Matt 5: 17 - 20, "Do you think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them....For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Scribes and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven."

What is the purpose of the Scriptures for the Christian disciple? The primary purpose of the Scriptures [both the Old Testament and the New Testament] for the Christian disciple is to facilitate the possibility and the reality for us to enter into, and to be in right relationship with God. How may we define or describe this right relationship with God? Being in right relationship with God may be best defined [and described] as the reign and the rule of the the Kingdom of God in us which is way of saying that God is KING [revealed to us in Jesus Christ] in our hearts and in our lives. So, the primary purpose of the Scriptures in the life of a Christian disciple is to make sure at all times and in all places and in all circumstances that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior in our lives. The secondary purpose of the Scriptures in our lives is to make sure that we grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and become like him. Christ likeness is possible; only, when Jesus Christ becomes Lord and Savior in our lives. So, like the Word of God, read the Word of God, claim the promises of the Word of God and pray the Word of God so that Jesus Christ may be Lord and Savior in all your life and you become like Jesus.

Second our Prayer.  

Great and gracious Father, we bless and glorify your most Holy Name.

We thank you for the gifts of life, family, friends, health, work and play.

We thank you that you love us with everlasting and eternal love.

We thank you for revealing yourself to us both in Jesus Christ, in

your most HOLY WORD and in the HOLY SACRAMENTS.

Give to us, your people, the joy and the privilege of YOU reigning

in us as we give ourselves more fully and completely to you this day

and every day. May we know YOU as YOU are revealed to us in

Jesus Christ, in your WORD and in the HOLY SACRAMENTS and

become like Jesus Christ in our thoughts, in our conversation, in

our relationships, in our laying down and in our rising up, in private

and in public, in our joys and in our pains that HE may be seen,

heard, worshiped and glorified in us and through. To YOU BE ALL

THE GLORY IN THE CHURCH AND IN THE WORLD, NOW AND

FOREVER. Amen & Amen."