Thursday, October 17, 2024

Read

Psalm 133, Leviticus 19:9-18, Ephesians 2:11-16 (NLT)

Psalm 133
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.

How wonderful and pleasant it is
    when brothers live together in harmony!
For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil
    that was poured over Aaron’s head,
    that ran down his beard
    and onto the border of his robe.
Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon
    that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing,
    even life everlasting.

---

Leviticus 19:9-18
“When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. It is the same with your grape crop—do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God.

“Do not steal.

“Do not deceive or cheat one another.

“Do not bring shame on the name of your God by using it to swear falsely. I am the Lord.

“Do not defraud or rob your neighbor.

“Do not make your hired workers wait until the next day to receive their pay.

“Do not insult the deaf or cause the blind to stumble. You must fear your God; I am the Lord.

“Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.

“Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people.

“Do not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is threatened. I am the Lord.

“Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin.

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

---

Ephesians 2:11-16
Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Going Home (p.318)

Meditate

Christ himself has brought peace to us. (Ephesians 2:14)

Pray

Heavenly Father, how wonderful it is when Your people dwell together in unity. You have shown us great mercy in Jesus. Only he has kept Your law perfectly and only by his blood can we live in true peace. Fill our hearts with gratitude for Your grace that we might long to show mercy to those who have wronged us. Empower us by Your Spirit to be salt and light, demonstrating the unity that is found in Christ alone. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

Sing

Oh How Good It Is

New City Catechism

Question 42: How is the Word of God to be Read and Heard?

Answer: With diligence, preparation, and prayer; so that we may accept it with faith, store it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

---

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

• Habits of Grace

• Family Worship 101

Friday, August 9, 2024

Read

Psalm 68, Isaiah 61:1-2, Ephesians 4:4-13 (NLT)

Psalm 68
For the choir director: A song. A psalm of David.

Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies.
    Let those who hate God run for their lives.
Blow them away like smoke.
    Melt them like wax in a fire.
    Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.
But let the godly rejoice.
    Let them be glad in God’s presence.
    Let them be filled with joy.
Sing praises to God and to his name!
    Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.
His name is the Lord—
    rejoice in his presence!

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
    this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
God places the lonely in families;
    he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

O God, when you led your people out from Egypt,
    when you marched through the dry wasteland, Interlude
the earth trembled, and the heavens poured down rain
    before you, the God of Sinai,
    before God, the God of Israel.
You sent abundant rain, O God,
    to refresh the weary land.
There your people finally settled,
    and with a bountiful harvest, O God,
    you provided for your needy people.

The Lord gives the word,
    and a great army brings the good news.
Enemy kings and their armies flee,
    while the women of Israel divide the plunder.
Even those who lived among the sheepfolds found treasures—
    doves with wings of silver
    and feathers of gold.
The Almighty scattered the enemy kings
    like a blowing snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.

The mountains of Bashan are majestic,
    with many peaks stretching high into the sky.
Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountains,
    at Mount Zion, where God has chosen to live,
    where the Lord himself will live forever?

Surrounded by unnumbered thousands of chariots,
    the Lord came from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary.
When you ascended to the heights,
    you led a crowd of captives.
You received gifts from the people,
    even from those who rebelled against you.
    Now the Lord God will live among us there.

Praise the Lord; praise God our savior!
    For each day he carries us in his arms. Interlude
Our God is a God who saves!
    The Sovereign Lord rescues us from death.

But God will smash the heads of his enemies,
    crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways.
The Lord says, “I will bring my enemies down from Bashan;
    I will bring them up from the depths of the sea.
You, my people, will wash your feet in their blood,
    and even your dogs will get their share!”

Your procession has come into view, O God—
    the procession of my God and King as he goes into the sanctuary.
Singers are in front, musicians behind;
    between them are young women playing tambourines.
Praise God, all you people of Israel;
    praise the Lord, the source of Israel’s life.
Look, the little tribe of Benjamin leads the way.
    Then comes a great throng of rulers from Judah
    and all the rulers of Zebulun and Naphtali.

Summon your might, O God.
    Display your power, O God, as you have in the past.
The kings of the earth are bringing tribute
    to your Temple in Jerusalem.
Rebuke these enemy nations—
    these wild animals lurking in the reeds,
    this herd of bulls among the weaker calves.
Make them bring bars of silver in humble tribute.
    Scatter the nations that delight in war.
Let Egypt come with gifts of precious metals;
    let Ethiopia bring tribute to God.
Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth.
    Sing praises to the Lord. Interlude
Sing to the one who rides across the ancient heavens,
    his mighty voice thundering from the sky.
Tell everyone about God’s power.
    His majesty shines down on Israel;
    his strength is mighty in the heavens.
God is awesome in his sanctuary.
    The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.

Praise be to God!

---

Isaiah 61:1-2
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.

---

Ephesians 4:4-13
For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all.

However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say,

“When he ascended to the heights,
    he led a crowd of captives
    and gave gifts to his people.”

Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
The Warrior Leader (p.108)

Meditate

God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. (Psalm 68:35)

Pray

Our great God, You are full of strength and majesty. It is only by Your grace that we have been delivered into Your Kingdom. Lord Jesus, thank you for rescuing us by your sacrifice and making us holy in God’s sight. Help us, Holy Spirit, to live as the royal priesthood and holy Temple you have made us. We pray for our church family. Enable us to take opportunities to encourage one another and build each other up so that the Gospel might be declared and demonstrated through our life together. Come Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

Sing

O Church Arise

New City Catechism

Question 32: What Do Justification and Sanctification Mean?

Answer: Justification means our declared righteousness before God, made possible by Christ’s death and resurrection for us. Sanctification means our gradual, growing righteousness, made possible by the Spirit’s work in us.

---

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

• Habits of Grace

• Family Worship 101

Thursday, May 16, 2024

Read

Psalm 133, Leviticus 19:9-18, Ephesians 2:11-16 (NLT)

Psalm 133
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.

How wonderful and pleasant it is
    when brothers live together in harmony!
For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil
    that was poured over Aaron’s head,
    that ran down his beard
    and onto the border of his robe.
Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon
    that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing,
    even life everlasting.

---

Leviticus 19:9-18
“When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. It is the same with your grape crop—do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God.

“Do not steal.

“Do not deceive or cheat one another.

“Do not bring shame on the name of your God by using it to swear falsely. I am the Lord.

“Do not defraud or rob your neighbor.

“Do not make your hired workers wait until the next day to receive their pay.

“Do not insult the deaf or cause the blind to stumble. You must fear your God; I am the Lord.

“Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.

“Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people.

“Do not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is threatened. I am the Lord.

“Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin.

