Family Worship Guide

Call to Worship: Psalm 67:3–5

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! (ESV)

Old Testament Reading: Proverbs 4:

Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a graceful garland she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”

Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.

Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked,

and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.

My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. (ESV)

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

Hymn:‍ And Can It Be, That I Should Gain?

Reading of the Law: Matthew 22:37–40

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (ESV)

Silent Confession of Sin/Confession of Sin:

Lord God, eternal and almighty Father: We acknowledge before your holy majesty that we are poor sinners, conceived and born in guilt and in corruption, prone to do evil, unable of our own power to do good. Because of our sin, we endlessly violate your holy commandments. But, O Lord, with heartfelt sorrow we repent and turn away from all our offenses. We condemn ourselves and our evil ways, with true sorrow asking that your grace will relieve our distress. Have compassion on us, most gracious God, Father of mercies, for the sake of your son Jesus Christ our Lord. And in removing our guilt, also grant us daily increase of the grace of your Holy Spirit, and produce in us the fruits of holiness and of righteousness pleasing in your sight: Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: John 3:16–17

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (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 122-125

Let’s continue to study the WLC by looking at the fifth commandment which is: Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

Question #122

Q. What is the sum of the six commandments which contain our duty to man?

A. The sum of the six commandments which contain our duty to man, is, to love our neighbor as ourselves, and to do to others what we would have them to do to us.

Matt. 22:39; Matt. 7:12.

Question #123

Q. Which is the fifth commandment?

A. The fifth commandment is, Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

Ex. 20:12.

Question #124

Q. Who are meant by father and mother in the fifth commandment?

A. By father and mother, in the fifth commandment, are meant, not only natural parents, but all superiors in age and gifts; and especially such as, by God’s ordinance, are over us in place of authority, whether in family, church, or commonwealth.

Prov. 23:22, 25: Eph. 6:1-2; 1 Tim. 5:1-2; Gen. 4:20-22; Gen. 45:8; 2 Kings 5:13; 2 Kings 2:12; 2 Kings 13:14; Gal. 4:19; Isa. 49:23.

Question #125

Q. Why are superiors styled father and mother?

A. Superiors are styled father and mother, both to teach them in all duties towards their inferiors, like natural parents, to express love and tenderness to them, according to their several relations; and to work inferiors to a greater willingness and cheerfulness in performing their duties to their superiors, as to their parents.

Eph. 6:4; 2 Cor. 12:14; 1 Thess. 2:7-8, 11; Num. 11:11-12; 1 Cor. 4:14-16; 2 Kings 5:13.

Prayer of Thanksgiving:

Our Father in heaven, you deserve all honor, as we just read from the WLC, that we should honor those in authority. We are thankful that you have given us godly leaders in our home and church. You have given your Son, Jesus, all authority in heaven and on earth. We give thanks to you, O Lord, for your Word that teaches us all the things we need to know to live upright lives. We pray, Father, that you would receive all glory from our lives that we thankfully dedicate to you. We pray in Jesus’ name Amen.

Prayer of Supplication:

Our Lord and Savior God, we come before you today seeking your will in our lives which is to be sanctified. We ask that you sanctify us with your Word, for your Word is truth. May we be always seeking the truth and applying it to our lives so we can better love you with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength and our neighbors as ourselves. We ask Father that you change our hearts so that we would pray for our civil leaders and not criticize them for they are your servants. Lord, we thank you for our daily bread and ask that you would teach us how to use our resources wisely. Help us to understand how to use everything you have given us to advance your kingdom. Help us to love our triune God. We ask these things in Jesus’ name Amen.

Bible reading and commentary: Mark 4:21-34

In this section of Mark’s gospel Jesus teaches the people using parables

Questions to think about for the bible passage:

In Mark 4:25 what does Jesus mean by: “ For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”?

In the parable of the seed growing, “Where are we tempted to take too much responsibility for producing spiritual growth—in ourselves or in others?”

Why did Jesus explain the parable to his disciples and not everybody?

Commentary

Jesus continues teaching about the kingdom by using everyday images that reveal how God works in quiet, steady, and often surprising ways. Each parable invites us to listen carefully and trust that God’s purposes are advancing even when we cannot see them clearly.

1. The light cannot ultimately be hidden — vv. 21–25

Jesus begins with a lamp: “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand?” Lamps exist to give light. In the same way, the truth of the gospel — and Jesus himself — is meant to be revealed. The kingdom may look small or hidden now, but God’s purposes are never stalled.

Then Jesus says, “Pay attention to what you hear.” That matters especially when life feels confusing or heavy. Our circumstances can shout loudly: This isn’t working. God feels distant. I don’t know what to do. Jesus redirects us: listen to his Word. Those who receive his teaching and respond to it will be given more understanding. We don’t need to grasp everything at once; we need to keep listening.

2. The seed grows even when the farmer doesn’t understand how — vv. 26–29

Jesus then describes a farmer who scatters seed and goes to sleep. “The seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.” The farmer does his part, but the growth happens beyond his sight and beyond his control. That is a comforting picture of the kingdom of God.

There are seasons when we faithfully obey and wonder, Is anything happening? Jesus assures us that God is at work even when we cannot see it. Growth is often gradual — “first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain.” God may give us small beginnings today that lead to maturity later. This applies to the church, to ministry, to our own sanctification, and to the people we love. Growth can be happening beneath the surface long before it becomes visible.

And when the harvest comes, the farmer doesn’t manufacture it; he simply recognizes what God has brought to completion.

3. Don’t despise small beginnings — vv. 30–32

Jesus then gives the mustard seed — tiny at first, yet eventually becoming something large and sheltering. The disciples could easily have looked at Jesus’ ministry and wondered if this was really the kingdom: a small group, a Galilean teacher, opposition from leaders. It looked unimpressive.

Jesus teaches them — and us — not to judge the kingdom by its present appearance. God’s work often begins quietly: a prayer, a conversation, a verse that suddenly matters, a small step of faith, a church that simply preaches the Word. None of these may look spectacular, but God specializes in mustard‑seed beginnings.

4. Jesus gives people what they are able to hear — vv. 33–34

Mark concludes by saying Jesus taught “as they were able to hear it.” That is a gentle, patient truth. Jesus does not overwhelm his people with everything at once. He teaches us in ways we can bear, at a pace we can handle.

That matters when we feel confused or weak. We don’t need to understand everything this week. We don’t need to know why God has allowed every circumstance. Sometimes the faithful response is simply: “Lord, I don’t understand, but I trust You.”

Closing Thought

The thread running through this whole passage is simple and steady: God’s kingdom is advancing even when we cannot see it. The lamp will shine. The seed will grow. The mustard seed will become great. And God himself guarantees the outcome. Our role is faithfulness — sowing what he gives us, listening to his Word, and trusting him with the growth. We can rest, because the seed keeps growing even while we sleep.

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: Philippians 4:4–7

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (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.