Scripture Reading:

#1. Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love. (2 John 1:3)

#2. But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield. (Psalm 5:11-12)


Prayer of Praise to God: Heavenly Father, you are our Rock and our Refuge and we sing praises to your name. You protect us from the evil one and from ourselves. We trust you for our salvation, and thank you for the love you have shown us in your Son. We stand in the love of Christ who took on flesh so he could pay the price for us and it’s in his name we pray Amen.

V1. In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

V2. In Christ alone! - who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live.


V3. There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

V4. No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.


Reading of the Law: You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.  (Matthew 5:21-26)

Silent Confession of Sin/Confession of Sin: Eternal God, and most merciful Father!  We confess and acknowledge here before your Divine Majesty, that we are miserable sinners, conceived and born in sin and iniquity, so that in us there is no goodness.  Heavenly Father, we are displeased with ourselves for the sins that we have committed against you, and do sincerely repent of them. We most humbly beseech you, for the sake of Jesus Christ, to show your mercy upon us, to forgive us all our sins. We pray, not because of our worthiness, but because of the merits of your dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, our only Savior.     

Reading of the Gospel: For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. (Romans 5:6-9)

Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 1 

 Question #1

Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death?

A. That I am not my own, but belong,  body and soul, in life and in death to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.

Question #2

Q. What must you know to live and die in the joy of this comfort?

A. Three things: first, how great my sin and misery are; second, how I am set free from all my sins and misery; third, how I am to thank God for such deliverance.

Prayer of Thanksgiving: Give thanks and praise for the blessings God has given

Prayer of Supplication: Ask God to provide for other’s needs and your family’s needs

Bible reading and commentary:

Read: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9

In 1 Corinthians, Paul, who is not writing with some kind of pretended authority, but as an apostle according to God’s will, addresses a church that, like many in our day, is both deeply flawed and greatly loved. To prepare his readers to confront the many challenges to their spiritual maturity, he reminds them that God’s people possess the resources needed for spiritual growth and transformation. Paul speaks objectively of the saints, ones who are set apart for God. We are united to Christ (“in Christ Jesus” vv 2, 4) and the reality is that we are to demonstrate our new life by the way we live. We share fellowship with him and with God as our Father (vv 3, 9). As a result, we receive the blessings of grace, peace, and the gifts of the Spirit (vv 3-7). Therefore, we have no room for pride or self-boasting. Though we were once defiled by sin, God has now cleansed us and made us his holy people through Christ’s perfect sacrifice (“sanctified,” “saints,” v2: “guiltless,” v 8). Confidence that we can grow in holiness rests not on ourselves but on the faithfulness of God and his Son Jesus, who will “sustain [us] to the end” (vv 8-9).

In various places in the letter Paul will rebuke the Corinthians for being puffed up and proud (4:6-8). Speaking and knowing are two areas where the Corinthian believers were proud (8:1-3; 13:2; 14).

God has set them apart in Christ Jesus and will continue his work of grace to the end when there will be blamelessness. Though the Corinthians were not demonstrating holiness in every area, God would not fail in his work of redemption (Philippians 1:6).

The logic of the epistle is therefore clear: the kind of repentance, holy living, and self-sacrificial love that should characterize believers in Christ can be realized only by the supply of, and dependence upon, the gospel provisions.

As Christians we should be meditating on what it means to be set apart in Christ Jesus. This should give us motivation to live for him. We are not to be transformed by the culture but by the renewing of our mind which leads to obedience to the Word of God. Christians should never flounder on whether abortion is wrong, or whether gay marriage should be acceptable. God’s Word is very clear on these things. We belong to Jesus and are being sanctified in him. We are always to be finding hope and satisfaction in the gospel of Christ’s life, death and resurrection. The things of this world are passing away. Remember, He who died for us also lived for us. Praise be to God.

*Sources: Gospel Transformation Bible, Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible

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: Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible. (Ephesians 6:23-24)

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.


Family Devotion Guide 

Week 1