Family Worship Guide

Call to Worship – Isaiah 42:1

Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. (ESV)

Psalm Reading – Psalm 91:9–13

Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. (ESV)

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

Hymn:‍ Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners

Reading of the Law: Romans 12:1–2
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do 2not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

Silent Confession of Sin/Confession of Sin: Holy Lord, we have sinned times without number, and been guilty of pride and unbelief, of failure to find your mind in your Word, of neglect to seek you in our daily lives. Our transgressions and short-comings present us with a list of accusations, but we bless thee that they will not stand against us, for all have been laid on Christ. And grant, O most merciful Father, for His sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: 2 Corinthians 5:20–21

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (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 71-75

This week we continue grounding ourselves in the Larger Catechism’s teaching on Justification by faith and sanctification

Question #71

Q. How is justification an act of God’s free grace?

Although Christ, by his obedience and death, did make a proper, real and full satisfaction to God’s justice in the behalf of them that are justified; yet in as much as God accepteth the satisfaction from a surety, which he might have demanded of them, and did provide this surety, his own only Son, imputing his righteousness to them, and requiring nothing of them for their justification but faith, which also is his gift, their justification is to them of free grace.

Rom. 5:8-10, 19; 1 Tim. 2:5-6; Heb. 10:10; Matt. 20:28; Dan. 9:24, 26; Isa. 53:4-6; Isa. 53:10-12; Heb. 7:22; Rom. 8:32; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 3:24-25; Eph. 2:8; Eph. 1:7.

Question #72

Q. What is justifying faith?

A. Justifying faith is a saving grace, wrought in the heart of a sinner, by the Spirit and Word of God, whereby he, being convinced of his sin and misery, and of the disability in himself and all other creatures to recover him out of his lost condition, not only assenteth to the truth of the promise of the gospel, but receiveth and resteth upon Christ and his righteousness therein held forth, for pardon of sin, and for the accepting and accounting of his person righteous in the sight of God for salvation.

Heb. 10:39; 2 Cor. 4:13; Eph. 1:17-19; Rom. 10:14, 17; Acts 2:37; Acts 16:30; John 16:8-9; Rom. 5:6; Eph. 2:1; Acts 4:12; Eph. 1:13; John 1:12; Acts 16:31; Acts 10:43; Phil. 3:9; Acts 15:11.

Question #73

Q. How doth faith justify a sinner in the sight of God?

A. Faith justifies a sinner in the sight of God, not because of those other graces which do always accompany it, or of good works that are the fruits of it, nor as if the grace of faith, or any act thereof, were imputed to him for his justification; but only as it is an instrument by which he receiveth and applieth Christ and his righteousness.

Gal. 3:11; Rom. 3:28; Rom. 4:5; Rom. 10:10; John 1:12; Phil. 3:9; Gal. 2:16.

Question #74

Q. What is adoption?

A. Adoption is an act of the free grace of God, in and for his only Son Jesus Christ, whereby all those that are justified are received into the number of his children, have his name put upon them, the Spirit of his Son given to them, are under his fatherly care and dispensations, admitted to all the liberties and privileges of the sons of God, made heirs of all the promises, and fellow-heirs with Christ in glory.

1 John 3:1; Eph. 1:5; Gal. 4:4-5; John 1:12; 2 Cor. 6:18; Rev. 3:12; Gal. 4:6; Ps. 103:13; Prov. 14:26; Matt. 6:32; Heb. 6:12; Rom. 8:17.

Question #75

Q. What is sanctification?

A. Sanctification is a work of God’s grace, whereby they whom God hath before the foundation of the world chosen to be holy, are in time through the powerful operation of his Spirit, applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto them, renewed in their whole man after the image of God; having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all other saving graces, put into their hearts, and those graces so stirred up, increased, and strengthened, as that they more and more die unto sin and rise unto newness of life.

Eph. 1:4; 1 Cor. 6:11; 2 Thess. 2:13; Rom. 6:4-6; Eph. 4:23-24; Acts 11:18; 1 John 3:9; Jude 1:20; Heb. 6:11-12; Eph. 3:16-19; Col. 1:10-11; Rom. 6:4, 6, 14; Gal. 5:24.

Prayer of Thanksgiving: Gracious Father, we thank You for revealing Your beloved Son, in whom You are well pleased, and for sending Him to stand where we could not stand. We praise You that Jesus entered the waters of baptism to identify with sinners and walked faithfully through the wilderness for our sake. We thank You for His perfect obedience, His victory over temptation, and His proclamation of the good news of Your kingdom. We bless You for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who unites us to Christ and strengthens us in every trial. Receive our thanks for the grace that sustains, renews, and keeps us in Your steadfast love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Prayer of Supplication: Lord our God, strengthen us to follow Christ in faith and obedience, even when the path leads through wilderness places. Guard us from the schemes of the evil one, and give us grace to resist temptation as those who belong to Your beloved Son. Let the kingdom of God be our hope, our joy, and our aim in all things. Fill us with the Spirit’s power, that we may walk in holiness and bear faithful witness to Christ. Shape our hearts to trust Your Word, cling to Your promises, and serve You with undivided devotion. We pray in His name. Amen.

Bible reading and commentary: Mark 1:9-15 (Mark 1 - ESV.org) (click link to ESV.org)

Mark 1:9–15 introduces the public ministry of Jesus with remarkable depth and brevity, revealing both His identity and His mission. Jesus comes from Nazareth to be baptized by John—not because He has sins to confess, but to identify Himself with the people He came to save. By stepping into the waters of repentance, He willingly takes His place among sinners, foreshadowing the cross where He will bear their guilt in full.

As Jesus emerges from the water, the heavens are “torn open,” signaling that God Himself is breaking into human history. The Spirit descends upon Him like a dove, anointing Him for His messianic work, and the Father declares, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Jesus begins His ministry not by striving for approval but from the secure foundation of the Father’s delight. His mission flows from this divine affirmation.

Immediately, the Spirit drives Jesus into the wilderness. The urgency underscores the necessity of this testing. Where Adam failed in the garden and Israel faltered in the wilderness, Jesus stands firm. Mark’s brief account highlights both the danger of temptation and the provision of divine care, as angels minister to Him. Jesus emerges as the true and obedient Son, faithful where all others have fallen.

After John’s arrest, Jesus begins His public proclamation: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom ofGod is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” In Him, the long‑awaited promises of God have arrived. The kingdom is not merely future—it has drawn near in the person of the King. The proper response is clear: repentance, a turning from sin, and faith, a trusting embrace of the good news. Jesus’ message summons us to recognize His authority and submit to His gracious reign.

Calvin

“Christ was tempted in our flesh, that He might be the conqueror for us.”

Bavinck

“In His baptism and temptation, Christ takes His place at the head of a new humanity.”

Luther

“Where Christ is, there the devil will surely be also — but Christ is the stronger.

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: 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. (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.