Wed Oct 14

Listen up, little ones

Especially for the littles in your household.

Listen for the words bless and Lord.

Reading

Psalm 103:1-22—He Forgives. He Heals.

Optional Reading

Luke 5: 17-26

Keys for kids

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

Bless the Lord for everything He has done for you.
Bless Him with everything you are and have.
Bless the Lord for forgiving your sins.

Questions

(Hebrews 10:39; John 1:12; Isaiah 26:3-4; Philippians 3:9; Galatians 2:16)

Does God forgive all our sins? Explain.
Does God heal all our diseases? Explain.
What are some other benefits God has granted you?

Catechism

WSC #86

What is faith in Jesus Christ?

Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel.

(Hebrews 10:39; John 1:12; Isaiah 26:3-4; Philippians 3:9; Galatians 2:1

Notes

(See Saturday for authors.)

Bless the Lord, O my soul. Bless the Lord with all that I am. Why? Because of who our God is and because of what our God has done for us. Don’t forget all the good things God has done for you. Spurgeon says that David “selects a few of the choicest pearls from the casket of divine love, threads them on the string of memory, and hangs them about the neck of gratitude.”

In the beginning of the list of many things God has done are the same two things we find in Luke 5—He forgives. He heals. He forgives most of our sin, right? No! God forgives all of our sins—those we have committed in the past, those we might be committing right now, and those we will commit in the future. When our sin is much, God’s grace is much more. But let’s not sin more because of God’s great grace! (see Romans 5:20–6:2)

And God also heals—all our diseases! But wait a minute, we might say. People we know and love have died of diseases. Maybe you also have an incurable disease. Has God’s promise failed? May it never be! When we or someone we know is sick, we can and should pray for them. We can call the elders of the church to pray for them (James 5:14). And we can be sure that if we are Christians, God will heal all of our diseases—either in this life or in the life to come in heaven.

So, bless/praise the Lord for all He has done and will do for you!

Swedish Method questions

See the Sunday notes for meaning of the symbols.

Praise

Psalm 103b, 104a

Prayer

Give thanks to God for some specific benefits He has given you.
Pray for change in you from last Lord’s Day’s sermons.
Pray for a member of our church, for your family, and for a non-Christian friend/family member.