August 4-10th Family Worship Guide 2024

The Guide for the Week August 4-10th 2024

Bible Passage for the Week
Proverbs 24:10-20
2 Corinthians 7
1 Samuel 24
Psalm 137

Verse to Memorize
Hebrews 4:14-16

Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q. 23. What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer?
A. Christ, as our Redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation.

Who to pray for
Church:  Trinity Reformed Church
                Pastor Jody Killingsworth
Ministry:  Sweetwater Research
                   David Pendergrass
                   
                     
Civil Magistrate: Jeffersonville City Council
                                Amy Semones
 
Notes for Parents:
Proverbs 24:10-20

Verse 16 For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of calamity.

In this proverb, the wicked are warned against trying to destroy the righteous. They may strike down the righteous man seven times, but he will rise again. God will raise up the righteous.

The wicked struck Jesus down, and He rose from the grave. The wicked may strike us down, and God too will raise us from the grave. Or as Johnny Cash sang, “There ain’t no grave that can hold me down.”

This warning to the wicked is also great hope to us. We know that God is going to protect us. He is not going to let the righteous fall. We can rest in Him. We don’t have to fret when we hear of evildoers. We should not be envious of how they seem to thrive. Ultimately, they have no future. They will fall with no one to help.

We, on the other hand, can get knocked down and we can get back up. And here is where we need to have faith. We need to have faith to trust God and keep going. We need the faith to be resilient.

Teach your children to rely on God and to get back up when they are knocked down. Teach them not to fear failure because God is on their side. They can stand firm on the truth, and their enemies can’t defeat them. They can attempt great things for God, and if they fail, it won’t be the end.

Too many young men are afraid of failure, and it keeps them from seeking to do good things for the glory of the Lord. They feel stuck in their current situation and won’t take responsibility to do what it takes to move to what is better. Teach your children not to fear failing but to fear God instead.

The righteous man falls seven times and rises again. Get up, brothers, when you fail and keep moving.

2 Corinthians 7
Verse 8-10 For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while— I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.  For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.
 
In Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth, he had to rebuke them strongly for many of their errors—the biggest of which was their sinful pride in and tolerance of a man committing adultery with his stepmother in their congregation. Paul spared no words to make sure that they knew they needed to act. These had to be painful words for the church to hear from the man who had planted the church and thus been a father in the faith to many of them.

Paul did not take pleasure in causing sorrow by his words. Notice how it almost seems like he contradicts himself. He says, “I did not regret it, though I did regret it.” Paul means that on one hand, because it is his responsibility before the Lord and because it would bear fruit, he did not regret causing pain, but on the other hand, because he loves them, he would never want to cause them pain.

Thus, this is the life of a leader and a father. Fathers, whether in home, church, or state, have to be willing to cause pain to those they lead, but they also will never take joy in the pain. A father doesn’t really want to spank his children, and yet he does. He does because he knows that the pain and sorrow it causes will be used by God to bear good fruit of repentance. A father must have faith to discipline. He must trust that the pain is worth it. He must have patience to prune and then wait for the fruit.

He also must pray that the sorrow caused will be according to the will of God. He doesn’t just want children who obey out of rote fear to merely avoid discipline. He wants children who have been taught by the pain of discipline that sin is evil and therefore grow to hate their sin and turn from it. Those who repent, therefore, don’t regret the pain that discipline caused. They recognize it for its good.

The sorrow of the world, however, doesn’t produce repentance. Those who are not of Christ will only regret the pain. They will only seek to avoid sorrow rather than to avoid sin. They will only want to find ways around difficulties rather than through them to the green pastures of the Lord.
Application:
  1. Fathers (and mothers), you must have faith to cause pain in your discipline of your children. You won’t delight in the pain, but you will see it as a tool (not necessarily your only tool). You must have faith to speak truth. You also need to have patience to discipline and give your children some time for the discipline to bear fruit. That is, don’t think that since you spanked them once and they didn’t immediately repent that your discipline isn’t working. You have 18 years or more to disciple your children. Play the long game.
  2. Fathers, teach your children that discipline is meant to move their hearts to hate sin and love God. Don’t be content with mere worldly sorrow. Keep working to reach the heart of your children. And pray hard.
  3. Children, don’t despise the pain of discipline. Rather, recognize that in it your parents are loving you. They are pointing you away from sin, which can destroy you, and to God, who is good. Don’t obey merely to avoid the sorrow of discipline. Work to let your heart be changed. Lastly, don’t let your heart despise your father and mother who discipline you. Love them. It is hard to understand, but it is painful to your parents to discipline you. They take no joy in the sorrow it causes. But they are working hard to have faith in God’s way.
  4. The above applications can be taken and applied in the church. Church fathers must have faith to exhort, admonish, and rebuke. They must have faith to discipline. They must have patience for this work to bear fruit. They also must not delight in causing pain. Don’t delight in controversy for controversy’s sake. Church members should work hard not to despise the teaching of their leaders but rather submit to the pain of hearing hard things. Let the work bear fruit in you.

