12 June 2022
Call to Worship: Psalm 100:1-5
Opening Psalm: Psalm 96 “Sing to the LORD, Sing His Praise”
Confession of Sin
Almighty God, Who are rich in mercy to all those who call upon You; Hear us as we humbly come to You confessing our sins; And imploring Your mercy and forgiveness. We have broken Your holy laws by our deeds and by our words; And by the sinful affections of our hearts. We confess before You our disobedience and ingratitude, our pride and willfulness; And all our failures and shortcomings toward You and toward fellow men. Have mercy upon us, Most merciful Father; And of Your great goodness grant that we may hereafter serve and please You in newness of life; Through the merit and mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: Matthew 1:18-21
Psalm of Preparation: Psalm 121A “I Lift My Eyes Up to the Hills”
Old Covenant Reading: Genesis 22:1-19
New Covenant Reading: James 2:14-26
Sermon: A Living Faith
Hymn of Response: 538 “Take My Life, and Let It Be”
Confession of Faith: Nicene Creed (p. 852)
Doxology (Hymn 568)
Closing Hymn: 474 “If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee”
Evening Service
Hymns: 150C, 409, 405
OT: Leviticus 19:9-18
NT: Philemon 1-7
Sermon: Faith acting through love
Suggested Preparation
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Monday (6/6) read and discuss James 2:14-26
James 2:14–26 (ESV)
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
Craig Blomberg and Mariam Kamell write:
The appeal to demonic monotheism in v. 19 intensely intrigues us. Of course, James’s point may be merely that demons know all too well that only one God exists and that he is so powerful as to make them recoil in his presence, yet they are not saved thereby. But James could have made his point that dead orthodoxy fails to save, because unsaved demons share it, without the addition of “and they tremble.” Perhaps he wants to warn against an emotionalism substituting for true faith as well. How much of contemporary Christianity judges authentic religion on the basis of the emotional experiences it produces, not by the practical fruit of faithful living (cf. esp. Mt 7:21–23)? This passage also speaks to our culture’s endemic religious laziness:
Our churches today contain many people who agree with the imaginary challenger in James. Not only does “faith” not require any relationships or obligations to others, but any suggestion that it does is met with resistance. Twice as many Americans explicitly claim to be members of churches or synagogues as actually participate in the activities of those groups. Attempts to form bonds between wealthy suburban churches and inner-city congregations often meet great resistance (Perkins, First and Second Peter, James, and Jude, 113).
When such “nominalism” afflicts close friends and family members, we desperately want to believe that they are nevertheless right with God (and fortunately God, the only Judge, knows unerringly), but we take the dangerously easy way out when we fail to challenge them to levels of involvement that more clearly suggest true faith if in fact they are not true Christians at all.
MEMORY WORK
Q. 35. What is sanctification?
A. Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.
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Tuesday (6/7) read and discuss 2 Timothy 4:9-22
2 Timothy 4:9–22 (ESV)
9 Do your best to come to me soon. 10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. 16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. 21 Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers. 22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
George Knight writes:
This section presents an interesting picture of the great apostle. He appreciates the company and assurances of fellow workers and expresses the need for the tools of his ministry (“the books, especially the parchments”). He is aware of the danger of false teachers and opponents (e.g. Alexander) and warns his younger colleague to be on his guard. His sense of God’s justice gives him confidence that such opposition will be judged. He also feels keenly his desertion by “all” at his first defense. But his compassion wishes that the Lord not count this against them. In the midst of such disappointment over humans, he stills desires the aid and comfort of his colleagues Timothy and Mark. And he desires it not just for himself, but also for the sake of the ministry to which God has called him.
Going beyond what Paul says here about human companionship is his expression of absolute confidence in the unfailing presence and care of the Lord. The Lord washes over Paul and delivers him, even from the most difficult situations, and enables him to fulfill, even in that moment of trial, the ministry to which he has been called. So grateful is Paul for such a Lord in the midst of such difficult circumstances that he breaks out into a doxology of praise and asks that that Lord be glorified forever.
MEMORY WORK
Q. 36. What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption and sanctification?
A. The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption and sanctification, are, assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end.
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Wednesday (6/8) read and discuss Genesis 22:1-19
Genesis 22:1–19 (ESV)
1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. 9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” 15 And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba.
