Family Worship Guide

Scripture Reading:
#1. We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds. (Psalm 75:1)

#2. Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:1-2).

Prayer of Praise: Refer to the verses above and hymn below.

Hymn: Be Thou My Vision

Reading of the Law: Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. (1 John 3:7-10)

Silent Confession of Sin/Confession of Sin: Most holy and merciful Father, we acknowledge and confess before you our sinful nature, prone to evil and lazy in good, and all our shortcomings and offenses. You alone know how often we have sinned, in wandering from your ways, in wasting our gifts, in forgetting your love. But you, O Lord, have mercy on us, who are ashamed and sorry for everything in which we have displeased you. Teach us to hate our sins; cleanse us from our secret faults; and forgive our sins, for the sake of your dear Son. And most holy and loving Father, help us, we ask you, to live in your light and walk in your ways according to the commandments of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

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 52

Question #127

Q. What does the sixth petition mean?

A. “And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one” means: By ourselves we are too weak to hold our own even for a moment. And our sworn enemies— the devil, the world, and our own flesh— never stop attacking us.

And so, Lord, uphold us and make us strong with the strength of your Holy Spirit, so that we may not go down to defeat in this spiritual struggle, but may firmly resist our enemies until we finally win the complete victory.

Question #128

Q. What does your conclusion to this prayer mean?

A. For the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours forever” means: We have made all these petitions of you because, as our all-powerful king, you are both willing and able to give us all that is good; and because your holy name,

and not we ourselves, should receive all the praise, forever.

Question #129

Q. What does that little word “Amen” express?

A. “Amen” means: This shall truly and surely be! It is even more sure that God listens to my prayer than that I really desire what I pray for.

Prayer of Thanksgiving: Thank God that he sent his only Son to die for his people and for all the joy we have being in union with Jesus.

Prayer of Supplication: Ask God to heal those are are ailing and for comfort for those who are in need.

Bible reading and commentary: 2 Corinthians 11:1-6

Christians understand themselves as betrothed to one husband (v 2), awaiting the consummate marriage celebration at the bridegroom’s return (Revelation 19:7-9). There is perhaps no greater illustration of gospel intimacy. God’s deep and affectionate love for us moves us to worship, but it also reveals the darkness of our idolatry. Sin is adultery, as the Old Testament prophets made clear time and time again. Though Paul wants to present the church as a pure virgin to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2), its people are deceived and defiled by false apostles. When God’s redeemed people embrace other spirits, different gospels, and even a different Jesus (v 4), they are committing adultery.

We ourselves commit spiritual idolatry, and it’s far more subtle than we think. When we fail to believe the gospel we not only doubt the truth and goodness of God; we place our faith in a different “good news.” We ask something or someone to do what only the gospel is capable of doing.

When Paul first visited Corinth and preached the gospel there, he passed on to them as first importance that ‘Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve’ (1 Cor. 15:3-5). He taught much more than this, but these were the crucial truths the Corinthians received, and on which they took their stand and were saved (1 Cor. 15:1-2).

It is amazing how easily we may lose sight of the priority of the gospel and its simplicity. As churches we can become caught up with all kinds of programs that in the end obscure our primary function to obey our Savior’s last commission: to go and make disciples. When we present the gospel, we may fail to present it clearly and simply, forgetting that it is God’s power for the salvation of everyone who believes.

What other “good news” do you sometimes believe? What other “husbands” captivate you? What other counterfeit hope captures your love? The key to gospel fidelity is to know that Christ’s sincere and pure devotion to you is stronger than yours to him (v 3). When we were unacceptable and at our worst, he bound himself to us with his covenantal love. Christ’s marital fidelity to his bride is on full display at the cross. And it moves his bride to an increasingly sincere and pure devotion.

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: So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us (1 Thess. 2:7-8).

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