Psalm 137
Verse 5-6 If I forget you, O Jerusalem, May my right hand forget her skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth If I do not remember you, If I do not exalt Jerusalem Above my chief joy.

Holy Scripture is not politically correct. It does not always scratch where we itch. But it is the glorious word of God. Because of this, every word of it is true and good for our soul—even, or maybe especially, the hard parts. This psalm ends with this verse: “How blessed will be the one who seizes and dashes your little ones Against the rock.” It is a verse that atheists like to point to with their foolish “A-ha” moment. The abortionist says “see.” However, we must not be ashamed of any Scripture.

So what is this psalm about? It is a psalm of lament and an imprecatory psalm written in the aftermath of the Babylonians' destruction of Jerusalem and the carrying off of God’s people into captivity.

God’s people had long rebelled against Him, going after false gods. God disciplined His people by using the wicked Babylonians to shake them. God will often use an evil empire to discipline His people. But when God uses these pagans as instruments of His discipline, He is not approving of their evil desires. He will judge them even harder. The New Testament says that “judgment starts with the household of God.” This means that if God’s people are disciplined in this life and suffer, this is only the beginning. God will judge even more harshly those not of His household. He disciplines His people. He destroys the wicked.
In light of this discipline, God’s people in this psalm are taught to lament or mourn over the losses they faced. In particular, they are mourning over the loss of Jerusalem, the place of God’s presence. The psalm writer promises that even though Jerusalem had been desolated, he will never forget her. He longs to go back and be in the presence of God with His people. It is his highest joy.

We are taught through this to long for and seek as our chief joy the presence of God among His people. We should never forget the Church, which is the heavenly Jerusalem. In the midst of our crazy culture and what appears to be wicked people flourishing, we must have the Church. She is the household of God. She is the place where God is pleased to dwell. You can forget a lot of things but never let yourself neglect the Church.

Not only does this psalm teach us to lament God’s discipline and to long for the Church, it is also a reminder to trust Christ to destroy the enemies of the Church. God will destroy those who persecute His people. They may boast and think they are unstoppable, but Babylon fell. God did repay them. His justice was thorough. They had intended not to discipline God’s people but to devastate them and rule over them unjustly. God’s people prayed for deliverance from their enemies. They prayed that God would wipe them out. They were asking God to return to their enemies exactly what they had done to them. Their enemies had spared neither women nor children. Therefore, the imprecatory prayer, including the last verse, is asking God to repay the evil done to God’s people.

The Church still has enemies. And the Church still longs for and prays for God’s justice and deliverance. God will do so. He may do so in time and history as one empire devastates another, as in the case of the Medes/Persians taking over Babylon. We know He will completely do so at Christ’s return when all the wicked will be removed. The Earth, with the true Jerusalem, will finally be at peace.

Finally, in application, let us remember the discipline of the Lord. May it move us to repentance. Let us long for the peace of the Church, and may we never forget her. Pray for your enemies. Trust God for deliverance and for vengeance. He will repay.

Example Prayers for Weekly Prayer Concerns
Prayer for Expectant Mothers
Heavenly Father, we lift up to You Gabby Fluhr, Emily Leupp, and Christina Puryear, who are expecting children. Grant them strength, peace, and health throughout their pregnancies. May they feel Your presence and protection, and may their babies develop safely and be born healthy. We ask for wisdom for the doctors and caregivers who attend to them. Bless these mothers-to-be with joy and trust in Your provision. We pray all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Prayer for Trinity Reformed Church
Lord Almighty, we pray for Pastor Jody Killingsworth and the other pastors at Trinity Reformed Church. Grant them wisdom and holy zeal as they shepherd Your flock. Protect them from temptation, discouragement, and discontentment. Surround their families and children with Your love and care. We also ask for Your blessing on their building project; may it be completed smoothly and serve as a place for Your glory to be proclaimed. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Prayer for Sweetwater Research
Gracious God, we bring before You Sweetwater Research, dedicated to providing holistic water strategies and education worldwide. Bless their efforts in Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia, and beyond. Give their team safety, wisdom, and success in their projects. Provide additional board members who can guide this vital ministry. May their work not only meet physical needs but also bring the light of the Gospel to many. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Prayer for Jeffersonville City Council and Amy Semones
Sovereign Lord, we pray for Jeffersonville City Councilmember Amy Semones. Grant her wisdom and godliness to uphold Your law and seek Jeffersonville's submission to the Kingship of Jesus. Convict the entire council to repent for permitting sexually perverse pride events publicly. Guide Amy to focus more intently on her home, honoring You in all her decisions. May the Holy Spirit lead her and the council to righteousness. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.


