“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die (John 11:25-26).
While we’re unable to meet, we encourage you all to seek the Lord together as families (or on your own) using the following liturgy. One person may lead by reading Scriptures and praying. Or, everyone may read together in unison.
Pastor Carter’s sermon this week is on John 20:1-18. The video of this sermon is embedded below. Click here to find the audio on Sermonaudio.
All Scripture read or quoted is from the English Standard Version (read it online here).
For the Trinity Psalter Hymnal, click here. Links to the psalms, hymns, and creeds are provided below (if available online).
For a PDF of this Family Worship Guide that you can print, click here.
May God bless you and continue to sustain your faith through his word and Spirit!
Family Worship Guide // Sunday, April 12, 2020
opening Scripture - John 11:25-26
I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.
the lord’s prayer
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Psalm of Praise - “preserve me, o God” (Trinity Psalter Hymnal, Ps. 16b)
The law of god - deuteronomy 6:4-5
4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Prayer of confession - Daniel 9:4-5; Psalm 6:1-5; Psalm 16:11
O Lord, the great and awesome God,
who keeps covenant and steadfast love
with those who love him and keep his commandments,
we have sinned and done wrong
and acted wickedly and rebelled,
turning aside from your commandments and rules.
O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger,
nor discipline me in your wrath.
Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing;
heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled.
My soul also is greatly troubled.
But you, O LORD—how long?
Turn, O LORD, deliver my life;
save me for the sake of your steadfast love.
For in death there is no remembrance of you;
in Sheol who will give you praise?
You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. AMEN.
A word of grace and pardon - Romans 8:1
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
The doxology: (Trinity Psalter Hymnal, 567)
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Supplication
Give thanks to the Father for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Pray for the Lord’s continuing work in your life, and in the lives of others. Pray to grow in faith, hope, and love. Pray for your family’s physical and spiritual needs and well-being. Pray especially for Sovereign Grace and the church in the midst of this uncertain time. The best way to do this is to use the Prayer List (emailed out to members).
Reading from the old Testament - Hosea 6:1-3
1 “Come, let us return to the LORD;
for he has torn us, that he may heal us;
he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.
2 After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will raise us up,
that we may live before him.
3 Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD;
his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers,
as the spring rains that water the earth.”
Reading from the New testament - John 20:1-18
1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
Sermon: “Our Risen Good Shepherd” (john 20:1-18)
Point: In his resurrection, Christ receives glory and gives grace to those who know and trust in him.
Outline:
The fact of the resurrection
The significance of the resurrection
For those overcome with sorrow
For those overcome by guilt
Additional Scriptures Referenced in the Sermon:
For an audio-only version of the sermon, click here.
confession of faith: Westminster larger catechism, q. 87 (trinity psalter hymnal, p. 949
Q. What are we to believe concerning the resurrection?
A. We are to believe that at the last day there shall be a general resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust: when they that are then found alive shall in a moment be changed; and the selfsame bodies of the dead which were laid in the grave, being then again united to their souls forever, shall be raised up by the power of Christ. The bodies of the just, by the Spirit of Christ, and by virtue of his resurrection as their head, shall be raised in power, spiritual, incorruptible, and made like to his glorious body; and the bodies of the wicked shall be raised up in dishonor by him, as an offended judge.
closing hymn: “Crown him with many crowns” (Trinity psalter hymnal, 380)
Closing prayer and Scripture - 1 peter 5:10-11
10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.