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

---

Ephesians 2:11-16
Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Going Home (p.318)

Meditate

Christ himself has brought peace to us. (Ephesians 2:14)

Pray

Heavenly Father, how wonderful it is when Your people dwell together in unity. You have shown us great mercy in Jesus. Only he has kept Your law perfectly and only by his blood can we live in true peace. Fill our hearts with gratitude for Your grace that we might long to show mercy to those who have wronged us. Empower us by Your Spirit to be salt and light, demonstrating the unity that is found in Christ alone. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

Sing

Oh How Good It Is

New City Catechism

Question 20: Who is the Redeemer?

Answer: The only Redeemer is the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, in whom God became man and bore the penalty for sin himself.

---

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

• Habits of Grace

• Family Worship 101

Friday, March 8, 2024

Read

Psalm 68, Isaiah 61:1-2, Ephesians 4:4-13 (NLT)

Psalm 68
For the choir director: A song. A psalm of David.

Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies.
    Let those who hate God run for their lives.
Blow them away like smoke.
    Melt them like wax in a fire.
    Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.
But let the godly rejoice.
    Let them be glad in God’s presence.
    Let them be filled with joy.
Sing praises to God and to his name!
    Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.
His name is the Lord—
    rejoice in his presence!

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
    this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
God places the lonely in families;
    he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

O God, when you led your people out from Egypt,
    when you marched through the dry wasteland, Interlude
the earth trembled, and the heavens poured down rain
    before you, the God of Sinai,
    before God, the God of Israel.
You sent abundant rain, O God,
    to refresh the weary land.
There your people finally settled,
    and with a bountiful harvest, O God,
    you provided for your needy people.

The Lord gives the word,
    and a great army brings the good news.
Enemy kings and their armies flee,
    while the women of Israel divide the plunder.
Even those who lived among the sheepfolds found treasures—
    doves with wings of silver
    and feathers of gold.
The Almighty scattered the enemy kings
    like a blowing snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.

The mountains of Bashan are majestic,
    with many peaks stretching high into the sky.
Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountains,
    at Mount Zion, where God has chosen to live,
    where the Lord himself will live forever?

Surrounded by unnumbered thousands of chariots,
    the Lord came from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary.
When you ascended to the heights,
    you led a crowd of captives.
You received gifts from the people,
    even from those who rebelled against you.
    Now the Lord God will live among us there.

Praise the Lord; praise God our savior!
    For each day he carries us in his arms. Interlude
Our God is a God who saves!
    The Sovereign Lord rescues us from death.

But God will smash the heads of his enemies,
    crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways.
The Lord says, “I will bring my enemies down from Bashan;
    I will bring them up from the depths of the sea.
You, my people, will wash your feet in their blood,
    and even your dogs will get their share!”

Your procession has come into view, O God—
    the procession of my God and King as he goes into the sanctuary.
Singers are in front, musicians behind;
    between them are young women playing tambourines.
Praise God, all you people of Israel;
    praise the Lord, the source of Israel’s life.
Look, the little tribe of Benjamin leads the way.
    Then comes a great throng of rulers from Judah
    and all the rulers of Zebulun and Naphtali.

Summon your might, O God.
    Display your power, O God, as you have in the past.
The kings of the earth are bringing tribute
    to your Temple in Jerusalem.
Rebuke these enemy nations—
    these wild animals lurking in the reeds,
    this herd of bulls among the weaker calves.
Make them bring bars of silver in humble tribute.
    Scatter the nations that delight in war.
Let Egypt come with gifts of precious metals;
    let Ethiopia bring tribute to God.
Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth.
    Sing praises to the Lord. Interlude
Sing to the one who rides across the ancient heavens,
    his mighty voice thundering from the sky.
Tell everyone about God’s power.
    His majesty shines down on Israel;
    his strength is mighty in the heavens.
God is awesome in his sanctuary.
    The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.

Praise be to God!

---

Isaiah 61:1-2
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.

---

Ephesians 4:4-13
For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all.

However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say,

“When he ascended to the heights,
    he led a crowd of captives
    and gave gifts to his people.”

Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
The Warrior Leader (p.108)

Meditate

God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. (Psalm 68:35)

Pray

Our great God, You are full of strength and majesty. It is only by Your grace that we have been delivered into Your Kingdom. Lord Jesus, thank you for rescuing us by your sacrifice and making us holy in God’s sight. Help us, Holy Spirit, to live as the royal priesthood and holy Temple you have made us. We pray for our church family. Enable us to take opportunities to encourage one another and build each other up so that the Gospel might be declared and demonstrated through our life together. Come Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

Sing

O Church Arise

New City Catechism

Question 10: What Does God Require in the Fourth and Fifth Commandments?

Answer: Fourth, that on the Sabbath day we spend time in public and private worship of God, rest from routine employment, serve the Lord and others, and so anticipate the eternal Sabbath. Fifth, that we love and honor our father and our mother, submitting to their godly discipline and direction.

---

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

• Habits of Grace

• Family Worship 101

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Read

Psalm 133, Leviticus 19:9-18, Ephesians 2:11-16 (NLT)

Psalm 133
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.

How wonderful and pleasant it is
    when brothers live together in harmony!
For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil
    that was poured over Aaron’s head,
    that ran down his beard
    and onto the border of his robe.
Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon
    that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing,
    even life everlasting.

---

Leviticus 19:9-18
“When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. It is the same with your grape crop—do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God.

“Do not steal.

“Do not deceive or cheat one another.

“Do not bring shame on the name of your God by using it to swear falsely. I am the Lord.

“Do not defraud or rob your neighbor.

“Do not make your hired workers wait until the next day to receive their pay.

“Do not insult the deaf or cause the blind to stumble. You must fear your God; I am the Lord.

“Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.

“Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people.

“Do not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is threatened. I am the Lord.

“Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin.

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

---

Ephesians 2:11-16
Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Going Home (p.318)

Meditate

Christ himself has brought peace to us. (Ephesians 2:14)

Pray

Heavenly Father, how wonderful it is when Your people dwell together in unity. You have shown us great mercy in Jesus. Only he has kept Your law perfectly and only by his blood can we live in true peace. Fill our hearts with gratitude for Your grace that we might long to show mercy to those who have wronged us. Empower us by Your Spirit to be salt and light, demonstrating the unity that is found in Christ alone. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

Sing

Oh How Good It Is

New City Catechism

Question 42: How is the Word of God to be Read and Heard?
Answer: With diligence, preparation, and prayer; so that we may accept it with faith, store it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

---

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

• Habits of Grace

• Family Worship 101

Thursday, August 10, 2023

Read

Psalm 68, Isaiah 61:1-2, Ephesians 4:4-13 (NLT)

Psalm 68
For the choir director: A song. A psalm of David.

Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies.
    Let those who hate God run for their lives.
Blow them away like smoke.
    Melt them like wax in a fire.
    Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.
But let the godly rejoice.
    Let them be glad in God’s presence.
    Let them be filled with joy.
Sing praises to God and to his name!
    Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.
His name is the Lord—
    rejoice in his presence!

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
    this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
God places the lonely in families;
    he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

O God, when you led your people out from Egypt,
    when you marched through the dry wasteland, Interlude
the earth trembled, and the heavens poured down rain
    before you, the God of Sinai,
    before God, the God of Israel.
You sent abundant rain, O God,
    to refresh the weary land.
There your people finally settled,
    and with a bountiful harvest, O God,
    you provided for your needy people.

The Lord gives the word,
    and a great army brings the good news.
Enemy kings and their armies flee,
    while the women of Israel divide the plunder.
Even those who lived among the sheepfolds found treasures—
    doves with wings of silver
    and feathers of gold.
The Almighty scattered the enemy kings
    like a blowing snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.

The mountains of Bashan are majestic,
    with many peaks stretching high into the sky.
Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountains,
    at Mount Zion, where God has chosen to live,
    where the Lord himself will live forever?

Surrounded by unnumbered thousands of chariots,
    the Lord came from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary.
When you ascended to the heights,
    you led a crowd of captives.
You received gifts from the people,
    even from those who rebelled against you.
    Now the Lord God will live among us there.

Praise the Lord; praise God our savior!
    For each day he carries us in his arms. Interlude
Our God is a God who saves!
    The Sovereign Lord rescues us from death.

But God will smash the heads of his enemies,
    crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways.
The Lord says, “I will bring my enemies down from Bashan;
    I will bring them up from the depths of the sea.
You, my people, will wash your feet in their blood,
    and even your dogs will get their share!”

Your procession has come into view, O God—
    the procession of my God and King as he goes into the sanctuary.
Singers are in front, musicians behind;
    between them are young women playing tambourines.
Praise God, all you people of Israel;
    praise the Lord, the source of Israel’s life.
Look, the little tribe of Benjamin leads the way.
    Then comes a great throng of rulers from Judah
    and all the rulers of Zebulun and Naphtali.

Summon your might, O God.
    Display your power, O God, as you have in the past.
The kings of the earth are bringing tribute
    to your Temple in Jerusalem.
Rebuke these enemy nations—
    these wild animals lurking in the reeds,
    this herd of bulls among the weaker calves.
Make them bring bars of silver in humble tribute.
    Scatter the nations that delight in war.
Let Egypt come with gifts of precious metals;
    let Ethiopia bring tribute to God.
Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth.
    Sing praises to the Lord. Interlude
Sing to the one who rides across the ancient heavens,
    his mighty voice thundering from the sky.
Tell everyone about God’s power.
    His majesty shines down on Israel;
    his strength is mighty in the heavens.
God is awesome in his sanctuary.
    The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.

Praise be to God!

---

Isaiah 61:1-2
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.

---

Ephesians 4:4-13
For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all.

However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say,

“When he ascended to the heights,
    he led a crowd of captives
    and gave gifts to his people.”

Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
The Warrior Leader (p.108)

Meditate

God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. (Psalm 68:35)

Pray

Our great God, You are full of strength and majesty. It is only by Your grace that we have been delivered into Your Kingdom. Lord Jesus, thank you for rescuing us by your sacrifice and making us holy in God’s sight. Help us, Holy Spirit, to live as the royal priesthood and holy Temple you have made us. We pray for our church family. Enable us to take opportunities to encourage one another and build each other up so that the Gospel might be declared and demonstrated through our life together. Come Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

Sing

O Church Arise

New City Catechism

Question 10: What Does God Require in the Fourth and Fifth Commandments?

Answer: Fourth, that on the Sabbath day we spend time in public and private worship of God, rest from routine employment, serve the Lord and others, and so anticipate the eternal Sabbath. Fifth, that we love and honor our father and our mother, submitting to their godly discipline and direction.

---

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

• Habits of Grace

• Family Worship 101

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Read

Psalm 133, Leviticus 19:9-18, Ephesians 2:11-16 (NLT)

Psalm 133
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.

How wonderful and pleasant it is
    when brothers live together in harmony!
For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil
    that was poured over Aaron’s head,
    that ran down his beard
    and onto the border of his robe.
Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon
    that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing,
    even life everlasting.

---

Leviticus 19:9-18
“When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. It is the same with your grape crop—do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God.

“Do not steal.

“Do not deceive or cheat one another.

“Do not bring shame on the name of your God by using it to swear falsely. I am the Lord.

“Do not defraud or rob your neighbor.

“Do not make your hired workers wait until the next day to receive their pay.

“Do not insult the deaf or cause the blind to stumble. You must fear your God; I am the Lord.

“Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.

“Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people.

“Do not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is threatened. I am the Lord.

“Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin.

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

---

Ephesians 2:11-16
Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Going Home (p.318)

Meditate

Christ himself has brought peace to us. (Ephesians 2:14)

Pray

Heavenly Father, how wonderful it is when Your people dwell together in unity. You have shown us great mercy in Jesus. Only he has kept Your law perfectly and only by his blood can we live in true peace. Fill our hearts with gratitude for Your grace that we might long to show mercy to those who have wronged us. Empower us by Your Spirit to be salt and light, demonstrating the unity that is found in Christ alone. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

Sing

Oh How Good It Is

New City Catechism

Question 20: Who is the Redeemer?

Answer: The only Redeemer is the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, in whom God became man and bore the penalty for sin himself.

---

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

• Habits of Grace

• Family Worship 101

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Read

Psalm 68, Isaiah 61:1-2, Ephesians 4:4-13 (NLT)

Psalm 68
For the choir director: A song. A psalm of David.

Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies.
    Let those who hate God run for their lives.
Blow them away like smoke.
    Melt them like wax in a fire.
    Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.
But let the godly rejoice.
    Let them be glad in God’s presence.
    Let them be filled with joy.
Sing praises to God and to his name!
    Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.
His name is the Lord—
    rejoice in his presence!

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
    this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
God places the lonely in families;
    he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

O God, when you led your people out from Egypt,
    when you marched through the dry wasteland, Interlude
the earth trembled, and the heavens poured down rain
    before you, the God of Sinai,
    before God, the God of Israel.
You sent abundant rain, O God,
    to refresh the weary land.
There your people finally settled,
    and with a bountiful harvest, O God,
    you provided for your needy people.

