Saturday, July 31st Worship Guide--God of Glory

Read: Ephesians 1:3-14

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. 4 For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love. 5 He did this by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will-- 6 to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight. 9 He did this when he revealed to us the secret of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10 toward the administration of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ--the things in heaven and the things on earth.

11 In Christ we too have been claimed as God's own possession, since we were predestined according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will 12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, would be to the praise of his glory. 13 And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation)--when you believed in Christ--you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of his glory. (NET)

Think: What has God done to receive our praise of His glory?

Pray: Extol God for accomplishing our salvation to the praise of His glory. (verses 6, 12, 14)

Friday, July 30th Worship Guide--God of Glory

Read: John 17:1-5

When Jesus had finished saying these things, he looked upward to heaven and said, "Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, so that your Son may glorify you-- 2 just as you have given him authority over all humanity, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life--that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent. 4 I glorified you on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me at your side with the glory I had with you before the world was created. (NET)

Think: How has Jesus glorified His Gather? (see verses 2& 4)

Pray: Pray that we also glorify God by serving Him.

Thursday, July 29th Worship Guide--God of Glory

Read: John 1:14-18

Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory--the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father. 15 John testified about him and shouted out, "This one was the one about whom I said, 'He who comes after me is greater than I am, because he existed before me.'" 16 For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known. (NET)

Think: What is the glory of God displayed in Jesus Christ?

Pray: Praise Jesus who reveals God’s grace and truth.

Wednesday, July 28th Worship Guide--God of Glory

Read: Exodus 33:17—34:6

Exodus 33:17 And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do this thing also that you have spoken, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name." 18 And he said, "Show me your glory." 19 And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before your face, and I will proclaim the LORD by name before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy." 20 And he said, "You cannot see my face, for no one can see me and live." 21 And the LORD said, "Here is a place by me; you will station yourself on a rock. 22 And when my glory passes by, then I will put you in a cleft in the rock and will cover you with my hand while I pass by. 23 Then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back, but my face must not be seen.

34:1 And the LORD said to Moses, "Cut out two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you smashed. 2 And be prepared in the morning, and go up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and station yourself for me there on the top of the mountain. 3 And no man is to come up with you, nor let any man be seen throughout the mountain, nor let the flocks or the herds graze before that mountain." 4 So Moses cut out two tablets of stone like the first; and early in the morning he went up to Mount Sinai, just as the LORD had commanded him; and he took in his hand two tablets of stone. 5 And the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there; and he made proclamation of the LORD by name. 6 And the LORD passed by before him and proclaimed: "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abounding in loyal love and faithfulness. (NET)

Think: When God’s glory passed before Moses, what did Moses learn about God?

Pray: Praise God for these attributes displayed in his glory.

Tuesday, July 27th Worship Guide--God of Glory

Read: Isaiah 6:1-5

In the year of King Uzziah's death, I saw the sovereign master seated on a high, elevated throne. The hem of his robe filled the temple. 2 Seraphs stood over him; each one had six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and they used the remaining two to fly. 3 They called out to one another, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord who leads armies! His majestic splendor fills the entire earth!" 4 The sound of their voices shook the door frames, and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 I said, "Too bad for me! I am destroyed, for my lips are contaminated by sin, and I live among people whose lips are contaminated by sin. My eyes have seen the king, the LORD who leads armies." (NET)

Think: What was it like for Isaiah to behold God’s glory?

Pray: Praise God for His glory.

Monday, July 26th Worship Guide--God of Glory

Read: Psalm 19:1-6

For the music director; a psalm of David.

The heavens declare God's glory;

the sky displays his handiwork.

2 Day after day it speaks out;

night after night it reveals his greatness.

3 There is no actual speech or word,

nor is its voice literally heard.

4 Yet its voice echoes throughout the earth;

its words carry to the distant horizon. In the sky he has pitched a tent for the sun.

