As the Fall draws nigh, here are some good posts for parents on family worship and discipleship:
5 Reasons to Prioritize Family Worship – Donald Whitney (Crossway)
Five Benefits of Regular Family Worship – Tom Ascol (FM)
Parents, Disciple Your Teens (While There’s Still Time) – Jaquelle Crowe (Crossway)
John’s readers lived in a world (as we do) where evil was rampant and apparently all-powerful. Goodness was weak and frustrated and ineffectual. But John’s very first vision of heaven shows that these appearances are deceptive….God’s power and eternal being ensure that His holiness will triumph over all evil.
– Leon Morris on Revelation 4:8 in The Revelation of St. John (TNTC)
Song of Solomon begins with a time of courtship leading ultimately to the wedding in chapter 4.
Let us reverently hear and read Holy Scripture, which is the food of the soul.– Thomas Cranmer
(1-8) Read through the entire book. Do you think this book is primarily a love poem about a young man and a young woman or an allegory about Christ and His church? Why?
What do you think the human author intended this book to be?
(1-8) Starting with the love poem interpretation, what is God telling us about romantic, even sexual, love within marriage?
(1-2, 5-6, 8) What are some tips we might we learn about marriage from this young couple’s example?
8:6-7 –
6:3, 2:16 –
5:16 –
2:10 & 13 –
2:2-3 –
1:9 –
(2, 3, 8) What instruction is given three times in this book (2:7, 3:5, 8:4)? Why is this instruction more helpful than just instructing youth/singles to not have sex outside of marriage?
(1-8) Throughout the Old Testament, marriage is a picture of God’s relationship with Israel. In the New Testament, marriage is a picture of Christ and His church. How might we apply the following passages to our relationship with the Lord?
1:2 (see Psalm 63:3) –
2:10 & 13 –
2:16, 6:3 –
3:1-3 (see Psalm 63:1) –
8:6-7 –
Love is not merely an affection of the heart or an attitude of the will; it is also the action of a person’s life. True love comes to expression in practical, often sacrificial deeds of service.– Phil Ryken in Loving Jesus More
Behold in heaven stands the throne
Of God in His glory
Rich and brilliant like precious stone
In splendor and beauty
Lightning and thunder from the throne
Announce coming judgment
But faithful mercy to His own
With whom He is present
Around the throne four Living Ones
Cry “Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
Holy, holy, holy”
The Elders join and cry “Worthy
Is He who makes all things
All power, honor, and glory”
Now lift your voice and sing!
Holy, holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
Is our Lord God Almighty
Who reigns eternally
Worthy, worthy, worthy, worthy
Is our Creator King
All power, honor, and glory
Let all creation sing!
To the tune of “We Sing The Greatness Of Our God”
– William Hendriksen on Revelation 4 in More Than Conquerors
The writer continues to share wisdom, finally coming to his conclusion.
– G.K. Beale on Revelation 4 in Revelation: A Shorter Commentary
Brian J. Mikul 