing Home Visit: February 5 we will be visiting Maple Mannor to share the light and love of Jesus with the elderly men and women there.  This is a great opportunity for you and your family to serve the Lord.
  • Presbytery Annual Meeting: On February 16, we will be hosting the annual winter meeting of Evangel Presbytery.  We will need volunteers to help serving food and caring for the pastors and elders who attend.  You are also invited to attend and see what we do at the presbytery. 
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