Family Worship Guide

Scripture Reading:
‍#1 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed! For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! (Psalm 84:8-12)

#2 I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules” (Dan. 9:4-5).

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

Hymn:‍ How Deep the Fathers Love For Us

Reading of the Law: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

Silent Confession of Sin/Confession of Sin: Almighty God, we acknowledge and confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed; we have not loved you with all of our heart, soul, and strength; we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves. Deepen within us our sorrow for the wrong we have done, and the good we have left undone. Lord, you are full of compassion and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy; there is always forgiveness with you! Restore to us the joy of your salvation; bind up that which is broken, give light to our minds, strength to our wills, and rest to our souls. Speak to each of us, and let your word abide with us until it has wrought in us your holy will. Amen.

Reading of the Gospel: Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake! (Psalm 79:8-9)

Westminster Larger Catechism - Questions 11-15

Question #11

Q. How doth it appear that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father?

A. The Scriptures manifest that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father, ascribing unto them such names, attributes, works, and worship, as are proper to God only.

Isa. 6:3, 5, 8; John 12:41; Acts 28:25; 1 John 5:20; Acts 5:3-4; John 1:1; Isa. 9:6; John 2:24-25; 1 Cor. 2:10-11; Col. 1:16; Gen. 1:2; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14.

Question #12

Q. What are the decrees of God?

A. God’s decrees are the wise, free, and holy acts of the counsel of his will, whereby, from all eternity, he hath, for his own glory, unchangeably fore-ordained whatsoever comes to pass in time, especially concerning angels and men.

Eph. 1:11; Rom. 11:33; Rom. 9:14-15, 18; Eph. 1:4, 11; Rom. 9:22-23; Ps. 33:11.

Question #13

Q. What hath God especially decreed concerning angels and men?

A. God, by an eternal and immutable decree, out of his mere love, for the praise of his glorious grace, to be manifested in due time, hath elected some angels to glory; and in Christ hath chosen some men to eternal life, and the means thereof: and also according to his sovereign power, and the unsearchable counsel of his own will, (whereby he extendeth or withholdeth favor as he pleaseth), hath passed by, and fore-ordained the rest to dishonor and wrath, to be for their sin inflicted, to the praise of the glory of his justice.

1 Tim. 5:21; Eph. 1:4-6; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; Rom. 9:17-18, 21-22; Matt. 11:25-26; 2 Tim. 2:20; Jude 1:4; 1 Pet. 2:8.

Question #14

Q. How doth God execute his decrees?

A. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence, according to his infallible fore-knowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of his own will.

Eph. 1:11.

Question #15

Q. What is the work of creation?

A. The work of creation is that wherein God did in the beginning, by the word of his power, make of nothing the world, and all things therein, for himself, within the space of six days, and all very good.

Gen. 1; Heb. 11:3; Prov. 16:4.

Prayer of Thanksgiving: Give thanks to God for his steadfast love that endures forever and for his grace and mercy.

Prayer of Supplication Supplication: Ask God for peace in our land and for Westminster to be a church that welcomes people from all backgrounds and economic situations.

Bible reading and commentary: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Heavenly revelations and thorns in the flesh are the two extreme realities of Paul’s apostolic experience (vv 4, 7). Both have the potential to knock him off balance, but the gospel stabilizes him and provides proper perspective. While he might have become arrogant over receiving unutterable visions and revelations (vv 1, 4), he refrains from divulging because he doesn’t want anyone to think more of him that is accurate (v 6). Nothing, not even mysterious spiritual experiences, will muddy the waters of Paul’s gospel witness.

Paul’s thorn in the flesh was so painful that it could have crushed his spirit (v 8). However, he has a gospel paradigm that assures him that when he is weak, then he (Jesus) is strong (v 10). Nothing, not even painful experiences, will bring Paul to doubt his identity and calling in the gospel. His painful circumstances brought him to cherish the all-sufficient grace of God (9a), indeed, to boast in his weaknesses (v 9b). All Christians should observe and follow Paul in his walk with Christ. The gospel gives us a radical change in thinking, one that liberates us from thinking too highly of ourselves. For if weakness is something in which we can boast, nothing can ultimately overwhelm us.

We must also guard our hearts against both spiritual arrogance and feeling sorry for ourselves. Because we are defined by Christ and not by what we know or do, there should be no boasting about our theological experience or knowledge. Similarly, because Christ has already proven his unchanging love for us, our circumstances should never cause us to suspect his goodness. The gospel allows us to receive God’s grace as an unmerited gift, and to understand our circumstances as opportunities for him to be proven all-sufficient and all-powerful (v 9). When we are weak, we are strong. That is the upside down world of God’s kingdom. The unconverted will never understand the beauty in that.

There are many Christians today who seek special or exciting experiences. More important than spiritual experiences is the daily experience of God’s grace. Claims about spiritual experiences are not to be taken at face value: they are always to be judged and tested by the clear teaching of the Bible. More often than not, spiritual experiences come to us through the truth of God’s promises in tough situations or in suffering. Knowing God is more important than seeking experiences and even spiritual gifts. The best test of spiritual growth and health is our desire to know God.

Closing Hymn: 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.

Closing Scripture: In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also (John 14:2-3).

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