Family Worship Guide
“Grace” (1918)
The leadership at Westminster is committed to serving and enabling godly families in their pursuit of truth, obedience, and sanctification. We believe that the family is God’s design for people everywhere. Because of this, we are excited to offer you this resource to assist you in family worship. Look for a new guide every week.
Family Worship Guide
Scripture Reading:
#1. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. (Psa19:1)
#2. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” (Hebrews 12:5-6)
Prayer of Praise to God: Refer to the verses above and hymn below.
How deep the Father's love for us? How vast beyond all measure?
That He should give His only Son To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss? The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One Bring many sons to glory
Behold the man upon a cross My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart His wounds have paid my ransom
Reading of the Law: “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)
Silent Confession of Sin/Confession of Sin: O our God, we are ashamed and blush to lift our faces to you, for our iniquities have risen higher than our head, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared; with you there is steadfast love; yes, with our God there is plentiful redemption, and he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Reading of the Gospel: But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. (Hebrews 9:11-12))
Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 16
Question #40
Q. Why did Christ have to suffer death?
A. Because God’s justice and truth require it: nothing else could pay for our sins except the death of the Son of God.
Question #41
Q. Why was he “buried”?
A. His burial testifies that he really died.
Question #42
Q. Since Christ has died for us, why do we still have to die?
A. Our death does not pay the debt of our sins. Rather, it puts an end to our sinning and is our entrance into eternal life.
Question #43
Q. What further benefit do we receive from Christ’s sacrifice and death on the cross?
A. By Christ’s power our old selves are crucified, put to death, and buried with him, so that the evil desires of the flesh may no longer rule us, but that instead we may offer ourselves as a sacrifice of gratitude to him.
Question #44
Q. Why does the creed add, “He descended to hell”?
A. To assure me during attacks of deepest dread and temptation that Christ my Lord, by suffering unspeakable anguish, pain, and terror of soul, on the cross but also earlier, has delivered me from hellish anguish and torment.
Prayer of Thanksgiving: Give thanks to God for giving us a kingdom that will never end and for the blessings of church family.
Prayer of Supplication: Pray for those who in our congregation are suffering from illness and affliction.
Bible reading and commentary:
Read: 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1 (Most commentators agree that 11:1 goes with Chapter 10)
In the final verses of Chapter 10, the apostle Paul returns one last time to the topic of Christian freedom. Here he lays down the foundational principle that Christians must exercise their freedom in a manner that promotes God’s glory and edifies their neighbor. Commentators attempt to hold in balance two important truths in this passage: first, that Christians, as recipients of God’s grace, are free from the burden of the law and thereby empowered to enjoy God’s good creation as free “kings” and “lords”; and second, that Christian freedom only applies to indifferent or neutral matters, and must always be exercised out of concern for God and neighbor. Commentators usually insist that believers must regularly consult the Word of God to determine whether an activity is required, permissible, or prohibited.
Verse 33 Paul states: “just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. Paul now states explicitly where he learned such a pattern: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ (11:1). As Christ gave up many freedoms to secure our salvation, we are called to give up many personal rights and preferences so that others may receive and enjoy that salvation. Paul will touch on this subject from the opposite perspective in other passages, urging Christians not to give up their freedom due to the legalism of others, but there as well as here the key principle is honoring what most promotes the gospel (2 Cor. 3:17; Gal. 2:4-5; 5:1)
Also, as Jesus honors his Father in all things (1 Cor. 11:3; 15:24-28), Christians are to seek “the glory of God” in everything we do (10:31). This is not easy, since sin tempts us to insist on our own rights at others expense, and to compromise our loyalty to God. But the gospel offers us this hope: we who have received Christ as Savior also have strength, in the Spirit, to follow his example.
Indeed, the cross of Christ, where our salvation is accomplished, is the place where we learn to imitate Christ by doing costly things for God’s glory and our neighbor’s good. For Christ himself did the supremely costly thing for our good – dying in our place.
John Calvin on 11:1 – There are two things to be observed — first, that he prescribes nothing to others that he had not first practiced himself. Second, that Paul calls himself and others back to Christ as the only pattern of right action. For just as it is the quality of a good teacher not to teach anything in word unless he is prepared to carry it out in action, so they should not be so exacting as to demand others to do immediately what they do all the time. This is what superstitious people usually do, for whatever they deem to be lovely, they also impose on other people, and they desire their example to be taken as an absolute rule. Worldly persons are also naturally inclined to follow the wrong sorts of examples, and, like apes, seek to copy whatever they see done by persons of great influence. Further, we see how many evils have been introduced into the church by this absurd eagerness to imitate all the actions of [Catholic] saints, without exception. That is why we must carefully hold on to this teaching of Paul; that we are to follow human beings only to the extent that they consider Christ as their prototype.
Closing Hymn: The Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen
Closing Scripture: And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13)
The Lord’s Prayer (together): Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.