John Calvin writes:
Take now thy son. Abraham is commanded to immolate his son. If God had said nothing more than that his son should die, even this message would have most grievously wounded his mind; because, whatever favour he could hope for from God, was included in this single promise, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called.” Whence he necessarily inferred, that his own salvation, and that of the whole human race, would perish, unless Isaac remained in safety. For he was taught, by that word, that God would not be propitious to man without a Mediator. For although the declaration of Paul, that ‘all the promises of God in Christ are yea and Amen,’ was not yet written, (2 Cor. 1:20,) it was nevertheless engraven on the heart of Abraham. Whence, however, could he have had this hope, but from Isaac? The matter had come to this; that God would appear to have done nothing but mock him. Yet not only is the death of his son announced to him, but he is commanded with his own hand to slay him; as if he were required, not only to throw aside, but to cut in pieces, or cast into the fire, the charter of his salvation, and to have nothing left for himself, but death and hell. But it may be asked, how, under the guidance of faith, he could be brought to sacrifice his son, seeing that what was proposed to him, was in opposition to that word of God, on which it is necessary for faith to rely? To this question the Apostle answers, that his confidence in the word of God remained unshaken; because he hoped that God would be able to cause the promised benediction to spring up, even out of the dead ashes of his son. (Heb. 9:19.) His mind, however, must of necessity have been severely crushed, and violently agitated, when the command and the promise of God were conflicting within him. But when he had come to the conclusion, that the God with whom he knew he had to do, could not be his adversary; although he did not immediately discover how the contradiction might be removed, he nevertheless, by hope, reconciled the command with the promise; because, being indubitably persuaded that God was faithful, he left the unknown issue to Divine Providence. Meanwhile, as with closed eyes, he goes whither he is directed. The truth of God deserves this honour; not only that it should far transcend all human means, or that it alone, even without means, should suffice us, but also that it should surmount all obstacles.
MEMORY WORK
Q. 37. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death?
A. The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies, being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves till the resurrection.
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Thursday (6/9) read and discuss Leviticus 19:9-18
Leviticus 19:9–18 (ESV)
9 “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. 10 And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God. 11 “You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another. 12 You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord. 13 “You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning. 14 You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the Lord. 15 “You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. 16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord. 17 “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
Rousas John Rushdoony writes:
In vv. 9–10, gleaning by the poor is set forth as God’s requirement. This law appears again in Leviticus 23:22, and also in Deuteronomy 24:19–22; in this last text, it is made clear that “the stranger, the fatherless, and … the widow” are to be the beneficiaries. Moreover, there is a reminder: “And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing” (Deut. 24:22). Implicit in this reminder is the threat of another time of bondage for the neglect of God’s law….
In Ruth we see the generous and godly application of this law of gleaning. Recognizing Ruth’s virtue, Boaz made sure that she had an extra amount of gleanings in her path (Ruth 2:1–23). We should note that the gleaners here worked just behind the hired harvesters. By this means, the gleaning was made personal; harvesters were conscious of the needy working just behind them and could be moved to generosity.
The premise of gleaning, as of all law, is that “the earth is the LORD’S” (Ex. 9:29); in terms of this, God can as readily command Egypt as Israel, and His law is applicable to all.
The laws of other nations, as with Roman law, stressed the protection of the ruling class. God’s law speaks of the poor as our “brothers,” and they are to be helped. Helping the needy was and is a religious duty, according to the law. In terms of this, some rabbis held that a person should thank the needy for giving one an opportunity to show mercy.
MEMORY WORK
Q. 38. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?
A. At the resurrection, believers, being raised up in glory, shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment, and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God to all eternity.
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Friday (6/10) read and discuss Philemon 1-7
Philemon 1–7 (ESV)
1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker 2 and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. 7 For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
G. K. Beale writes:
The reason Paul thanks God for these things is to assure Philemon of the truth of his Christian faith by causing him to reflect on the evidence of love and faith working in him. It has probably been about three years since Paul has seen Philemon, so instead of moving directly to the body from the letter opening to make the explicit request about Onesimus, the thanksgiving is first inserted to reestablish his relationship with the slave owner and show gratitude for his love and faith. The thanksgiving also functions to exhort Philemon to persevere even more in the love and faith that he already exhibited. Likewise, the initial mention of prayer in the thanksgiving shows that Philemon is always in Paul’s prayers.
MEMORY WORK
Q. 39. What is the duty which God requireth of man?
A. The duty which God requireth of man is obedience to his revealed will.
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Saturday (6/11) read and discuss James 2:14-26
James 2:14–26 (ESV)
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
John Calvin writes:
What doth it profit. He proceeds to commend mercy. And as he had threatened that God would be a severe Judge to us, and at the same time very dreadful, except we be kind and merciful towards our neighbours, and as on the other hand hypocrites objected and said, that faith is sufficient to us, in which the salvation of men consists, he now condemns this vain boasting. The sum, then, of what is said is, that faith without love avails nothing, and that it is therefore wholly dead….
Can faith save him? This is the same as though he had said, that we do not attain salvation by a frigid and bare knowledge of God, which all confess to be most true; for salvation comes to us by faith for this reason, because it joins us to God. And this comes not in any other way than by being united to the body of Christ, so that, living through his Spirit, we are also governed by him. There is no such thing as this in the dead image of faith. There is then no wonder that James denies that salvation is connected with it.
MEMORY WORK
Q. 40. What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?
A. The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience was the moral law.