5 Like a bridegroom it emerges from its chamber;

like a strong man it enjoys running its course.

6 It emerges from the distant horizon, and goes from one end of the sky to the other;

nothing can escape its heat. (NET)

Think: Where in God’s creation have you seen His glory manifested?

Pray: Thank God for the displays of His glory you have seen.

Sunday, July 25th Worship Guide--God of Glory

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of host;
The whole earth is full of His glory”
(Isaiah 6:3)

The Old Testament word for “glory” has the basic idea of “weight,” or “heaviness,” something of substance. These days, something is called “heavy” if it is extremely significant or noteworthy—”that was a heavy message.” This is the idea behind God’s glory: He is “heavy” and of substance.

Saturday, July 24th Worship Guide--Proclaiming Christ to All People

Read: Revelation 5:9-14

They were singing a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were killed, and at the cost of your own blood you have purchased for God persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation. 10 You have appointed them as a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." 11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels in a circle around the throne, as well as the living creatures and the elders. Their number was ten thousand times ten thousand--thousands times thousands-- 12 all of whom were singing in a loud voice: "Worthy is the lamb who was killed to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and praise!" 13 Then I heard every creature--in heaven, on earth, under the earth, in the sea, and all that is in them--singing: "To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be praise, honor, glory, and ruling power forever and ever!" 14 And the four living creatures were saying "Amen," and the elders threw themselves to the ground and worshiped.

Think: Why is Jesus worthy of heavenly worship and praise?

Pray: Praise Jesus because He saves people of every tribe and tongue, and of every people and nation.

Friday, July 23rd Worship Guide--Proclaiming Christ to All People

Read: Matthew 28:18-20

Then Jesus came up and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Think: What support does Jesus offer to those who “go”? (verse 20)

Pray: Pray for the needs of someone you know who is ministering away from his or her native country.

Thursday, July 22nd Worship Guide--Proclaiming Christ to All People

Read: Matthew 28:18-20

Then Jesus came up and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Think: Where are believers to call people to follow Jesus?

Pray: Ask God what role you can play in worldwide evangelism.

Wednesday, July 21st Worship Guide--Proclaiming Christ to All People

Read: Luke 24:44-48

Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled." 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures, 46 and said to them, "Thus it stands written that the Messiah would suffer and would rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.

Think: Where is the message of salvation to be proclaimed?

Pray: Ask God how you might help the spread of the gospel worldwide.

Tuesday, July 20th Worship Guide--Proclaiming Christ to All People

Read: Luke 24:46-48

Thus it stands written that the Messiah would suffer and would rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.

Think: What are Jesus’ disciples to do with the message of salvation?

Pray: Ask God for a lifestyle that actively witnesses the salvation Jesus gives.

Monday, July 19th Worship Guide--Proclaiming Christ to All People

Read: Luke 24:44-53 NET

Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled." 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures, 46 and said to them, "Thus it stands written that the Messiah would suffer and would rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. But stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." 50 Then Jesus led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51 Now during the blessing he departed and was taken up into heaven. 52 So they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple courts blessing God.

Think: What is the message that caused such joyful worship among the disciples? (vs. 46-47)

Pray: Praise Jesus for His death and resurrection that brings forgiveness of sins.

Sunday, July 18th Worship Guide--Proclaiming Christ to All Peoples

“forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations.”
Luke 24:47

It is often been said that the only reason believers are left on earth is to spread the gospel. In a sense this is true. The church can worship and fellowship in heaven, better, in fact, than on earth. But the one thing the church cannot do in heaven is call upon people to turn to Christ. Even the purpose of Israel in the Old Testament was to proclaim the true God to her pagan neighbors (Exodus 19:6; Psalm 96:10-3). Tragically, Israel failed (Isaiah 42:18-19); but where Israel failed, Jesus Christ triumphed! He has called His church to share in the victory of proclaiming salvation in His name, calling upon all peoples, everywhere on earth, to come to Him.