Thu Nov 19

Listen up, little ones

Especially for the littles in your household.

Listen for the words promise and judgment.

Reading

2 Peter 3:1–10—Where is the Promise?

Optional Reading

Isaiah 43:1-17

Keys for kids

Also for the littles. Young households might choose, after Keys for Kids, to go directly to praise and prayer.

Jesus promised he would come back and make all things right.
Jesus will judge the world by fire.
Now is the time to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus.

Questions

(Some read the ?s before the notes/ ask them after.)

What is the promise?
To whom is the promise made?
How are judgment by water and fire similar, and how are they different?

Catechism

WSC #95

To whom is Baptism to be administered?

Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible Church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him; but the infants of such as are members of the visible Church are to be baptized.

(Acts 8:36-37; Acts 2:38-39; Genesis 17:10 with Colossians 2:11-12; 1 Corinthians 7:14)

Children's Catechism 124-125

Who appointed these sacraments? The Lord Jesus Christ. Why did Christ appoint these sacraments? To distinguish his disciples from the world, and to comfort and strengthen them.

Notes

(See Saturday for authors.)

A common objection to Christianity is that "It's been 2,000 years since Jesus promised to return. Isn't that a bit too long?" If you are honest, you must deal with this question and perhaps admit that you may have asked it yourself.

Interestingly, we find in Scriptures that both the prophets of the Old Testament and the apostles of the New have had to deal with similar questions (Jer. 17: 15–18; Amos 5: 18–20; Rom. 8: 18–25). Especially the prophets tell us that the day of the Lord is a day of terrible judgment. It is often described in Scriptures as a day of destruction and calamity, where the Lord will melt creation down to the very elements and take revenge on his enemies. However terrifying the scene will certainly be, it is very comforting to know that God will finally judge all evil and establish justice forever on earth: no more corruption, bribery, oppression, murder.

However, the apostles also remind us that God chose a people to save and preserve from the final judgment. The Eternal will delay his judgment until all his children come to repentance. The set time for his judgment remains a mystery, but the time for repentance is today!

Swedish Method questions

See the Sunday notes for meaning of the symbols.

Praise

Psalm 75a, 22c

Prayer

Pray for patient hope.
Pray for the preparation for preaching God’s Word this Lord's Day.
Pray for a member of our church, for your family, and for a non-Christian friend/family member.