Hearing God’s Voice from His Word
James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
Take a moment and turn your attention to God. Tell God that you desire to trust and obey Him. Ask God to speak to you from His word.
Psalm of the Day
Psalm 122:1-9 I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let’s go to the house of the Lord.”
2 Our feet were standing within your gates, Jerusalem—
3 Jerusalem, built as a city should be, solidly united,
4 where the tribes, the Lord’s tribes, go up to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
(This is an ordinance for Israel.)
5 There, thrones for judgment are placed, thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the well-being of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure;
7 may there be peace within your walls, security within your fortresses.”
8 Because of my brothers and friends, I will say, “May peace be in you.”
9 Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will pursue your prosperity.
God has chosen a people for Himself to live together under His rule for all eternity. Notice the corporate nature of this song. Rejoicing together. Going to God’s house together. Praying together. Pursuing peace and prosperity together. Give thanks to God for His people. Praise Him that He has called us to live life under His rule together.
Scripture Reading
Titus 2 – New International Version
Doing Good for the Sake of the Gospel
2 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
Having God’s Ear through Prayer
- Express thanks to God.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal sin to you.
- Confess your sin to Him and receive forgiveness.
(1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sin He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins.”) - Bring your personal requests to God.
(Psalm 62:8 “Pour out your heart before God”) - Pray for someone in your small group.
- Join with others from River and pray for Youth Horizons. Give thanks for their ministry and for our long term partnership with them. Ask God to use their staff and volunteers to make the truth of the gospel known.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
Our church partners with many different ministries. We are privileged to be a part of what God is doing around the world and through local ministries. These ministries reach into segments of society that we would not otherwise be able to reach into. As you think about reaching out remember that God reached down to us. He is holy. He is unlike us. He is perfect. He is complete. He did not need to come to us, but he did. As you think about his mercy consider how he might be calling to you sacrifice and serve others. Maybe he is asking you to stay the course, maybe he is asking you to volunteer or just reach out to a neighbor or friend. Will you obey him? He gave himself up for us, what would it look like for you to give yourself to him?