Wednesday, September 5, 2018

  • 1 This Week's Theme
  • 2 Preparing Our Hearts
  • 3 Praising Our God
  • 4 Listening to His Voice
  • 5 Responding in Faith
  • 6 Departing to Serve
  • 7 For Your Weekly Journey
  • The Two Beasts

    Revelation 13

    Every instance of our accepting a lie makes believing other, more deadly lies even easier to accept. The time of Tribulation to come shall be filled with blasphemies, lies, falsehoods, and deception from various characters, all of whom call into question both the rule and the legitimacy of the reign of God. The dragon will give his power and throne to the beasts (one which rises out of the “sea” and the other out of the “earth”), and many will accept their lies as truth, falling prey to the wicked deception of those who will eventually perish because they refuse to love the truth, and so be saved.

    Let us always seek to hold on to the truth as it is in Jesus Christ, holding to him by faith and contending for the faith once for all given to the saints. Nothing is more tragic or troubling than the very horrible tendency of fallen humankind to believe and entertain a lie. As children of Abraham, let us hold on to the hope of eternal life through the promise of Jesus Christ.

    . . . and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. [15] And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.

    ~ Revelation 13.14-15

  • Invocation: Our Prayer of Acclamation

    Eternal God our Father, sanctify us through your truth, for your Word is truth. Keep us in the truth today. In a world of lies, falsehood, and deception, help us to continue in the word of your Son, to know the truth, and to be set free by it. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.

    Call to Worship  

    Blessed are you, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed is your Kingdom, both now and forever, Amen.

  • Te Deum Laudamus

    You are God: we praise you; you are the Lord; we acclaim you; you are the eternal Father: All creation worships you. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.

    The glorious company of apostles praise you. The noble fellowship of prophets praise you. The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you; Father, of majesty unbounded, your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

    You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father. When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin’s womb. You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God’s right hand in glory. We believe that you will come and be our judge. Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting.

    Praise and Thanksgiving (songs and prayers)

    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. 

  • Chronological Reading for the Day

    Wednesday: Matt. 8.5-13; Matt. 11; Luke 7



    Lectionary Readings for the Day

    Psalm: Ps. 45.1-2, 6-9

    OT: Song of Sol. 2.8-13

    Gospel: Mark 7.1-8, 14-15, 21-23

    NT: James 1.17-27

    (Click here for all readings)

    Reflection: Silence and/or Journaling

  • The 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).

    Prayers of Confession
    Let us now confess our sins to God and receive mercy and grace to help in our time of need.

    Assurance of Pardon
    Having faithfully confessed and renounced your sin, Christ also has been faithful to forgive your sins and to purify you from all unrighteousness. It is certain, that there is One who has spoken to the Father in your defense, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One who is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and for the sins of the whole world. His grace and peace are with you now. Amen.

    Petitions and Supplications, Ending with The Lord's Prayer
    Our Father which 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.

    --Matthew 6.9-13 (KJV)

    Doxology (and/or closing song)
    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  
    Lord Jesus, he who is truth and who spoke the truth, lead us into your light and way, for salvation and hope is in your name alone. We do not fear the power of lies, for by abiding in your Word we know the truth, the truth that liberates us and leads us into freedom. In your name, amen.

    Affirmation from the Psalms
    To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. [2] O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. [3] Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. [4] Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. [5] Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

    ~ Psalm 25.1-5

    Pray without Ceasing - Flash Prayer for the Day
    O Savior, lead me into your truth, and let it set me free.

  • Let God Arise! Seasonal Focus

    The Dragon, the Woman, and Her Seed

    Revelation 12



    Book Reading

    Lutzer, One Minute after You Die