Dear friends,

A video recap and the handout are available below.

I'm very excited about what God is doing in and through Covenant Church in Burbank.

Here's the prayer card for this week:

They Began Rejoicing and Glorifying the Word of the Lord

January 15, 2023

Opening Scripture

2 Corinthians 5:16–21 (ESV)

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q. 17. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?

A. The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery.

Q. 18. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?

A. The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called Original Sin; together with all actual
transgressions which proceed from it.

Prayer

Acts 13:42-52 (ESV)

42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. 43 And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.

44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,

“ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,

that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Before the Throne of God Above

Charitie Lees Bancroft, 1863. Retrieved here: https://hymnary.org/text/before_the_throne_of_god_above_i_have_a_

1

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong and perfect plea;

a great High Priest whose name is Love,

who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on his hands,

my name is written on his heart.

I know that while in heav'n he stands

no tongue can bid me thence depart,

no tongue can bid me thence depart.

2

When Satan tempts me to despair

and tells me of the guilt within,

upward I look and see him there

who made an end of all my sin.

Because the sinless Savior died,

my sinful soul is counted free;

for God the just is satisfied

to look on him and pardon me,

to look on him and pardon me.

3

Behold him there, the risen Lamb,

my perfect, spotless righteousness,

the great unchangeable I AM,

the King of glory and of grace.

At one with him, I cannot die;

my soul is purchased by his blood.

My life is hid with Christ on high,

with Christ my Savior and my God,

with Christ my Savior and my God.