May 12-18th Family Worship Guide 2024

The Guide for the Week
May 12-18th 2024 Ascension Week

Bible Passage for the Week
Proverbs 20:21-30
1 Corinthians 14
1 Samuel 19
Psalm 125

Verse to Memorize
Romans 3:23

Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q. 14. What is sin?
A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.

People to Pray for:
Church:  American Reformation Church
                Pastor Rusty Thomas
Ministry:  Operation Save America
                     
Civil Magistrate: Jeffersonville Mayor
                                Mike Moore  
                                   
 
 
 
Notes for Parents:
Proverbs 20:11-20

Verse 25 It is a trap for a man to say rashly, “It is holy!” And after the vows to make inquiry.
“No Regrats”  
Have you ever mad
e a commitment and then immediately regretted it? Did you then look for ways to escape your commitment? The Scriptures say that the righteous man swears to his own hurt—that is, he keeps his word even when it costs him. In Numbers 30, God gives commands regarding the taking and keeping of oaths and vows. This chapter reveals that women and children are under the authority of their husbands and fathers. The obligations they make can be changed by their authority. It is not this way for a man. Numbers 30:2 says, "If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or takes an oath to bind himself with a binding obligation, he shall not violate his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth." The Scriptures expect us, therefore, to keep our word, especially when it is given to God.

This is why God’s Word also warns us to be slow to speak and slow to put ourselves under obligations. It is a trap to declare rashly or quickly that you will do something for God and then only later determine if you can do it or not. Yet isn't this how many of us live? We make quick decisions in the heat of the moment without thinking, and then later find ourselves backing out of commitments when they become difficult. We tell a friend we will help them move on Saturday but didn't check our schedule to see that we were already committed to serving at a church function. When we do check, we now feel stuck between an obligation to a friend and our commitment to serve God’s people. Most of the time, we find a way out of our commitment to the church. Another way we do this is by scheduling things on Sundays. We know that we made a vow to the church and God to worship Jesus regularly with God’s people, yet we think nothing of loading up family, friend, and even work commitments on the same day. Scripture calls us to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. We rashly say, "It is holy," but do we treat it as holy, or is there always something pulling us away? Yes, there are exceptions and emergencies. It is good on the Lord’s day to do acts of mercy and necessity, but we like to live in the exceptions. Quite frankly, much of what we schedule on the Lord’s day isn’t truly an emergency or absolutely necessary.
Why do we make rash vows or are quick to say yes to things without checking first? There are probably many underlying reasons. Sometimes it is fear of man. We fear saying no to people and so we overcommit ourselves. Sometimes it is a lack of discipline. We are not disciplined in our lives to schedule and plan ahead. We live by the seat of our pants all the time. This can be from simple laziness to an overinflated ego. We are proud and think we can do everything. It could also be that we equate busyness with productivity. We don’t have a goal or vision driving our lives and so we bounce from one thing to another. It's all thunder but no lightning. All smoke but no fire. Another reason is that we constantly chase the high of big events. That is, we don’t see the importance of regular, scheduled commitments. These are things we do all the time, and so we skip them occasionally for something more exciting.

Lastly, it may be because we simply don’t fear God and disobey His commands. Jesus told us to let our yes be yes and our no be no. This requires self-discipline to think before we speak, to check before we schedule, and to remain committed to our promises.
So what do we do to correct ourselves and avoid acting rashly?
  1. Repent of breaking past vows and commitments.
  2. Reflect on faithfulness: The overwhelming majority of faithfulness in your life comes from keeping small, recurring commitments. If you don't have a vision or mission for yourself and your family, develop one so you can see how these small commitments keep you on track toward your goals. Don't let yourself be deterred except in rare cases where mercy and necessity require a change.
  3. Have a schedule on hand: Carry your schedule with you so you can review it before committing to a person or event, or ask for time to check and get back to them. Don't be rash.
  4. Seek God's help: If you find yourself overcommitted, ask God to help you prioritize and do your best to keep your word now while working harder in the future to be wiser.

1 Corinthians 14
Problems related to corporate worship in the first-century Corinthian church are Paul’s focus in 1 Corinthians 11–13. We have already seen the Apostle address the issues of head coverings and the proper celebration of the Lord’s Supper in chapter 11. Chapter 12 hints at contention regarding spiritual gifts in Corinth, for Paul insists that all spiritual gifts are important in the church. This leads to chapter 13, where Paul corrects an undue emphasis on spiritual gifts by focusing on the primacy of love. Chapter 14 makes it clear that an exaltation of the gift of tongues was the specific problem causing strife in Corinth.
Paul emphasizes that he wasn’t necessarily against the gift of tongues but that the time of worship should be for edifying the body. The primary purpose of our spiritual gifts is not to edify ourselves or build ourselves up in the eyes of others. Instead, God gives us gifts to edify and encourage others.

