SCRIPTURE REFERENCES » Luke 15

Household Worship Guide – 09/08/13

Under “Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”, we added a section to pray for the ministry of other churches.

This can be downloaded as a PDF by logging into the CITY.

Prayer

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

Address God and Praise Him for Who He Is (Matthew 6:11)

  • God’s omnipotence. “Omni meaning ‘all’ and potent, meaning ‘able to do and to have power.’ And so omnipotent means ‘able to do all and to have all power.’ It means having all the potency there is. ” (A.W. Tozer, Attributes of God). “For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)
  • Thank God for All That He Has Provided (Ephesians 5:20)

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Pray For Other Churches Doing the Will of Lord (Matt. 28:18-20)

  • Olive Branch Ministries Church,  San Jacinto – Website

Pray For The Gospel To Spread Among All Peoples (Matt. 9:37-38)

  • COUNTRY: Cuba
    DESCRIPTION: In 2008, Fidel Castro turned leadership over to his brother, General Raul Castro, and the country is now run by General Castro and a team of Communist Party loyalists. Raul is slowly implementing economic reforms, and Cuba’s relationship with the United States appears to be improving. The Cuban government seeks to control most aspects of Cuban life through the Communist Party, government bureaucracy and state security. The Ministry of Interior is the principal organ of state security and control.Category: Restricted Nation
    Religion: Christian 56.5.{e0b72a53c242df1424785628340537005f8b2ebeecfbb0205a95286f7b4c8fc9}, Non-Religious 25.0{e0b72a53c242df1424785628340537005f8b2ebeecfbb0205a95286f7b4c8fc9}
    Ideology: Communism
    Head of State: President General Raul Castro RuzThe constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but religious groups experience interference, harassment and discrimination, and their leaders are sometimes imprisoned. Cuba considers church growth a threat to regime stability. The Religious Affairs Office, an arm of the Cuban Communist Party, actively tries to control churches through surveillance, infiltration and harassment of church leaders. Pastors understand that their congregations are infiltrated and monitored by government agents. Cuban law prohibits the unauthorized assembly of more than 12 people. Many Christians meet in unregistered house churches even though they have been strictly regulated since 2005. VOM is involved in repairing house churches and supporting evangelistic teams.

    *Information taken from The Voice of the Martyrs, Persecution.com

Give us this day our daily bread”

Pray For Yours and Your Family’s Needs (Matthew 6:11)

Pray For One Another (James 5:16)

  • See the CITY for a list of families to pray for.

Pray For Those Who Feed, Lead, And Care For The Flock (Col. 4:3; 2 Thess. 3:1)

  • Elders: Joe Anady, Steve Bovee, Kris Vanderschuit
  • Deacons: Dave Anady, Mike Thezier

Pray For Kings And Those In Authority (1 Timothy 2:2)

  • Local: San Jacinto Mayor Pro Tem – Alonso Ledezma
  • State: Attorney General  – Kamala Harris
  • Nation: Secretary of State  – John Kerry

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

Ask Forgiveness From God And Others. Forgive Those Who Sinned Against You. (1 John 1:9)

lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

Pray That God Would Strengthen Us From Giving Into Temptation (James 1:12-17).

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Worship through Song

Song of the Month  

  • I encourage you to incorporate musical worship in some way within your household worship time. This is also a great way to prepare for worship Sunday worship by learning the songs we sing.
  • “O Great God” by Sovereign Grace Music can be purchased and downloaded here.

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Preparing for the Lord’s Day

Our Sermon Text For This Week Is: Galatians 1:10-24

  • For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. 11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.

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Family Scripture Reading
The scriptures follow the reading plan for families outlined in Emmaus’ Passages booklet.

  • Sunday – 2 Sam. 2, 1 Cor. 13
    Monday – 2 Sam. 3, 1 Cor. 14
    Tuesday – 2 Sam. 4-5, 1 Cor. 15
    Wednesday – 2 Sam. 6, 1 Cor. 16
    Thursday – 2 Sam. 7, 2 Cor. 1
    Friday – 2 Sam. 8-9, 2 Cor. 2
    Saturday – 2 Sam. 10, 2 Cor. 3

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Catechism – Instruction of God’s Word

Doctrinal Standard WSC #87

  • Q. What is repentance unto life?
  • A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace, by which a sinner, being truly aware of his sinfulness, understands the mercy of God in Christ, grieves for and hates his sins, and turns from them to God, fully intending and striving for a new obedience.

Memory Verse(s)

  • “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, 17 learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause” (Isaiah 1:16-17, ESV).

