When it comes to the sacraments, not following the directions may cause serious side effects. 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 (NIV) 17  In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18  In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19  No doubt there have to be differences among you to show And the mistake Paul corrects here in chapter 11 is a doozie: their practice of the Lord's Supper was

Jeremiah 7:1-8 (NIV) This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2  “Stand at the gate of the Today: 1 Timothy 6

Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 112 Q. ethical situations; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - John 10

There are no good examples in the Bible of 'Lone Ranger' believers. 2 Chronicles 30:1-9 (NIV) CONTEXT Today: 2 Corinthians 11

Micah 5:1–5 (NIV) 5  Marshal your troops now, city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. Listen to passage & devotional: Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 10: The Deity of Christ We believe Today: Hebrews 10

John 17:1–5 (NIV) CONTEXT: As His crucifixion draws near, Jesus prays to His Father. 1 After Jesus said Listen to passage & devotional: Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 10: The Deity of Christ We believe

Biblical preaching is what fuels your faith in Christ. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 65 Q. It is by faith alone that we share in Christ and all his blessings: where then does that faith come from? A. The Holy Spirit produces it in our hearts by the preaching of the holy gospel, and confirms it through our use of the holy sacraments. Summary This week, we're pivoting from the Apostles’ Creed to an introduction of the sacraments. The sacraments are an important part of our worship. Before we get into the sacraments, lets be reminded where our faith comes from. As someone who grew up in the Reformed tradition, I have heard Ephesians 2:8 preached on many times. Its simple message is one that cannot be overstated: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. We do not earn grace, we cannot buy grace, we are given God’s grace through faith. Heidelberg Question 65 asks the next logical question: where then does that faith come from? Our faith is a gift of God, through the work of the Holy Spirit. When we hear the word of God proclaimed, through preaching, the Holy Spirit works in our hearts to draw us to the Lord. Our faith is dependent upon the preaching of the gospel. Dig Deeper Do you ever wonder why ministers preach on the Old Testament as well as the New Testament? The New Testament focuses on Jesus, so why do we need to hear from the Old Testament? The Bible is the arc of redemption. The climax of the Bible are the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, because they teach us about Jesus; His life, His crucifixion, and His resurrection. While the Gospels are the climax, the Old Testament teaches us God’s plan for salvation and how we got there. God worked through men and women like Abraham, Moses, Rahab, Ruth, and David to bring about his plan for salvation. He spoke through prophets like Isaiah and Haggai to prepare the way for the coming Messiah. Through the preaching of the Old Testament, we see how God was at work all the way back in Genesis, and as we move forward through the Bible we are led by God to his Son, Jesus Christ. From there, God lays out how He will complete His work when Jesus returns. The Holy Spirit works through all of scripture to turn your heart toward God. By the preaching of God’s Word, you hear who God is, who you are in relation to Him (a sinner in need of redemption), and what God did to save you from your sin. It is through the preaching of the Word that the Holy Spirit works on your heart to draw you to God by showing you that you are a sinner in need of grace. The only way to receive that grace is from God through faith that preaching produces. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Most Holy and Righteous God, your Word endures forever; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: May I seek out the preaching of your word; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Philippians 3

Luke 1:26–38 (NIV) 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth

Galatians 5:1-6 (NIV) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (ESV) 13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word Today: Acts 10