Opening Prayer: Almighty God, grant me the power to accept Your grace. Help me steer clear of the pitfalls of avoiding grace. Amen.

Read: Matthew 13:1-23
Reflect: Can you summarize the parable of the sower in one sentence? Why does God allow the soil of different peoples’ hearts to be more or less receptive to the Gospel? Does a heart that is not inclined to receive the Gospel make a person completely incapable of accepting Jesus? What can be done to make the soil of our hearts more receptive to the Gospel?

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself.

Hymn: “In Heavenly Love Abiding”
In heavenly love abiding,
No change my heart shall fear;
And safe is such confiding,
For nothing changes here.
The storm may roar without me,
My heart may low be laid,
But God is round about me,
And can I be dismayed?

Wherever He may guide me,
No want shall turn me back;
My Shepherd is beside me,
And nothing can I lack.
His wisdom ever walketh;
His sight is never dim.
He knows the way He taketh,
And I will walk with Him.

Green pastures are before me
Which yet I have not seen.
Bright skies will soon be o’er me,
Where darkest clouds have been.
My hope I cannot measure;
My path to life is free.
My Savior has my treasure,
And He will walk with me.

Closing Prayer: The Lord bless and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)

Opening Prayer: Almighty God, fill me with Your Holy Spirit this week so I may better understand the reality of Your love for me. Amen.

Read: Galatians 5-6
Reflect: How does Paul describe the freedom for which we have been set free? How do the fruits of the Spirit help us to understand our freedom better? Why is bearing one another’s burdens an act of fulfilling the law of Christ? How can we develop the traits of the Spirit that Paul talks about in our lives?

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself.

Hymn: “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”
O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!

Jesus the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears;
‘Tis life and health, and peace.

He breaks the power of cancelled sin;
He sets the prisoner free.
His blood can make the foulest clean;
His blood availed for me.

He speaks, and listening to His voice,
New life the dead receive.
The mournful broken hearts rejoice;
The humble poor believe.

My gracious master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread though all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name.

Closing Prayer: Quicken us all to life in Your righteousness. You who did come to save Your people from their sins: Save, O Lord, those who put their trust in You. Amen

Opening Prayer: Almighty God, fill me with Your Holy Spirit this week so I may better understand the reality of Your love for me. Amen.

Read: Galatians 3:26-4:31
Reflect: What does Paul say our lives should look like as children of God? What does it mean to Paul that we are children of the free woman, rather than the slave woman? How does our lives in the promise of God affect our day to day lives?

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself.

Hymn: “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”
O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!

Jesus the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears;
‘Tis life and health, and peace.

He breaks the power of cancelled sin;
He sets the prisoner free.
His blood can make the foulest clean;
His blood availed for me.

He speaks, and listening to His voice,
New life the dead receive.
The mournful broken hearts rejoice;
The humble poor believe.

My gracious master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread though all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name.

Closing Prayer: Quicken us all to life in Your righteousness. You who did come to save Your people from their sins: Save, O Lord, those who put their trust in You. Amen

Opening Prayer: Almighty God, fill me with Your Holy Spirit this week so I may better understand the reality of Your love for me. Amen.

Read: Galatians 3:1-25
Reflect: Why does Paul say that Law was given? How does the promise of God relate to the Law? How does faith relate to the Law? What does faith mean for observance of the Law?

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself.

Hymn: “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”
O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!

Jesus the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears;
‘Tis life and health, and peace.

He breaks the power of cancelled sin;
He sets the prisoner free.
His blood can make the foulest clean;
His blood availed for me.

He speaks, and listening to His voice,
New life the dead receive.
The mournful broken hearts rejoice;
The humble poor believe.

My gracious master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread though all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name.

Closing Prayer: Quicken us all to life in Your righteousness. You who did come to save Your people from their sins: Save, O Lord, those who put their trust in You. Amen