The gift of tongues manifested with the Apostles on Pentecost. They were given the supernatural ability to speak in languages they didn’t know but that others could hear and understand. The Church in Corinth took this good thing too far. From Paul's words, it seems there were people attempting to speak in tongues that no one in the congregation spoke, and there was no translator to interpret. The practice became a giant "virtue signal": "Look at me and my gift of tongues." Paul makes it clear that worship isn’t about confusion or self-exaltation; it is about glorifying God.

The gifts of tongues and prophecy ended with the death of the Apostles, but that does not mean we cannot apply Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 14 today. It remains true that what we do in worship should edify the body, be decent, and in order. We should ensure that the teaching is clear and comprehensible, and the music singable.

One application is to continue working with your children so they show respect to everyone in the church. Teach them not to run between adults or interrupt loudly. It’s an ongoing process, and we must have faith for the work. I know it can be stressful, but it is a joy to worship with our families.
 
1 Samuel 19
Our call to worship, Psalm 125, describes the Lord surrounding His people as the mountains surround Jerusalem (more on that below). God is a refuge for His people. He delivers them from their enemies. This same theme is found in 1 Samuel 19 as God delivered David from the hands of Saul and thwarted Saul’s attempts to take his life. It's even quite comical how God delivers David.

First, God uses Saul's son to intervene for David. Jonathan, being a godly man who respected authority, was still willing to stand up to his father when his father was giving wicked orders. Jonathan acted, and Saul listened, sparing David for a while.
Second, God delivered David from the spear of Saul. Saul was being tormented by an evil spirit and attacked David as David played music. But David ducked, dived, and dodged. He slipped away, and the spear struck into the wall.

Third, God used Saul's daughter and David's wife, Michal, to help David evade Saul. She warned David to escape, helped him out a window, and made the bed up to look like David was still there. That dummy Saul and his men were tricked by a dummy in the bed—a household idol with some goat hair. I don’t know why they had a household idol; it's God's grace that He didn’t destroy them for it. But idols are dummies too, so it was fitting that one got to play the part, complete with a wig.

Finally, God confused Saul and his soldiers by having them join in with the band of prophets. David fled to Naioth to be with Samuel. Saul sent his goons to capture David, but they got caught up in the worship service with Samuel’s school of prophets. So Saul sent a second round of henchmen, and they too got the Holy Ghost. Three times might be a charm, but not this time because the third group of stooges became impromptu prophets. Saul had enough. "If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself," he thought. So Saul went himself to find David, but God took over. He went along prophesying and singing like a puppet on a string. He even stripped off his royal clothes and fell down naked all day and night.

What a strange sight that must have been, yet it was God working to protect His anointed, David. God protects His people, and He has innumerable ways of doing so. It could be by raising up brothers in the faith who intercede for them, by giving them the agility and skill to evade the enemy's spears, by using a quick-thinking wife and some cunning to foil the enemy's plans, or even by causing the enemy to break into spontaneous praise and song. The point is that God is sovereign over all, and He protects His people. The enemies can rant and rage, but they can only do what God allows them to do.

Therefore, we can trust the Lord to be our shield and defender. We can go to Him in our time of need. We can recognize that even in life's hardest struggles, God is moving and working in ways we cannot comprehend. God always writes the best stories.

Psalm 125
Psalm 125 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the Lord surrounds His people
When I visited Israel last year, the one thing that stood out to me was how mountainous and hilly the place was. Jerusalem is surrounded by mountains. They form a natural boundary to the city as well as a natural defense for it. There was a reason it took many months for the Romans to lay siege to the city. It was well protected. But better than this natural protection is the supernatural protection of the Lord for His people. God goes before us, and God protects us from behind. He covers our flanks. Therefore, those who trust in the Lord won’t be shaken.

This is a comfort to us as we look at the wicked around us. They seem to thrive, and at times they do cause us great pain. But ultimately, they cannot destroy us. God is our refuge.
When we feel the stresses of life, the attacks of the enemy, and the threats of the wicked, we can pray to our Lord for strength and preservation. We can say, “Do good, O Lord, to those who are good and to those who are upright in their hearts,” and trust that He is always doing good for us. Let us then not stray into the path of sinners, but stay firmly grounded in our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Here are a couple of short videos about the mountains surrounding Jerusalem you can use with your family in teaching this passage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywz2ece5jW4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4RzyO0gmg0

Example Prayers for Weekly Prayer Concerns
American Reformation Church
Heavenly Father, we come before You with gratitude for Pastor Rusty Thomas and the work of the American Reformation Church. Grant Pastor Thomas and the leaders of this church wisdom and the power of the Holy Spirit as they labor to establish a strong foundation rooted in the gospel. Renew their strength, give them unwavering faithfulness, and sustain them with vigor in this endeavor. May their hearts be united in Christ, and may they uphold the sacraments and discipline with integrity and clarity.
Lord, we also seek Your blessing upon their growth. Let them increase in number and maturity, standing firm in the truth of Your Word. Strengthen their bonds in love and purpose so that this church shines as a beacon of Your kingdom in Florida. Guide them as they bring Your light to the community, that Your name would be glorified in their midst. We ask this in the name of Jesus.  Amen.