Scripture

  • Study Passage: II Corinthians 7
  • Support Passages: Psalm 51:5-13, 80:3,7,19; Acts 2:37-38, 5:30-31, 11:18; II Timothy 2:25
  • Bible Story: Luke 15:11-24

Thoughts

  • Below is taken from chapter 15 of the The Baptist Confession of Faith 1689 – Notes by Peter Masters.
  • “15.1 Those of the elect who are converted in riper years [adult life], having lived some time in the state of nature [unsaved], and in this state served various lusts and pleasures, God gives repentance which leads to life, through an effectual call.1 1 Tit 3.2-5.
  • 15.2. Because there is not one person who does good and commits no sin,2 and because the best of men may fall into great sins and provo­cations [to God] through the power and deceitfulness of their own indwelling corruption and the prevalency [superior power] of temptation, God has mercifully provided in the covenant of grace that when believers sin and fall they shall be renewed [restored] through repentance to salvation.3 2 Ecc 7.20. 3 Luke 22.31-32.
  • 15.3. Saving repentance is an evangelical grace4 by which a person who is made to feel, by the Holy Spirit, the manifold evils of his sin, and being given faith in Christ, humbles himself over his sin with godly sorrow, detestation [hatred] of his sin and self-abhorrency [self-disgust or shame].5 In such repentance the person also prays for pardon and strength of grace, and has a purpose and endeavour [a striving aim and desire], by supplies of the Spirit’s power, to walk before God and to ­totally please Him in all things.6 4 Zech 12.10; Acts 11.18. 5 Ezek 36.31; 2 Cor 7.11. 6 Psa 119.6 & 128.
  • 15.4. As repentance is to be continued through the whole course of our lives, on account of the body of death [continuing corruption], and the motions of it, it is therefore every man’s duty to repent of his particular known sins particularly7 [ie: of individual sins known to him, naming them and repenting of them]. 7 Luke 19.8; 1 Tim 1.13-15.
  • 15.5. Such is the provision which God has made through Christ in the covenant of grace for the preservation of believers in the way of salvation, that although even the smallest sin deserves damnation,8 yet there is no sin great enough to bring damnation on those who ­repent.9 This makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary [essential]. 8 Rom 6.23. 9 Isa 1.16-18; 55.7” [1]

Discussion Questions

  • What does it mean to repent?
  • Why is repentance so important in a Christian’s life?
  • Explain how repentance and faith are connected?
  • Where does the ability to repent come from? Explain
  • Discuss the work of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Spirit) in bringing about repentance in a believers life.
  • If you are living an unrepentant life what does it reveal about your heart?
  • What steps should be taken to bring about heart transformation?


[1] Masters, Peter (1982). The Baptist Confession of Faith 1689 – Notes by Peter Masters. Ashland, Ohio, USA; BookMasters, Inc.


Catechism Insight – Doctrinal Standard WSC #36 (1 of 3 weeks)

Doctrinal Standard #36 (1 of 3 weeks)

  • Q. What benefits in this life go with or come from justification, adoption, and sanctification?
  • A. The benefits that in this life go with or come from justification, adoption, and sanctification are: the assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Spirit, and growing and persevering in grace to the end of our lives.

Memory Verses

  • “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:2–3, ESV).

Scripture

  • Study Passage: 1 John 5
  • Support Passages: 1 John 1:6-9; 2:3-29; 3:3-24; 4:6-13
  • Bible Story: Luke 15

Thoughts

  • God’s work of justification, adoption, and sanctification in the lives of believers provides the assurance that He will never leave nor forsake His promises. God is the author of sanctification. Believers are saved because of what Jesus has done and it is not up to the believer. God has bought His people with the blood of Christ, adopted them into His family, and is sanctifying their lives through the work of the Holy Spirit. It is with this understanding that believers can have assurance that God’s love will also remain and never change.
  • In order to understand the assurance of God’s love and the peace of conscience that the catechism speaks of, it is important to remember God’s sovereign plan in the lives of believers. Ephesians 1:4–5 teaches us, “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.” Understanding God sovereign plan provides a believer with greater assurance in God’s love that will never fail or forsake those who call upon Him for salvation.
  • Understanding God’s sovereign plan of salvation (justification), adoption, and sanctification gives greater insight to the parables that Jesus told in Luke 15. Each of the three parables provides an illustration on the assurance of God’s love and the peace that comes from that. Each of the three parables illustrates how God’s will never relent in gathering those who are His nor will he forsake His children who seem to walk away for a time.

Discussion Questions

  • What does assurance mean?
  • What does peace of conscience mean?
  • How do Christians have an assurance of God’s love?
  • Read Luke 15. One of the parables is often referred to as the “The Parable of The Prodigal Son.” Even though most of the story describes the son’s behavior, why is this story really about the Father?
  • What does this teach us about God’s love?
  • What do the other two parables in Luke 15 teach us about God’s love?
  • How does knowing God’s love give us a “peace of conscience”?

 

 



"Him we proclaim,
warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
that we may present everyone mature in Christ."
(Colossians 1:28, ESV)

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