The Lord gives the word,
    and a great army brings the good news.
Enemy kings and their armies flee,
    while the women of Israel divide the plunder.
Even those who lived among the sheepfolds found treasures—
    doves with wings of silver
    and feathers of gold.
The Almighty scattered the enemy kings
    like a blowing snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.

The mountains of Bashan are majestic,
    with many peaks stretching high into the sky.
Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountains,
    at Mount Zion, where God has chosen to live,
    where the Lord himself will live forever?

Surrounded by unnumbered thousands of chariots,
    the Lord came from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary.
When you ascended to the heights,
    you led a crowd of captives.
You received gifts from the people,
    even from those who rebelled against you.
    Now the Lord God will live among us there.

Praise the Lord; praise God our savior!
    For each day he carries us in his arms. Interlude
Our God is a God who saves!
    The Sovereign Lord rescues us from death.

But God will smash the heads of his enemies,
    crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways.
The Lord says, “I will bring my enemies down from Bashan;
    I will bring them up from the depths of the sea.
You, my people, will wash your feet in their blood,
    and even your dogs will get their share!”

Your procession has come into view, O God—
    the procession of my God and King as he goes into the sanctuary.
Singers are in front, musicians behind;
    between them are young women playing tambourines.
Praise God, all you people of Israel;
    praise the Lord, the source of Israel’s life.
Look, the little tribe of Benjamin leads the way.
    Then comes a great throng of rulers from Judah
    and all the rulers of Zebulun and Naphtali.

Summon your might, O God.
    Display your power, O God, as you have in the past.
The kings of the earth are bringing tribute
    to your Temple in Jerusalem.
Rebuke these enemy nations—
    these wild animals lurking in the reeds,
    this herd of bulls among the weaker calves.
Make them bring bars of silver in humble tribute.
    Scatter the nations that delight in war.
Let Egypt come with gifts of precious metals;
    let Ethiopia bring tribute to God.
Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth.
    Sing praises to the Lord. Interlude
Sing to the one who rides across the ancient heavens,
    his mighty voice thundering from the sky.
Tell everyone about God’s power.
    His majesty shines down on Israel;
    his strength is mighty in the heavens.
God is awesome in his sanctuary.
    The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.

Praise be to God!

---

Isaiah 61:1-2
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.

---

Ephesians 4:4-13
For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all.

However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say,

“When he ascended to the heights,
    he led a crowd of captives
    and gave gifts to his people.”

Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
The Warrior Leader (p.108)

Meditate

God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. (Psalm 68:35)

Pray

Our great God, You are full of strength and majesty. It is only by Your grace that we have been delivered into Your Kingdom. Lord Jesus, thank you for rescuing us by your sacrifice and making us holy in God’s sight. Help us, Holy Spirit, to live as the royal priesthood and holy Temple you have made us. We pray for our church family. Enable us to take opportunities to encourage one another and build each other up so that the Gospel might be declared and demonstrated through our life together. Come Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

Sing

O Church Arise

New City Catechism

Question 10: What Does God Require in the Fourth and Fifth Commandments?

Answer: Fourth, that on the Sabbath day we spend time in public and private worship of God, rest from routine employment, serve the Lord and others, and so anticipate the eternal Sabbath. Fifth, that we love and honor our father and our mother, submitting to their godly discipline and direction.

---

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

• Habits of Grace

• Family Worship 101

Friday, December 16, 2022

Read

Psalm 68, Isaiah 61:1-2, Ephesians 4:4-13 (NLT)

Psalm 68
For the choir director: A song. A psalm of David.

Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies.
    Let those who hate God run for their lives.
Blow them away like smoke.
    Melt them like wax in a fire.
    Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.
But let the godly rejoice.
    Let them be glad in God’s presence.
    Let them be filled with joy.
Sing praises to God and to his name!
    Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.
His name is the Lord—
    rejoice in his presence!

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
    this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
God places the lonely in families;
    he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

O God, when you led your people out from Egypt,
    when you marched through the dry wasteland, Interlude
the earth trembled, and the heavens poured down rain
    before you, the God of Sinai,
    before God, the God of Israel.
You sent abundant rain, O God,
    to refresh the weary land.
There your people finally settled,
    and with a bountiful harvest, O God,
    you provided for your needy people.

The Lord gives the word,
    and a great army brings the good news.
Enemy kings and their armies flee,
    while the women of Israel divide the plunder.
Even those who lived among the sheepfolds found treasures—
    doves with wings of silver
    and feathers of gold.
The Almighty scattered the enemy kings
    like a blowing snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.

The mountains of Bashan are majestic,
    with many peaks stretching high into the sky.
Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountains,
    at Mount Zion, where God has chosen to live,
    where the Lord himself will live forever?

Surrounded by unnumbered thousands of chariots,
    the Lord came from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary.
When you ascended to the heights,
    you led a crowd of captives.
You received gifts from the people,
    even from those who rebelled against you.
    Now the Lord God will live among us there.

Praise the Lord; praise God our savior!
    For each day he carries us in his arms. Interlude
Our God is a God who saves!
    The Sovereign Lord rescues us from death.

But God will smash the heads of his enemies,
    crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways.
The Lord says, “I will bring my enemies down from Bashan;
    I will bring them up from the depths of the sea.
You, my people, will wash your feet in their blood,
    and even your dogs will get their share!”

Your procession has come into view, O God—
    the procession of my God and King as he goes into the sanctuary.
Singers are in front, musicians behind;
    between them are young women playing tambourines.
Praise God, all you people of Israel;
    praise the Lord, the source of Israel’s life.
Look, the little tribe of Benjamin leads the way.
    Then comes a great throng of rulers from Judah
    and all the rulers of Zebulun and Naphtali.

Summon your might, O God.
    Display your power, O God, as you have in the past.
The kings of the earth are bringing tribute
    to your Temple in Jerusalem.
Rebuke these enemy nations—
    these wild animals lurking in the reeds,
    this herd of bulls among the weaker calves.
Make them bring bars of silver in humble tribute.
    Scatter the nations that delight in war.
Let Egypt come with gifts of precious metals;
    let Ethiopia bring tribute to God.
Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth.
    Sing praises to the Lord. Interlude
Sing to the one who rides across the ancient heavens,
    his mighty voice thundering from the sky.
Tell everyone about God’s power.
    His majesty shines down on Israel;
    his strength is mighty in the heavens.
God is awesome in his sanctuary.
    The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.

Praise be to God!

---

Isaiah 61:1-2
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.

---

Ephesians 4:4-13
For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all.

However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say,

“When he ascended to the heights,
    he led a crowd of captives
    and gave gifts to his people.”

Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
The Warrior Leader (p.108)

Meditate

God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. (Psalm 68:35)

Pray

Our great God, You are full of strength and majesty. It is only by Your grace that we have been delivered into Your Kingdom. Lord Jesus, thank you for rescuing us by your sacrifice and making us holy in God’s sight. Help us, Holy Spirit, to live as the royal priesthood and holy Temple you have made us. We pray for our church family. Enable us to take opportunities to encourage one another and build each other up so that the Gospel might be declared and demonstrated through our life together. Come Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

Sing

O Church Arise

New City Catechism

Question 45: Is baptism with water the washing away of sin itself?

Answer: No, only the blood of Christ and the renewal of the Holy Spirit can cleanse us from sin.

---

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

• Habits of Grace

• Family Worship 101

Thursday, September 22, 2022

Read

Psalm 133, Leviticus 19:9-18, Ephesians 2:11-16 (NLT)

Psalm 133
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.

How wonderful and pleasant it is
    when brothers live together in harmony!
For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil
    that was poured over Aaron’s head,
    that ran down his beard
    and onto the border of his robe.
Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon
    that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing,
    even life everlasting.

---

Leviticus 19:9-18
“When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. It is the same with your grape crop—do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God.

“Do not steal.

“Do not deceive or cheat one another.

“Do not bring shame on the name of your God by using it to swear falsely. I am the Lord.

“Do not defraud or rob your neighbor.

“Do not make your hired workers wait until the next day to receive their pay.

“Do not insult the deaf or cause the blind to stumble. You must fear your God; I am the Lord.

“Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.

“Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people.

“Do not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is threatened. I am the Lord.

“Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin.

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

---

Ephesians 2:11-16
Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Going Home (p.318)

Meditate

Christ himself has brought peace to us. (Ephesians 2:14)

Pray

Heavenly Father, how wonderful it is when Your people dwell together in unity. You have shown us great mercy in Jesus. Only he has kept Your law perfectly and only by his blood can we live in true peace. Fill our hearts with gratitude for Your grace that we might long to show mercy to those who have wronged us. Empower us by Your Spirit to be salt and light, demonstrating the unity that is found in Christ alone. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

Sing

Oh How Good It Is

New City Catechism

Question 33: Should those who have faith in Christ seek their salvation through their own works, or anywhere else?

Answer: No, they should not, as everything necessary to salvation is found in Christ. To seek salvation through good works is a denial that Christ is the only Redeemer and Savior.

---

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

• Habits of Grace

• Family Worship 101

Friday, July 15, 2022

Read

Psalm 68, Isaiah 61:1-2, Ephesians 4:4-13 (NLT)

Psalm 68
For the choir director: A song. A psalm of David.

Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies.
    Let those who hate God run for their lives.
Blow them away like smoke.
    Melt them like wax in a fire.
    Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.
But let the godly rejoice.
    Let them be glad in God’s presence.
    Let them be filled with joy.
Sing praises to God and to his name!
    Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.
His name is the Lord—
    rejoice in his presence!

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
    this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
God places the lonely in families;
    he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

O God, when you led your people out from Egypt,
    when you marched through the dry wasteland, Interlude
the earth trembled, and the heavens poured down rain
    before you, the God of Sinai,
    before God, the God of Israel.
You sent abundant rain, O God,
    to refresh the weary land.
There your people finally settled,
    and with a bountiful harvest, O God,
    you provided for your needy people.

The Lord gives the word,
    and a great army brings the good news.
Enemy kings and their armies flee,
    while the women of Israel divide the plunder.
Even those who lived among the sheepfolds found treasures—
    doves with wings of silver
    and feathers of gold.
The Almighty scattered the enemy kings
    like a blowing snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.

The mountains of Bashan are majestic,
    with many peaks stretching high into the sky.
Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountains,
    at Mount Zion, where God has chosen to live,
    where the Lord himself will live forever?

Surrounded by unnumbered thousands of chariots,
    the Lord came from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary.
When you ascended to the heights,
    you led a crowd of captives.
You received gifts from the people,
    even from those who rebelled against you.
    Now the Lord God will live among us there.

Praise the Lord; praise God our savior!
    For each day he carries us in his arms. Interlude
Our God is a God who saves!
    The Sovereign Lord rescues us from death.

But God will smash the heads of his enemies,
    crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways.
The Lord says, “I will bring my enemies down from Bashan;
    I will bring them up from the depths of the sea.
You, my people, will wash your feet in their blood,
    and even your dogs will get their share!”

Your procession has come into view, O God—
    the procession of my God and King as he goes into the sanctuary.
Singers are in front, musicians behind;
    between them are young women playing tambourines.
Praise God, all you people of Israel;
    praise the Lord, the source of Israel’s life.
Look, the little tribe of Benjamin leads the way.
    Then comes a great throng of rulers from Judah
    and all the rulers of Zebulun and Naphtali.

Summon your might, O God.
    Display your power, O God, as you have in the past.
The kings of the earth are bringing tribute
    to your Temple in Jerusalem.
Rebuke these enemy nations—
    these wild animals lurking in the reeds,
    this herd of bulls among the weaker calves.
Make them bring bars of silver in humble tribute.
    Scatter the nations that delight in war.
Let Egypt come with gifts of precious metals;
    let Ethiopia bring tribute to God.
Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth.
    Sing praises to the Lord. Interlude
Sing to the one who rides across the ancient heavens,
    his mighty voice thundering from the sky.
Tell everyone about God’s power.
    His majesty shines down on Israel;
    his strength is mighty in the heavens.
God is awesome in his sanctuary.
    The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.

Praise be to God!

---

Isaiah 61:1-2
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.

---

Ephesians 4:4-13
For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all.

However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say,

“When he ascended to the heights,
    he led a crowd of captives
    and gave gifts to his people.”

Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
The Warrior Leader (p.108)

Meditate

God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. (Psalm 68:35)

Pray

Our great God, You are full of strength and majesty. It is only by Your grace that we have been delivered into Your Kingdom. Lord Jesus, thank you for rescuing us by your sacrifice and making us holy in God’s sight. Help us, Holy Spirit, to live as the royal priesthood and holy Temple you have made us. We pray for our church family. Enable us to take opportunities to encourage one another and build each other up so that the Gospel might be declared and demonstrated through our life together. Come Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

Sing

O Church Arise

New City Catechism

Question 23: Why must the Redeemer be truly God?

Answer: That because of his divine nature his obedience and suffering would be perfect and effective; and also that he would be able to bear the righteous anger of God against sin and yet overcome death.

---

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

• Habits of Grace

• Family Worship 101

Thursday, April 21, 2022

Read

Psalm 133, Leviticus 19:9-18, Ephesians 2:11-16 (NLT)

Psalm 133
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.