Church History Spotlight

Oswald, King of Northumbria, Martyr
5 August 642

In 449, the pagan Germanic tribes known as the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes invaded Britain. They pushed the Christian Celtic Britons north and west into places like Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. These tribes formed seven kingdoms in England: Essex, Wessex, Sussex, East Anglia, Mercia, Northumbria, and Kent. These regions still reflect their ancient roots in the dialects spoken today.

In 597, a missionary named Augustine came from Rome to Kent. He was warmly received and became the first Archbishop of Canterbury. His influence, however, was mostly limited to southeast England.

In 616, Edwin became the king of Northumbria after overthrowing Aethelfrith. During this time, Oswald, Aethelfrith's son, fled to Scotland. There, at a monastery on the island of Iona, he embraced Christianity. Edwin married Ethelburgha, a Kentish princess who brought a missionary named Paulinus with her. Edwin and his court were baptized in 627. However, in 632, Edwin was killed by King Cadwallon of Wales and the pagan King Penda of Mercia, which suppressed Christianity in Northumbria for a time.

Oswald returned from exile in 633 and reclaimed the throne. Facing Cadwallon's army near Hexham, Oswald, with a small and mostly pagan army, set up a wooden cross and prayed with his men, promising baptism if they won. Miraculously, Oswald triumphed and Northumbria became the most powerful of the seven kingdoms. Oswald sent for missionaries from Iona to convert his people. Though the first missionary failed, Aidan, the second one sent, succeeded. Oswald, bilingual, helped Aidan by translating his sermons. Christianity spread and flourished in Northumbria.

Oswald then sought a Christian bride from Wessex, another powerful kingdom. His bride, Kineburga, and her father converted, opening doors for the Gospel in southwestern England.

However, conflict with Penda of Mercia resumed. In 642, Oswald was killed in battle. As he died, he prayed for his soldiers, his people, and even his enemies. Penda desecrated Oswald's body, but Christians rescued his head, now believed to rest in Durham Cathedral.

A prayer of thanksgiving for Oswald.
Lord God almighty, who so kindled the faith of your servant Oswald with your Spirit that he set up the sign of the passion in his kingdom and turned his people to your light: grant that we, being fired with the same Spirit, may ever be found faithful servants of the gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.



Announcements for the 08/04/2024- 08/10/2024
Recommended Article:   The men preparing for eldership are reading "Extreme Ownership" by Jocko Willink this month. This book, authored by a former Navy SEAL, provides solid principles on taking responsibility. Michael Foster from Cincinnati has written a concise summary of these principles, applying them to parenting, which I think you will find helpful. You can view his write-up here.
https://twitter.com/thisisfoster/status/1640748534134702084
 
Prayer Concerns:

  • Expectant Mothers We request special prayers for Gabby Fluhr, Emily Leupp and Christina Puryear
  • Trinity Reformed Church  Pray for pastor Jody Killingsworth and the other pastors at Trinity Reformed church.  Ask God to grant them wisdom and holy zeal.  Pray for protection from temptation, discouragement, or discontentment.  Keep in mind the families and children of the church.  Pray for the church as it finishes its building project as well.   
  • Sweetwater Research  Sweetwater Research is dedicated to providing holistic water strategies and education to communities in need around the world. They integrate clean water initiatives with Gospel-centered ministry, focusing on countries like Uganda, Malawi, and Ethiopia. Their work involves partnering with local leaders to develop sustainable water solutions and conducting in-depth research to improve water project effectiveness. Please pray for the success of their projects, the safety and wisdom of their team, and for additional board members to help guide this vital ministry.
  • Jeffersonville City Council Amy Semones  The Holy Spirit, speaking through the Apostle Paul, instructs us to pray for those in authority. Please pray for Jeffersonville City Councilmember Amy Semones to uphold God's law with wisdom and godliness, and to seek Jeffersonville's submission to the Kingship of Jesus. Pray that the entire council would repent for permitting sexually perverse pride events to be held publicly in Jeffersonville. Additionally, pray for Amy Semones to focus more intently on her home, seeking to honor the one true triune God in all her decisions.
 
Announcements:
Growing Kids God’s Way  Sunday Evenings in June 5-7 PM
Nursery Children (1-3 years old) may go to nursery after the doxology.  
Nursing Home Ministry August 5
Elders Training August 17
Genevan Pub August 18
Men and Boys Camping Trip August 30-31
Ladies Retreat September 27-28  Heavenly Hills Lodge 7580 Rounds Rd  underwood, IN 4177
All Hallows Reformation Feast- October 26  -   The team will meet August 6th via Zoom
The Patriarchy Conference-November 8-9
For more information and updates, please visit our website
 
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