Christians must strive to walk worthy of Christ and his kingdom for our compelling witness is the Gospel’s greatest draw, Phil. 1.27-30
Let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ.
Our Focus Today
Our compelling testimony in the world is a clear sign to our opponents of their destruction, but of our salvation in God, Phil. 1.28
Invocation
Thank you, Father, that when we live our lives in unity and honor of Christ and his Gospel, we become a sign to those who oppose your Word of their upcoming judgment, and of our salvation in God. Even the opposition we face works to strengthen us in our walk with you. Give us confidence to persevere in the face of trial and difficulty. Amen.
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, amen.
Wednesday: Matt. 8.5-13; Matt. 11; Luke 7
Our compelling testimony in the world is a clear sign to our opponents of their destruction, but of our salvation in God, Phil. 1.28
Reflection
We do not ever need to be intimidated by those who oppose the Gospel of Christ, for we can show those who reject his Word can be convinced of their impending judgment through our unity and perseverance. We can be confident, even in the spite of those who oppose his salvation.
Apostles Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
*In the Apostles and Nicene Creeds, the term catholic refers to the Church’s universality, through all ages and times, of all languages and peoples. It refers to no particular tradition or denominational expression (e.g., as in Roman Catholic).
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Benediction
O God Most High, when we live in unity, honoring Christ and his Gospel and living our lives with love and respect, we show those who do not believe in your Word that they will be judged and we also demonstrate our salvation through God. Help us to be strong in the face of trial that we may endure and overcome through faith in you. Amen.
Scripture Memory
Psalm 145:1-7 (ESV)
A SONG OF PRAISE. OF DAVID. 1 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. 2 Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. 3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. 4 One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. 5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. 6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
Book Reading and Reflection
Why did Jesus go about “doing good”? Because it’s an integral part of what He considered the greatest command: loving God with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. The Bible makes it clear that if we can’t love those made in God’s image, then we don’t love Him either (1 John 4:20). But if we do love God, then we will love others and will demonstrate that the same way Jesus did. How? By serving. Jesus said, “[I] did not come to be served, but to serve.” And Jesus served by ministering to the sick, feeding the hungry, raising the dead, and, ultimately, by giving “His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45 NKJV). If we are in love with God, we’ll serve too, not to garner attention, as the Pharisees did, but because we love God and want to demonstrate it by serving Him and those made in His image.
~ Vernon Whaley, Called to Worship: The Biblical Foundations of Our Response to God’s Call. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2009, page 251.
Let God Arise! Focus
The LORD God is the one, true, and triune God of the universe, Ps. 145.1-13
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