How wonderful and pleasant it is
    when brothers live together in harmony!
For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil
    that was poured over Aaron’s head,
    that ran down his beard
    and onto the border of his robe.
Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon
    that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing,
    even life everlasting.

---

Leviticus 19:9-18
“When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. It is the same with your grape crop—do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God.

“Do not steal.

“Do not deceive or cheat one another.

“Do not bring shame on the name of your God by using it to swear falsely. I am the Lord.

“Do not defraud or rob your neighbor.

“Do not make your hired workers wait until the next day to receive their pay.

“Do not insult the deaf or cause the blind to stumble. You must fear your God; I am the Lord.

“Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.

“Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people.

“Do not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is threatened. I am the Lord.

“Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin.

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

---

Ephesians 2:11-16
Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Going Home (p.318)

Meditate

Christ himself has brought peace to us. (Ephesians 2:14)

Pray

Heavenly Father, how wonderful it is when Your people dwell together in unity. You have shown us great mercy in Jesus. Only he has kept Your law perfectly and only by his blood can we live in true peace. Fill our hearts with gratitude for Your grace that we might long to show mercy to those who have wronged us. Empower us by Your Spirit to be salt and light, demonstrating the unity that is found in Christ alone. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

Sing

Oh How Good It Is

New City Catechism

Question 11: What does God require in the sixth, seventh, and eighth Commandments?

Answer: Sixth, that we do not hurt, or hate, or be hostile to our neighbor, but be patient and peaceful, pursuing even our enemies with love. Seventh, that we abstain from sexual immorality and live purely and faithfully, whether in marriage or in single life, avoiding all impure actions, looks, words, thoughts, or desires, and whatever might lead to them. Eighth, that we do not take without permission that which belongs to someone else, nor withhold any good from someone we might benefit.

---

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

• Habits of Grace

• Family Worship 101

Friday, February 11, 2022

Read

Psalm 68, Isaiah 61:1-2, Ephesians 4:4-13 (NLT)

Psalm 68
For the choir director: A song. A psalm of David.

Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies.
    Let those who hate God run for their lives.
Blow them away like smoke.
    Melt them like wax in a fire.
    Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.
But let the godly rejoice.
    Let them be glad in God’s presence.
    Let them be filled with joy.
Sing praises to God and to his name!
    Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.
His name is the Lord—
    rejoice in his presence!

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
    this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
God places the lonely in families;
    he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

O God, when you led your people out from Egypt,
    when you marched through the dry wasteland, Interlude
the earth trembled, and the heavens poured down rain
    before you, the God of Sinai,
    before God, the God of Israel.
You sent abundant rain, O God,
    to refresh the weary land.
There your people finally settled,
    and with a bountiful harvest, O God,
    you provided for your needy people.

The Lord gives the word,
    and a great army brings the good news.
Enemy kings and their armies flee,
    while the women of Israel divide the plunder.
Even those who lived among the sheepfolds found treasures—
    doves with wings of silver
    and feathers of gold.
The Almighty scattered the enemy kings
    like a blowing snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.

The mountains of Bashan are majestic,
    with many peaks stretching high into the sky.
Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountains,
    at Mount Zion, where God has chosen to live,
    where the Lord himself will live forever?

Surrounded by unnumbered thousands of chariots,
    the Lord came from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary.
When you ascended to the heights,
    you led a crowd of captives.
You received gifts from the people,
    even from those who rebelled against you.
    Now the Lord God will live among us there.

Praise the Lord; praise God our savior!
    For each day he carries us in his arms. Interlude
Our God is a God who saves!
    The Sovereign Lord rescues us from death.

But God will smash the heads of his enemies,
    crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways.
The Lord says, “I will bring my enemies down from Bashan;
    I will bring them up from the depths of the sea.
You, my people, will wash your feet in their blood,
    and even your dogs will get their share!”

Your procession has come into view, O God—
    the procession of my God and King as he goes into the sanctuary.
Singers are in front, musicians behind;
    between them are young women playing tambourines.
Praise God, all you people of Israel;
    praise the Lord, the source of Israel’s life.
Look, the little tribe of Benjamin leads the way.
    Then comes a great throng of rulers from Judah
    and all the rulers of Zebulun and Naphtali.

Summon your might, O God.
    Display your power, O God, as you have in the past.
The kings of the earth are bringing tribute
    to your Temple in Jerusalem.
Rebuke these enemy nations—
    these wild animals lurking in the reeds,
    this herd of bulls among the weaker calves.
Make them bring bars of silver in humble tribute.
    Scatter the nations that delight in war.
Let Egypt come with gifts of precious metals;
    let Ethiopia bring tribute to God.
Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth.
    Sing praises to the Lord. Interlude
Sing to the one who rides across the ancient heavens,
    his mighty voice thundering from the sky.
Tell everyone about God’s power.
    His majesty shines down on Israel;
    his strength is mighty in the heavens.
God is awesome in his sanctuary.
    The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.

Praise be to God!

---

Isaiah 61:1-2
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.

---

Ephesians 4:4-13
For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all.

However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say,

“When he ascended to the heights,
    he led a crowd of captives
    and gave gifts to his people.”

Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
The Warrior Leader (p.108)

Meditate

God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. (Psalm 68:35)

Pray

Our great God, You are full of strength and majesty. It is only by Your grace that we have been delivered into Your Kingdom. Lord Jesus, thank you for rescuing us by your sacrifice and making us holy in God’s sight. Help us, Holy Spirit, to live as the royal priesthood and holy Temple you have made us. We pray for our church family. Enable us to take opportunities to encourage one another and build each other up so that the Gospel might be declared and demonstrated through our life together. Come Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

Sing

O Church Arise

New City Catechism

Question 1: What is our only hope in life and death?

Answer: That we are not our own but belong, body and soul, both in life and death, to God and to our Savior Jesus Christ.

---

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

• Habits of Grace

• Family Worship 101

Thursday, November 18, 2021

Read

Psalm 133, Leviticus 19:9-18, Ephesians 2:11-16 (NLT)

Psalm 133
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.

How wonderful and pleasant it is
    when brothers live together in harmony!
For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil
    that was poured over Aaron’s head,
    that ran down his beard
    and onto the border of his robe.
Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon
    that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing,
    even life everlasting.

---

Leviticus 19:9-18
“When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. It is the same with your grape crop—do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God.

“Do not steal.

“Do not deceive or cheat one another.

“Do not bring shame on the name of your God by using it to swear falsely. I am the Lord.

“Do not defraud or rob your neighbor.

“Do not make your hired workers wait until the next day to receive their pay.

“Do not insult the deaf or cause the blind to stumble. You must fear your God; I am the Lord.

“Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.

“Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people.

