Family Worship Guide

Call to Worship: Psalm 95:1–7

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, (ESV)

Old Testament Reading: Proverbs 2

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom

and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked,

and who are devious in their ways. So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; none who go to her come back, nor do they regain the paths of life. So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it. (ESV)

Prayer of Praise: Refer to the Call to Worship and the OT Reading above and the hymn below.

Hymn:‍ The Church’s One Foundation

Reading of the Law: Psalm 15

O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. (ESV)

Silent Confession of Sin/Confession of Sin:

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight. Father, for give us our sins and make us more dependent on Christ and less on ourselves. We pray in his most hole name. AMEN

Assurance of Pardon: Isaiah 1:18

Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. (ESV)

Response: The Gloria Patri

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen, amen.

Confession of Faith: Westminster Larger Catechism - Questions 101-105

Let’s continue to study the WLC by looking at the preface and the first commandment: Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Question #101

Q. What is the preface to the ten commandments?

A. The preface to the ten commandments is contained in these words, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Wherein God manifesteth his sovereignty, as being Jehovah, the eternal, immutable, and almighty God; having his being in and of himself, and giving being to all his words and works: and that he is a God in covenant, as with Israel of old, so with all his people; who, as he brought them out of their bondage in Egypt, so he delivereth us from our spiritual thraldom: and that therefore we are bound to take him for our God alone, and to keep all his commandments.

Ex. 20:2; Isa. 44:6; Ex. 3:14; Ex. 6:3; Acts 17:24, 28; Gen. 17:7; Rom. 3:29; Luke 1:74-75; 1 Pet. 1:15-18; Lev. 18:30; Lev. 19:37.

Question #102

Q. What is the sum of the four commandments which contain our duty to God?

A. The sum of the four commandments containing our duty to God, is, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our strength, and with all our mind.

Luke 10:27.

Question #103

Q. Which is the first commandment?

A. The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Ex. 20:3.

Question #104

Q. What are the duties required in the first commandment?

A. The duties required in the first commandment are, the knowing and acknowledging of God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify him accordingly, by thinking, meditating, remembering, highly esteeming, honoring, adoring, choosing, loving, desiring, fearing of him; believing him; trusting, hoping, delighting, rejoicing in him; being zealous for him; calling upon him; giving all praise and thanks, and yielding all obedience and submission to him with the whole man; being careful in all things to please him, and sorrowful when in anything he is offended; and walking humbly with him.

1 Chr. 28:9; Deut. 26:17; Isa. 43:10; Jer. 14:22; Ps. 95:6-7; Matt. 4:10; Ps. 29:2; Mal. 3:16; Ps. 63:6; Ecc. 12:1; Ps. 71:19; Mal. 1:6; Isa. 45:23; Josh. 24:15, 22; Deut. 6:5; Ps. 123:25; Isa. 8:13; Ex. 14:31; Isa. 26:4; Ps. 130:7; Ps. 37:4; Ps. 32:11; Rom. 12:11; Num. 25:11; Phil. 4:6; Jer. 7:23; Jas 4:7; 1 John 3:22; Jer. 31:18; Ps. 119:136; Mic. 6:8.

Question #105

Q. What are the sins forbidden in the first commandment?

A. The sins forbidden in the first commandment are atheism, in denying, or not having a God; idolatry, in having or worshiping more gods than one, or any with, or instead of the true God; the not having and avouching him for God, and our God; the omission or neglect of any thing due to him, required in this commandment; ignorance, forgetfulness, misapprehensions, false opinions, unworthy and wicked thoughts of him; bold and curious searching into his secrets; all profaneness, hatred of God; self-love, self-seeking, and all other inordinate and immoderate setting of our mind, will, or affections upon other things, and taking them off from him in whole or in part; vain credulity, unbelief, heresy, misbelief, distrust, despair, incorrigibleness, and insensibleness under judgments; hardness of heart; pride; presumption; carnal security; tempting of God; using unlawful means, and trusting in lawful means; carnal delights and joys; corrupt, blind, and indiscreet zeal; lukewarmness, and deadness in the things of God; estranging ourselves, and apostatizing from God; praying, or giving any religious worship, to saints, angels, or any other creatures; all compacts and consulting with the devil, and hearkening to his suggestions; making men the lords of our faith and conscience; slighting and despising God and his commands; resisting and grieving of his Spirit, discontent and impatience at his dispensations, charging him foolishly for the evils he inflicts on us; and ascribing the praise of any good we either are, have, or can do, to fortune, idols, ourselves, or any other creature.

