Dec
14
This Thursday, we are going to be examining and discussing the “one another” commands found in the New Testament. The “one another” commands are what Jesus introduced in John 13:34-35, “A new command I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” There are three concepts we will be focusing on this Thursday. First, the one another commands instruct how believers are to act and treat other believers. These commands are “in house” rules to help foster healthy relationships between one another and to be a light to the world. Second, we will examine the numerous “one another” commands found in the New Testament and see how they can be categorized into five categories: Love one another, serve one another, forgive one another, encourage one another, and accept one another. Third, we will discuss how our actions in these areas is a great indication of the condition of our heart and what we need to do to bring about heart transformation.
Be ready to think and discuss. Hope to see you there!
Posted in Youth
Posted by Phil
Dec
12
Doctrinal Standards WSC #8-9
Q. How does God carry out His decrees?
A. God carries out His decrees in creation and providence.
Q. What is creation?
A. Creation is God’s making everything out of nothing by His powerful word in six days – and all very good.
Memory Verses
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6, ESV)
Study Passage: Genesis 1:1-25
Support Passages: Hebrews 11:1-6; Romans 1:20; Revelation 4:11; Colossians 1:16; Psalm 33:6-12
Bible Story: Genesis 1; the six days of creation.
Thoughts
- God has always existed and He created everything out of nothing. When He created He created everything “very good” which means without sin. God is not the author of sin.
- God carries out His plans or decrees by creating then taking care (providence) of what He created. Our God is not the god of the Deist who created and then withdrew from creation. The God of the Bible has created with a purpose and is always actively implementing that purpose.
- The fact that God has personally created you and has given you a purpose provides meaning to our lives.
Discussion Questions
- What does decree mean?
- What does providence mean?
- Contrast what the world teaches with what the bible teaches concerning origins.
- The world and Bible explain the origin of life completely differently. Why is this? (Think worldview of God and man).
- Which came first, God’s decrees or creation?
- Why does it matter which one came first?
- What does it mean that God created everything good? Why is this important?
- If everything comes from something, where did God come from?
- How can you use the fact that everything comes from something to prove a constant being called God (look up first cause or cosmological argument)?
Posted in Study Guides Family Devotional Guidelines Phil Anady Genesis 1:1-25
Posted by Phil
Dec
7
This Thursday we will be examining and discussing the Westminster Shorter Catechism questions 7-10. These questions and answers contain important biblical doctrine that all believers must know in order to stand strong in their faith and be ambassadors for Christ within their own community. I’m looking forward to a great night of games, musical worship, and discussing the word of God. Hope to see you there!
WSC #7
Q. What are the decrees of God?
A. The decrees of God are His eternal plan based on the purpose of His will, by which, for His own glory, He has foreordained everything that happens.
WSC #8
Q. How does God carry out His decrees?
A. God carries out His decrees in creation and providence.
WSC #9
Q. What is creation?
A. Creation is God’s making everything out of nothing by His powerful word in six days – and all very good.
WSC #10
Q. How did God create man?
A. God created man, male and female, in His own image and in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, to rule over the other creatures.
Posted in Youth
Posted by Phil
Dec
4
Doctrinal Standard WSC #7
Q. What are the decrees of God?
A. The decrees of God are His eternal plan based on the purpose of His will, by which, for His own glory, He has foreordained everything that happens.
Memory Verses
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.”(Ephesians 1:3-4, ESV)
Study Passage: Ephesians 1:3-14
Support Passages: Romans 8:26-39, 9:11-18; Acts 2:23, 4:24-28; John 6:44,65; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; I Peter 2:8; Genesis 18:19; Isaiah 5:1-7; Deuteronomy 7:6-11;
Bible Story: Genesis 37:1-28, 50:15-21
Thoughts
- There are a few prerequisites to understanding the decrees of God. First, it is often unclear to see how God is going to use a tragedy or difficult time in someone’s life while it is taking place. Joseph saw nothing but complete evil and despair when his brothers sold him into slavery. It was only after the fact that Joseph saw the plan of God.
- Second, the dichotomy of God’s sovereignty and mans responsibility is something one will never completely understand. While we will never know in this lifetime how it all works the Bible strongly teaches that God is sovereign and has ordained things while still giving us the responsibility to act and respond to the choices we face.
- The fact that God has a purpose and is sovereign over all should fill us with humility and confidence that God will finish the work He has started in our lives.
Discussion Questions
- How does it make you feel that God is in control of everything?
- How do you think Joseph felt when is brother sold him into slavery? Did he know what God was going to do?
- If God is in control of everything why do bad things happen to good people?
- What has God promised to those who love Him? (Romans 8:28-29).
- What should be our attitude when difficult events happen in our lives?
