Worship Preparation Guide for Sunday, July 1

As Christians, we know that our greatest problem - sin and the separation from God that results from sin - has been solved. Jesus Christ, the only Savior, has taken our sin upon himself, enduring God’s wrath in our place and rising from the dead to assure us of our forgiveness.  Now therefore, we are able to “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”  (Hebrews 10:22-23)

Because of God’s eternal faithfulness, those who have trusted in Christ are called to “be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken”, and to “offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29)    These truths have significant implications for our daily lives.    Citizens of God’s unshakable kingdom live in the reality of God’s eternal love, so we are free to live and love in radical and joyful ways. We are free to radically love our brothers and sisters in Christ (Heb 13:1). We are free to love strangers (Heb 13:2). We are free to love prisoners and those who are suffering for the faith (Heb 13:3).  We are free to honor and value marriage as God does and free to enjoy the gifts of this sacred relationship. (Heb 13:4) 

This Sunday we will see that we are freed from the love of money and free to be content with what we have, because what we have is Christ, and He has promised to never leave or forsake us! (Heb 13:5-6). 

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have,

 for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 

So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper;

I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

God has “blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Eph 1:3).   Yet there is a clear and present danger to our contentment and confidence, or else this warning would be unnecessary.  The people who fist received this letter were not “rolling in the dough”.  Yet the writer of Hebrews saw that even those who were not wealthy still needed to be warned not to love money, not to love possessions, not to love things. How much more ought we, in the most materially blessed society in the history of the world, ought we to be careful that the love of money does not grow in our own hearts? This is a standing issue in the church and it is one of the great spiritual challenges faced by every Christian. 

As you prepare for worship this Sunday take time to read and meditate upon Psalm 63.  Ask yourself these questions as you read through this Psalm:

Is Christ what/who I thirst for?

Who captivates my thoughts, my time, my energy, my affection?

Am I satisfied?

What else do I need in order to have all I want or desire?

Is God’s love and provision for me all I need, or do I desire something else? 

These idols of our hearts, covetousness and discontentment can only be overcome and torn down by hearts that are satisfied in Christ.  Pray for God to use His Word to build your faith and confidence in Christ. 

In Christ we have a great and strong foundation for our faith.  We will make this confession this Sunday as we sing How Firm a Foundation.  Sing it to yourself as you prepare to gather with God’s people for worship this Sunday.

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,


Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!


What more can He say than to you He hath said, 

To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

“Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,


For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;


I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,


Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.

“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,


The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;


For I will be with thee thy trouble to bless,


And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,


My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;


The flame shall not harm thee; I only design


Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

“The soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose,


I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;


That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,


I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”