Grace Church
Thursday, August 17, 2023
Thursday, August 17, 2023

Kingdom of God

Friday, November 13

Read

Psalm 72 (NLT)

Give your love of justice to the king, O God,
    and righteousness to the king’s son.
Help him judge your people in the right way;
    let the poor always be treated fairly.
May the mountains yield prosperity for all,
    and may the hills be fruitful.
Help him to defend the poor,
    to rescue the children of the needy,
    and to crush their oppressors.
May they fear you as long as the sun shines,
    as long as the moon remains in the sky.
    Yes, forever!

May the king’s rule be refreshing like spring rain on freshly cut grass,
    like the showers that water the earth.
May all the godly flourish during his reign.
    May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more.
May he reign from sea to sea,
    and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
Desert nomads will bow before him;
    his enemies will fall before him in the dust.
The western kings of Tarshish and other distant lands
    will bring him tribute.
The eastern kings of Sheba and Seba
    will bring him gifts.
All kings will bow before him,
    and all nations will serve him.

He will rescue the poor when they cry to him;
    he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them.
He feels pity for the weak and the needy,
    and he will rescue them.
He will redeem them from oppression and violence,
    for their lives are precious to him.

Long live the king!
    May the gold of Sheba be given to him.
May the people always pray for him
    and bless him all day long.
May there be abundant grain throughout the land,
    flourishing even on the hilltops.
May the fruit trees flourish like the trees of Lebanon,
    and may the people thrive like grass in a field.
May the king’s name endure forever;
    may it continue as long as the sun shines.
May all nations be blessed through him
    and bring him praise.

Praise the Lord God, the God of Israel,
    who alone does such wonderful things.
Praise his glorious name forever!
    Let the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and amen!

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
The King of All Kings (p.192)
Don't have the Jesus Storybook Bible at home? Check it out on Hoopla here!

Meditate

May the king’s name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun shines. May all nations be blessed through him and bring him praise. (Psalm 72:17)

Pray

Lord Jesus we sing Your praises! You are seated at the right hand of the Father and have been given all power and authority. You crushed our great Enemy under your feet at the cross. Subdue the nations by the Gospel and gather Your people for the glory of Your Kingdom. We especially pray for Your missionaries around the world. Provide them with words of hope, and equip them to love and serve those around them. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Sing

Crown Him With Many Crowns

*Copyright laws prohibit us from posting the lyrics here.

Watch below or on YouTube!

Congregational singing (Shepherds' Conference) Grace Community Church - Sun Valley, California Text: Matthew Bridges | Tune: DIADEMATA Crown Him with many cr...

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Tuesday, September 8

Read

Matthew 13:44-58 (NLT)

Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.

“The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’

“‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed.

“‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.

“‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’”

Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”

Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”

Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet:

“I will speak to you in parables.
    I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world.”

Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, “Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.”

Jesus replied, “The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed. The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels.

“Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Treasure Hunt! (p.250)
Don't have the Jesus Storybook Bible at home? Check it out on Hoopla here!

Meditate

The Kingdom of Heaven is a like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. (Matthew 13:44)

Pray

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptations, but deliver us from evil. For Your’s is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 

Sing

I’d Rather Have Jesus

*Copyright laws prohibit us from posting the lyrics here, so please click on the title above!

Watch below or on YouTube!

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Tuesday, September 1

Read

Matthew 13:24-43 (NLT)

Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.

“The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’

“‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed.

“‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.

“‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’”

Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”

Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”

Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet:

“I will speak to you in parables.
    I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world.”

Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, “Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.”

Jesus replied, “The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed. The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels.

“Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
A Dream of Heaven (p.342)
Don't have the Jesus Storybook Bible at home? Check it out on Hoopla here!

Meditate

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches. (Matthew 13:31-32)

Pray

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptations, but deliver us from evil. For Your’s is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Sing

May Your Kingdom Come

*Copyright laws prohibit us from posting the lyrics here, so please click on the title above!

Listen here!

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Tuesday, August 25

Read

Matthew 13:1-23 (NLT)

Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:

“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”

He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use these parables,

For they look, but they don’t really see.
    They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.

This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says,

‘When you hear what I say,
    you will not understand.
When you see what I do,
    you will not comprehend.
For the hearts of these people are hardened,
    and their ears cannot hear,
and they have closed their eyes—
    so their eyes cannot see,
and their ears cannot hear,
    and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
    and let me heal them.’

“But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.

“Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
God Sends Help (p.326)
Don't have the Jesus Storybook Bible at home? Check it out on Hoopla here!

Meditate

Jesus said, “To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge.” (Matthew 13:12)

Pray

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptations, but deliver us from evil. For Your’s is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Sing

Help My Unbelief (this will download a pdf of the Red Mountain Songbook. Find this song on pp.39-40)

*Copyright laws prohibit us from posting the lyrics here, so please click on the title above!

Watch below or on YouTube!

Provided to YouTube by Catapult Reservatory, LLC Help My Unbelief · Red Mountain Church Help My Unbelief ℗ 2006 Red Mountain Music Released on: 2006-07-01 Au...

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Friday, April 3

Read

Luke 12:22-34

Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

“Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

“And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.

“So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

“Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
The Singer (p.228)
Don't have the Jesus Storybook Bible at home? Check it out on Hoopla here!

Meditate

So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. (Luke 12:32)

Pray

Our Good Shepherd, while the world sinks in anxiety we hear Your calming words. When we are tempted to fear or forget remind us that we are completely safe and secure in your care. What joy it is to know that our Heavenly Father delights to give us a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. For the sake of our neighbors we pray for our government officials. Give them wisdom in their decision making, and a desire to honor you and do what is best for the citizens of our country, state, and city. We ask in Jesus name. Amen.

Sing

The Solid Rock

*Copyright laws prohibit us from posting the lyrics here, so please click on the title above!

Watch below or on YouTube!

Provided to YouTube by Absolute Marketing International Ltd My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less [Live] · Sovereign Grace Music · Bob Kauflin Together for the Go...

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