- Ephesians 1 says God chose us for salvation before the earth was even created. Why did he do that?
- If God has chosen us for salvation and is in control of everything what should be our response?
Posted in Study Guides Family Devotional Guidelines Phil Anady Ephesians 1:3-14
Posted by Phil
Nov
28
This Thursday, we are going to be discussing what the Bible teaches about the heart. If we don’t have a correct biblical worldview about the heart we will never fully understand our depravity, actions, thoughts, and utter dependence upon Jesus Christ for heart transformation. Jesus, recorded in Matthew 15:19, provides tremendous insight into the heart and our actions, saying, “for out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” I have read and heard these passages of scripture for many years but only recently have I realized its magnitude. I have come to realize that sin in my life is not primarily something external that I react to or partake in but rather it is mainly internal and appears when certain situations bring it out. In other words every thought, action, and word provides an opportunity for myself and others to get a glimpse of who I am, my own heart. This is extremely sobering and leaves me with only one option to run to our Savior for the heart change that I so desperately need. That, my friends, is where the amazing grace and gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ comes in!
I’m looking forward to discussing these biblical truths in greater detail with you Thursday night.
-Phil
Posted in Youth
Posted by Phil
Nov
28
Doctrinal Standard WSC #6
Q. How many persons are there in the one God?
A. Three persons are in the one God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, the same in substance and equal in power and glory.
Memory Verses
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30, ESV)
Study Passage: John 16:1-15
Support Passages: John 14:16-17, 25-31, 15:26-27; Romans 8:26; Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30; Galatians 4:1-6; 2 Corinthians 3:17–18; Acts 5:3–4; 1 Peter 1:2
Bible Story: John 3:1-10; God the Holy Spirit is the one who works in individuals lives to bring them to salvation.
Thoughts
- The Holy Spirit contains attributes that only God himself contains. The Holy Spirit gives eternal life (John 6:63), complete truth (John 14:17), omnipotent (Romans 8:11), omniscient (1 Corinthians 2:10-11), eternal (Hebrews 9:14), and there are many divine attributes attributed to the Holy Spirit.
- The Holy Spirit is referred as God in scripture. The most notable passage is found in Acts 5:3-4.
- The Holy Spirit (God) dwells in us and has been given to us as a helper, for our comfort, conviction of sin, to lead us in truth, and to seal us for salvation. With this truth we can have the confidence that God is working in our lives to make us more and more like Him.
Discussion Questions
- What are some attributes of the Holy Spirit? How does this show that He is God?
- What is the job of the Holy Spirit? How does this make you feel?
- Is the Holy Spirit difficult to understand or remember? Why?
- How does the Holy Spirit convict individuals?
- How does the Holy Spirit bring someone to salvation?
Posted in Study Guides Family Devotional Guidelines Phil Anady 1 Corinthians 2:10-11 Acts 5:3-4 Hebrews 9:14 John 14:17 John 16:1-15 John 6:63 Romans 8:11
Posted by Phil
Nov
21
There will be no youth this Thursday due to Thanksgiving. I encourage you to take a little extra time on Thursday and think upon the greatness of God and thank Him in prayer for all that He has done for you and I!
Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 ESV).
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! 2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! 3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. 5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. 6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! (Psalm 95:1–6 ESV)
Happy Thanksgiving
-Phil
Posted in Youth
Posted by Phil
Nov
21
Doctrinal Standard WSC #6
Q. How many persons are there in the one God?
A. Three persons are in the one God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, the same in substance and equal in power and glory.
Memory Verses
“For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.”(Colossians 2:9-10, ESV)
Study Passage: Hebrews 1:1-2:4; John 1:1-18
Support Passages: Psalm 2:7, 45:6-7;, 5:15-18, 10:24-31; Colossians 1:13-19, 2:1-10; Titus 2:11-14
Bible Story: Mark 2:1-12
Thoughts
Hebrews provides a brief but powerful description of who Jesus is: prophet, creator, glory and image of God, sustainer of this world, the perfect sacrifice and redeemer for sin, superior to the angels, and seated at the right hand of God.
Throughout scripture Jesus made claims that He is God.
Jesus during His earthly ministry combined miracles with His teaching to provide validity or proof that He is God the Redeemer.
Discussion Questions
- How do you know that Jesus is God?
- Why were the religious leaders mad when Jesus told the paraplegic that his sins were forgiven?
- Why did Jesus heal the paraplegic?
- What are some of things Jesus said that revealed Himself as God? (Support Passages)
- What other facts about Jesus support that He is God?
- Hebrews lists things that Jesus has done or is currently doing. What are they? How do these things prove that Christ is God?
Posted in Study Guides Family Devotional Guidelines Hebrews 1:1-2:4 John 1:1-18
Posted by Phil