Ps. 14:1; Eph. 2:12; Jer. 2:27-28; 1 Thess. 1:9; Ps. 81:11; Isa. 43:22-24; Jer. 4:22; Hos. 4:1, 6; Jer. 2:32; Acts 17:23, 29; Isa. 40:18; Ps. 1:21; Deut. 29:29; Titus 1:16; Heb. 12:16; Rom. 1:30; 2 Tim. 3:2; Phil. 2:21; 1 John 2:15-16; 1 Sam. 2:29; Col. 3:2, 5; 1 John 4:1; Heb. 3:12; Gal. 5:20; Titus 3:10; Acts 26:9; Ps. 78:22;Gen. 4:13; Jer. 5:3; Isa. 42:25; Rom. 2:5; Jer. 13:15; Ps. 19:13; Zeph. 1:12; Matt. 4:7; Rom. 3:8; Jer. 17:5; 2 Tim. 3:4; Gal. 4:17; John 16:2; Rom. 10:2; Luke 9:54-55; Rev. 3:16; Rev. 3:1; Ezek. 14:5; Isa. 1:4-5; Rom. 10:13-14; Hos. 4:12; Acts 10:25-26; Rev. 19:10; Matt. 4:10; Col. 2:18; Rom. 1:25; Lev. 20:6; 1 Sam. 28:7, 11; 1 Chr. 10:13-14; Acts 5:3; 2 Cor. 1:24; Matt. 23:9; Deut. 32:15; 2 Sam. 12:9; Prov. 13:13; Acts 7:51; Eph. 4:30; Ps. 73:2-3, 13-15, 22; Job 1:22; 1 Sam. 6:7-9;Dan. 5:23; Deut. 8:17; Dan. 4:30; Hab. 1:16.

Prayer of Thanksgiving:

Our triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we are thankful that you are the God of creation. We thank you that you have given us your Word that contains all we need to know about our salvation. And because you have loved us with an everlasting love and adopted us into your family we give you praise. We are thankful for your eternal promises, which must come true. As we meditate on the first commandment ‘Thou shalt have no other God before me’ it humbles us that because there are no other Gods we have the truth that sets us free. To our trine God, may all praise, honor , and glory be yours. In Jesus’ name we pray AMEN.

Prayer of Supplication:

Heavenly Father, the giver of all good gifts, the one who is patient and kind to his people. We come before you this day asking for your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Father, give us your Spirit to teach us how to live before the face of God. We know we are to be obedient to all your ways but know that without your Spirit we cannot do so. Lord, we ask to be reminded always about Jesus and his perfect life and death so we could be granted eternal life. Father, please show favor to those among us who are in need of support, whether for health reasons, both spiritual and physical, financial concerns, and for those who do not Christ and it is in his name that we pray. AMEN.

Bible reading and commentary: Mark 2:23-28

In this section of Mark’s gospel Jesus discusses the Sabbath. What is the Sabbath?

The Sabbath is God's gracious gift of rest, worship, and renewal, established at creation (Genesis 2:2–3) and later commanded in the Ten Commandments. It was designed to remind God's people that He is both their Creator and Redeemer, calling them to cease from their ordinary work so they could delight in Him and enjoy His blessings.

Questions to think about for the bible passage:

What was the Sabbath intended for?

Can you explain what Jesus meant by David's example?

What did Jesus mean by ‘the Sabbath was "made for man, not man for the Sabbath?’

Commentary

This account begins with Jesus and his disciples going through the grainfields and as they were walking along the disciples started to pluck heads of grain to eat. In Deuteronomy 23:25, in the case of hunger it was permissible to eat heads of grain from any field one might pass by. The Pharisees asked Jesus why his disciples were working on the Sabbath, because, was not permitted on the Sabbath (Exodus 34:21). The Pharisee’s interpretation of the Sabbath emphasized not working on the Sabbath, even prohibiting the minimal ‘work’ involved in satisfying one’s hunger.

Jesus’ response to the Pharisees was not what they were expecting. He asked them if ‘they have ever read’ what David and his men did by eating the bread of the Presence on the Sabbath (1 Samuel 21:1-6). This bread was in the house of God and it was not lawful for anyone to eat except for the priests. Therefore there are certain actions that are allowed on the Sabbath that ordinarily might not be permitted. In our tradition we call these works of necessity. In this account,, the Pharisees interpretation of the law is considered to be the ‘letter of the law’ not ‘the spirit of the law’ or it is also known as a ‘wooden’ interpretation.

After asking the Pharisees about David and his men, he makes an astounding statement. He says. ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. This statement emphasizes that man is not to be confined by the Sabbath but rather the Sabbath is given as a gift to man for spiritual and physical refreshment. Then Jesus emphasizes his authority as Son of Man. If the Sabbath is for the benefit of mankind, and if the Son of Man is Lord over all mankind, then the Son of man is surely Lord of the Sabbath.

To further explain that ‘the Sabbath was made for man,’, we need to understand that man was created first, and then the Sabbath was instituted for him to benefit from its holy rest (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:1-3). Jesus was not abolishing the Sabbath, because he called it a creation ordinance, but he did oppose man-made legalism that made it a burden rather than an opportunity for spiritual delight in God (Isaiah 58:13-14).

Discuss questions above

Closing Thought

In Mark 2:23–28, Jesus teaches that the Sabbath was "made for man, not man for the Sabbath," correcting the Pharisees' legalistic distortions. The Sabbath was never intended to be a burdensome set of rules but a day that promotes life, mercy, and communion with God. By declaring Himself "Lord even of the Sabbath," Jesus reveals His authority to interpret its true purpose and points to the deeper rest that is ultimately found in Him.

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: Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (ESV)

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.