Operation Save America

Mighty God, we lift up Operation Save America and its leader, Pastor Jason Storms. We praise You for the faithful witness of this organization as they tirelessly work to end the evil of abortion. Give Pastor Storms and his team wisdom, courage, and zeal as they navigate this difficult mission. May their hearts remain fixed on Christ, seeking Your favor and guidance at every step.
Lord, let their efforts to promote righteous laws bear fruit. Bless their conferences and rallies, that they may equip men to rise as leaders in their homes, churches, and communities. May they uphold truth and embody Christ’s love in every endeavor, standing boldly as Your servants. Keep them humble and faithful, and may their impact be lasting, we pray in Jesus name.  Amen.


Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore
Sovereign Lord, You have called us to pray for those in authority. Today, we intercede for Jeffersonville’s Mayor, Mike Moore. Grant him a heart of wisdom and discernment, that he may govern justly and uphold Your righteous law. Lead him to make decisions that are wise and good for the flourishing of this city.
Father, open his eyes to Your truth and let him yearn for Jeffersonville to submit to Christ’s kingship. May he lead with courage, fairness, and humility, and may the people he serves experience Your peace through his governance. Guide him to uphold godliness and dignity, that Your name may be glorified in Jeffersonville through Jesus Christ, we pray.  Amen


Church History Spotlight
Erik, King of Sweden, Martyr
17 May 1160

Erik IX Jedvardsson was ruler of much of Sweden from 1150 to 1160. He was the head of a Christian kingdom with nearby pagan kingdoms, all sharing an old tradition of fighting. Around 1155, he headed an expedition into Finland, then loosely under Swedish rule, to consolidate Swedish authority there and to establish a protected Christian mission, headed by Henry of Uppsala, now considered the founder of the Church in Finland. Erik is also known for undertaking to provide Sweden with fair laws and fair courts, and for measures designed to assist the poor and the infirm. As he was in church on 18 May 1160, the day after Ascension Day, he was told that a pagan Danish army was approaching to kill him. He replied, "Let us at least finish the sacrifice. The rest of the feast I shall keep elsewhere." As he was leaving the church, the pagans rushed upon him and killed him.
Erik was honored both as an upholder of the Christian faith and as a national hero, the ancestor of a long line of Swedish kings.  The silver casket with his remains still rests in the cathedral at Uppsala.  

A prayer of thanksgiving for Erik
O God, who called your servant Erik of Sweden to an earthly throne that he might advance your heavenly kingdom, and gave him zeal for your Church and love for your people: Mercifully grant that we who commemorate him this day may be fruitful in good works, and attain to the glorious crown of your saints; 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  05/12/2024- 05/18/2024
Enrollment Open:  Enrollment is open. Apply online at www.sovereignkingacademy.com ($50/family application fee is payable online at the end of the application). If you have friends or family interested in applying or who would like more information, please send them to this link or give Pastor Greg Anglen their contact information.  
New Podcast Episode:   Check out the latest Patriarchy Podcast featuring Jason Storms as we talking about the duty to defend life.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoh-Q49M1hY
Prayer Concerns:
  • Expectant Mothers: We request special prayers for Shawn Crone, Rowina Spurgeon, Gabby Fluhr and Maddie Sands.
  • American Reformation Church:  Pastor Rusty Thomas has been a dear friend of Sovereign King Church since our beginning.  He served for a while as the director of Operation Save America and has spent a lot of time fighting to end abortion.  He recently planed the American Reformation Church in Florida.  Pray that God would bless him and the other leaders of the church with wisdom, the power of the Holy Spirit, renewed vigor, and faithfulness in planting the church. Pray that the church would be united around the gospel of Jesus and faithfully observe the sacraments and discipline.   Finally, pray for their growth in number and maturity.   
  • Operation Save America:  Operation Save America is an organization made up of Christians from various churches working to end abortion.  It is led by Pastor Jason Storms.  We have done work with Operation Save America in the past and the volunteers of that group were instrumental in helping Sovereign King Church get planted.  The group has been hosting rallies and conferences across the country both in working to promote bills to abolish abortion and in training up men to be leaders in their homes, churches, and communities.  Pray for continued wisdom, zeal, and favor from the Lord.
  • Jeffersonville Major: The Holy Spirit speaking through the Apostle Paul teaches us to pray for those in authority. Specifically scripture says “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”  Pray for the Jeffersonville Mayor, Mike Moore, that he would uphold God’s law and make judgements that are wise, godly, and good.  Pray that he would desire to see Jeffersonville submit to the Kingship of Jesus.  

Announcements:
  • Growing Kids God’s Way Sunday Evenings 5-7 PM
  • Kings Men and Daughters of the King May 15
  • Men’s Kayaking and Camping: May 17-18
  • Memorial Day Fellowship Meal May 26th 
  • Sharing the Gospel at Southern Indiana Pride June 1
  • Nursing Home June 3 
  • Evangel Presbytery Summer Meeting June 6
 
For more information and updates, please visit our website
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