Prayer & Preparation for April 2nd, 2023
This Lord's Day
Hey church,
Here are some details about this week's service:
Songs: "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," "Cornerstone," "A Christian's Daily Prayer," "O Church of Christ, Invincible," "Yet Not I, But Through Christ in Me," and in the evening communion service, "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)," "How Deep the Father's Love for Us," "At the Cross," "Jesus, Thank You," and "Family of God"
Sermon texts: 1 John 3:4-10, and in the evening communion service Isaiah 41:14, Psalm 22:6, and Mark 9:48
Sermon titles: "The Father's Family Resemblance Is Righteousness." And in the evening communion service "Worm Theology"
My favorite citations from my reading and study:
"Sin may rebel; it cannot reign in a saint. He sinneth not sinningly...; he loves not sin; he lies not in it but riseth again by repentance and is restless till that be done.... [He] cannot do wickedness with both hands earnestly."
John Trapp
This week, because of the text (1 John 2:28-3:10), my prayer (benediction) for you is this:
May the God of grace, who has clearly shown us his grace in the first appearing of his Son and in making us his sons and daughters,
Bring salvation for all people, and
Train us in three ways-
In renouncing ungodliness and worldly passions,
In living self-controlled and upright and godly lives in the present age, and
In waiting for our blessed hope, which is the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen (from Titus 2:11-14).
If you pray for me, and I ask that you do, this paraphrase of John Owen may help you:
In preaching there is required spiritual wisdom necessary to understand the mystery of the Gospel and able to instruct and lead on to perfection the most grown in our congregation. There is required authority proceeding from the graces and gifts of the Spirit. There is required experience that feels the truth in its power. And there is required skill to rightly divide the Word of truth. So as a preacher I greatly need to pray for myself, and I greatly need you to pray for me.
By His Grace & For His Glory,
Jeff Tague
