Good Evening, Lord!
Words of Comfort
Behold, I am with you always, to
the end of the age (Matt. 28:20 ESV)
Prayer of Confession
O LORD, you have searched me and
known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts
from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all
my ways. Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And
see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
(Ps. 139:1-3, 23-24 ESV)
Catechism Reflections - The Third Commandment
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we
do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and
learn it.
George Burns once quipped, “The secret of
a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending;
and to have the two as close together as possible.” Everyone chuckled,
including the preachers.
Have you ever asked what makes
for a good sermon? In some denominations, the sermon is the bulk and most important
part of the service. Almost every denomination values preaching and dedicate a
significant portion of the Sunday service to it. So it probably bears some
thought as to what makes for a good sermon.
Certainly qualities like length,
humor, presentation, and style matter. The messenger shouldn’t detract from the
message. In the end, however, the key to a good sermon is Christ, the Word made
flesh, delivered to the hearer. The purpose of the sermon is to proclaim
Christ, crucified, risen, reigning, and returning for you. And catch those last
two words, “for you,” they are very important, too. It is not enough for the
sermon to vaguely talk about Jesus. He is for you. His teachings will confront
and sometimes condemn you. His forgiveness is eternal comfort for you.
The Sabbath day is a day to be
with Jesus. Not that he is not with us always, but that day is set apart that
we might focus on him and receive his gifts through the preaching and his Word.
And we are blessed that each day we can cherish God’s Word in our devotion. Day
by day we receive the Word in our memories, our reading, and our conversations,
but on the Sabbath the pastor puts Jesus in our ears, that the good news of his
salvation might sink into our hearts and fill us with his life and love.
Questions for Meditation
What does this reading teach
you?
What does this reading lead you
to be thankful for?
What behavior, thought, or
attitude does this reading challenge? What sin does it lead you to confess?
How might you pray for God to
have a richer impact on your life through this reading?
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven;
give us this day our daily
bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom
and the power and the glory
forever and ever. Amen.
Verse of Benediction
May the God of hope fill you
with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit
you may abound in hope. (Rom. 15:13 ESV)
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