“Do not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is threatened. I am the Lord.

“Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin.

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

---

Ephesians 2:11-16
Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
Going Home (p.318)

Meditate

Christ himself has brought peace to us. (Ephesians 2:14)

Pray

Heavenly Father, how wonderful it is when Your people dwell together in unity. You have shown us great mercy in Jesus. Only he has kept Your law perfectly and only by his blood can we live in true peace. Fill our hearts with gratitude for Your grace that we might long to show mercy to those who have wronged us. Empower us by Your Spirit to be salt and light, demonstrating the unity that is found in Christ alone. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

Sing

Oh How Good It Is

New City Catechism

Question 41: What is the Lord’s Prayer?

Answer: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

---

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

• Habits of Grace

• Family Worship 101

Friday, September 10, 2021

Read

Psalm 68, Isaiah 61:1-2, Ephesians 4:4-13 (NLT)

Psalm 68
For the choir director: A song. A psalm of David.

Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies.
    Let those who hate God run for their lives.
Blow them away like smoke.
    Melt them like wax in a fire.
    Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.
But let the godly rejoice.
    Let them be glad in God’s presence.
    Let them be filled with joy.
Sing praises to God and to his name!
    Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.
His name is the Lord—
    rejoice in his presence!

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
    this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
God places the lonely in families;
    he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

O God, when you led your people out from Egypt,
    when you marched through the dry wasteland, Interlude
the earth trembled, and the heavens poured down rain
    before you, the God of Sinai,
    before God, the God of Israel.
You sent abundant rain, O God,
    to refresh the weary land.
There your people finally settled,
    and with a bountiful harvest, O God,
    you provided for your needy people.

The Lord gives the word,
    and a great army brings the good news.
Enemy kings and their armies flee,
    while the women of Israel divide the plunder.
Even those who lived among the sheepfolds found treasures—
    doves with wings of silver
    and feathers of gold.
The Almighty scattered the enemy kings
    like a blowing snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.

The mountains of Bashan are majestic,
    with many peaks stretching high into the sky.
Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountains,
    at Mount Zion, where God has chosen to live,
    where the Lord himself will live forever?

Surrounded by unnumbered thousands of chariots,
    the Lord came from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary.
When you ascended to the heights,
    you led a crowd of captives.
You received gifts from the people,
    even from those who rebelled against you.
    Now the Lord God will live among us there.

Praise the Lord; praise God our savior!
    For each day he carries us in his arms. Interlude
Our God is a God who saves!
    The Sovereign Lord rescues us from death.

But God will smash the heads of his enemies,
    crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways.
The Lord says, “I will bring my enemies down from Bashan;
    I will bring them up from the depths of the sea.
You, my people, will wash your feet in their blood,
    and even your dogs will get their share!”

Your procession has come into view, O God—
    the procession of my God and King as he goes into the sanctuary.
Singers are in front, musicians behind;
    between them are young women playing tambourines.
Praise God, all you people of Israel;
    praise the Lord, the source of Israel’s life.
Look, the little tribe of Benjamin leads the way.
    Then comes a great throng of rulers from Judah
    and all the rulers of Zebulun and Naphtali.

Summon your might, O God.
    Display your power, O God, as you have in the past.
The kings of the earth are bringing tribute
    to your Temple in Jerusalem.
Rebuke these enemy nations—
    these wild animals lurking in the reeds,
    this herd of bulls among the weaker calves.
Make them bring bars of silver in humble tribute.
    Scatter the nations that delight in war.
Let Egypt come with gifts of precious metals;
    let Ethiopia bring tribute to God.
Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth.
    Sing praises to the Lord. Interlude
Sing to the one who rides across the ancient heavens,
    his mighty voice thundering from the sky.
Tell everyone about God’s power.
    His majesty shines down on Israel;
    his strength is mighty in the heavens.
God is awesome in his sanctuary.
    The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.

Praise be to God!

---

Isaiah 61:1-2
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.

---

Ephesians 4:4-13
For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all.

However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say,

“When he ascended to the heights,
    he led a crowd of captives
    and gave gifts to his people.”

Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
The Warrior Leader (p.108)

Meditate

God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. (Psalm 68:35)

Pray

Our great God, You are full of strength and majesty. It is only by Your grace that we have been delivered into Your Kingdom. Lord Jesus, thank you for rescuing us by your sacrifice and making us holy in God’s sight. Help us, Holy Spirit, to live as the royal priesthood and holy Temple you have made us. We pray for our church family. Enable us to take opportunities to encourage one another and build each other up so that the Gospel might be declared and demonstrated through our life together. Come Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

Sing

O Church Arise

New City Catechism

Question 31: What do we believe by true faith?

Answer: Everything taught to us in the gospel. The Apostles’ Creed expresses what we believe in these words: We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

---

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

• Habits of Grace

• Family Worship 101

Thursday, June 17, 2021

Read

Psalm 133, Leviticus 19:9-18, Ephesians 2:11-16 (NLT)

Psalm 133
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.

How wonderful and pleasant it is
    when brothers live together in harmony!
For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil
    that was poured over Aaron’s head,
    that ran down his beard
    and onto the border of his robe.
Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon
    that falls on the mountains of Zion.
And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing,
    even life everlasting.

---

Leviticus 19:9-18
“When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. It is the same with your grape crop—do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God.

“Do not steal.

“Do not deceive or cheat one another.

“Do not bring shame on the name of your God by using it to swear falsely. I am the Lord.

“Do not defraud or rob your neighbor.

“Do not make your hired workers wait until the next day to receive their pay.

“Do not insult the deaf or cause the blind to stumble. You must fear your God; I am the Lord.

“Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.

“Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people.

“Do not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is threatened. I am the Lord.

“Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin.

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

---

Ephesians 2:11-16
Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
God Sends Help (p.326)

Meditate

Christ himself has brought peace to us. (Ephesians 2:14)

Pray

Heavenly Father, how wonderful it is when Your people dwell together in unity. You have shown us great mercy in Jesus. Only he has kept Your law perfectly and it by his blood can we live in true peace. Fill our hearts with gratitude for Your grace that we might long to show mercy to those who have wronged us. Empower of by Your Spirit to be salt and light, demonstrating the unity that is found in Christ alone. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

Sing

O How Good It Is

New City Catechism

Question 19: Is there any way to escape punishment and be brought back into God’s favor?

Answer: Yes, to satisfy his justice, God himself, out of mere mercy, reconciles us to himself and delivers us from sin and from the punishment for sin, by a Redeemer.

---

New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

• Habits of Grace

• Family Worship 101

• New City Catechism

Friday, April 9, 2021

Read

Psalm 68, Isaiah 61:1-2, Ephesians 4:4-13 (NLT)

Psalm 68
For the choir director: A song. A psalm of David.

Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies.
    Let those who hate God run for their lives.
Blow them away like smoke.
    Melt them like wax in a fire.
    Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.
But let the godly rejoice.
    Let them be glad in God’s presence.
    Let them be filled with joy.
Sing praises to God and to his name!
    Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.
His name is the Lord—
    rejoice in his presence!

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
    this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
God places the lonely in families;
    he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

O God, when you led your people out from Egypt,
    when you marched through the dry wasteland, Interlude
the earth trembled, and the heavens poured down rain
    before you, the God of Sinai,
    before God, the God of Israel.
You sent abundant rain, O God,
    to refresh the weary land.
There your people finally settled,
    and with a bountiful harvest, O God,
    you provided for your needy people.

The Lord gives the word,
    and a great army brings the good news.
Enemy kings and their armies flee,
    while the women of Israel divide the plunder.
Even those who lived among the sheepfolds found treasures—
    doves with wings of silver
    and feathers of gold.
The Almighty scattered the enemy kings
    like a blowing snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.

The mountains of Bashan are majestic,
    with many peaks stretching high into the sky.
Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountains,
    at Mount Zion, where God has chosen to live,
    where the Lord himself will live forever?

Surrounded by unnumbered thousands of chariots,
    the Lord came from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary.
When you ascended to the heights,
    you led a crowd of captives.
You received gifts from the people,
    even from those who rebelled against you.
    Now the Lord God will live among us there.

Praise the Lord; praise God our savior!
    For each day he carries us in his arms. Interlude
Our God is a God who saves!
    The Sovereign Lord rescues us from death.

But God will smash the heads of his enemies,
    crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways.
The Lord says, “I will bring my enemies down from Bashan;
    I will bring them up from the depths of the sea.
You, my people, will wash your feet in their blood,
    and even your dogs will get their share!”

Your procession has come into view, O God—
    the procession of my God and King as he goes into the sanctuary.
Singers are in front, musicians behind;
    between them are young women playing tambourines.
Praise God, all you people of Israel;
    praise the Lord, the source of Israel’s life.
Look, the little tribe of Benjamin leads the way.
    Then comes a great throng of rulers from Judah
    and all the rulers of Zebulun and Naphtali.

Summon your might, O God.
    Display your power, O God, as you have in the past.
The kings of the earth are bringing tribute
    to your Temple in Jerusalem.
Rebuke these enemy nations—
    these wild animals lurking in the reeds,
    this herd of bulls among the weaker calves.
Make them bring bars of silver in humble tribute.
    Scatter the nations that delight in war.
Let Egypt come with gifts of precious metals;
    let Ethiopia bring tribute to God.
Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth.
    Sing praises to the Lord. Interlude
Sing to the one who rides across the ancient heavens,
    his mighty voice thundering from the sky.
Tell everyone about God’s power.
    His majesty shines down on Israel;
    his strength is mighty in the heavens.
God is awesome in his sanctuary.
    The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.

Praise be to God!

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Isaiah 61:1-2
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,
and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.

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Ephesians 4:4-13
For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all.

However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say,

“When he ascended to the heights,
    he led a crowd of captives
    and gave gifts to his people.”

Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
The Warrior Leader (p.108)

Meditate

God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. (Psalm 68:35)

Pray

Our great God, You are full of strength and majesty. It is only by Your grace that we have been delivered into Your Kingdom. Lord Jesus, thank you for rescuing us by your sacrifice and making us holy in God’s sight. Help us, Holy Spirit, to live as the royal priesthood and holy Temple you have made us. We pray for our church family. Enable us to take opportunities to encourage one another and build each other up so that the Gospel might be declared and demonstrated through our life together. Come Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.

Take a moment to pray for others.

Sing

O Church Arise

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

Music video by Keith & Kristyn Getty performing O Church Arise (Arise, Shine). (C) 2016 Getty Music Label, LLChttp://vevo.ly/s82b93 #KeithAndKristynGetty #OC...

New City Catechism

Question 9: What does God require in the first, second, and third commandments?

Answer: First, that we know and trust God as the only true and living God. Second, that we avoid all idolatry and do not worship God improperly. Third, that we treat God’s name with fear and reverence, honoring also his Word and works.

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New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

• Habits of Grace

• Family Worship 101

• New City Catechism

Wednesday, November 25

Read

Romans 11:1-24 (NLT)

I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

And do you remember God’s reply? He said, “No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!”

It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them. And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.

So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened. As the Scriptures say,

“God has put them into a deep sleep.
To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see,
    and closed their ears so they do not hear.”

Likewise, David said,

“Let their bountiful table become a snare,
    a trap that makes them think all is well.
Let their blessings cause them to stumble,
    and let them get what they deserve.
Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see,
    and let their backs be bent forever.”

Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.

I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this, for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them. For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead! And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy—just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.

But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.

“Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.” Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either.

Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off. And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree. You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into his cultivated tree, he will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
God’s Messenger (p.160)

Meditate

Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. (Romans 11:22)

Pray

O God of Heaven, we praise You for Your mercy and grace. Though we are unworthy sinners, You have drawn us back through the work of Your Son. Lord Jesus, it only by your perfect sacrifice that we are holy and blameless in the eyes of the Father. Thank you for reconciling us to Yourself. Enable us by Your Spirit to live by faith in the grace You have given us. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Sing

His Mercy Is More

Watch below or on YouTube!

"His Mercy Is More" as performed by Matt Papa & Matt Boswell Stay connected: http://www.facebook.com/gettymusic http://instagram.com/gettymusic http://www.ge...

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New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

• Habits of Grace

• Family Worship 101

Thursday, November 12

Read

John 17:20-26 (NLT)

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

“I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!

“O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”

Jesus Storybook Bible: 
A New Way To See (p.334)
Don't have the Jesus Storybook Bible at home? Check it out on Hoopla here!

Meditate

Jesus prayed, “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.” (John 17:21)

Pray

Heavenly Father, how wonderful it is when Your people live together in unity. You have shown us great mercy in Jesus. It is only by his blood that we can approach Your throne and live in peace. Fill our hearts with gratitude for Your grace that we might long to show mercy to those who have wronged us. May the world know that we are Your people by our love. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Sing

Oh How Good It Is (click “Show More” below the video for the lyrics)

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

Watch below or on YouTube!

"Oh, How Good It Is" led by Keith & Kristyn Getty Recorded LIVE at The Gospel Coalition Stream this song and others on our official Spotify channel: https://...

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New to Daily Worship?

Here are some helpful guides to get you started:

• Habits of Grace

• Family Worship 101