This Thursday, we are going to finish examining and discussing the first six catechism questions of the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Two weeks ago we discussed questions 1-3 and this week we will finish with questions 4-6.  Hope to see you there!

WSC #1
Q. What is man’s primary purpose?
A. Man’s primary purpose is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.
(1 Co 10:31; Ro 11:36; Ps 73:25-28)

WSC #2
Q. What authority from God directs us how to glorify and enjoy Him?
A. The only authority for glorifying and enjoying Him is the bible, which is the word of God and is made up of the Old and New Testaments.
(2 Ti 3:16; Eph 2:20; 1 Jn 1:3,4)

WSC #3
Q. What does the bible primarily teach?
A. The Bible primarily teaches what man must believe about God and what God requires of
man.
(2 Ti 1:13; 2 Ti 3:16)

WSC #4
Q. What is God?
A. God is a spirit, Whose being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth are infinite, eternal, and unchangeable.
(Jn 4:24; Job 11:7-9; Ps 90:2; Jas 1:17; Ex 3:14; Ps 147:5; Rev 4:8; Rev 15:4; Ex 34:6,7)

WSC #5
Q.Is there more than one God?
A. There is only one, the living and true God.
(Dt 6:4; Jer 10:10)

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.
(1 Jn 5:7; Mt 28:19; Jn 10:30)

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As you can see there is a lot of information provided. The catechism questions will remain the same for the next three weeks therefore don’t feel rushed to have it all  memorized in one week. I pray that the catechism questions, memory verses, and scripture reference are of great use to you in your efforts to raise your children in the Lord.

Doctrinal Standard WSC #5 & 6

Q. Are there more Gods than one?

A. There is but one only, the Living and True God.

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.

Scripture Memory

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:18-20, ESV)

Study Passage: Matthew 28:16-20

Support Passages: Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Deuteronomy 32:39; Isaiah 43:10; Ephesians 1:3–14; Acts 2:37-41, 8:14-17; Genesis 1:26, 3:22, 11:7; Ephesians 4:4-6;

Bible Story: Matthew 3: The Baptism of Jesus testifies to the Trinity.

Thoughts

• There is one God in three persons. Each person of the trinity is separate from the other two but fully and equally God.
• The word trinity is not found in the Bible but the early church fathers developed the term to easily explain the concept.
• There are many illustrations that try to explain but don’t completely and fully explain the trinity. Norman Geisler best explains it using the mathematical formula of  1 X 1 X 1 = 1.
• Each person of the trinity has distinctive roles. This is not an exhaustive list but a simple example. The Father has predestined believers to salvation, Christ has redeemed believers through His death, and the Holy Spirit is our guarantee of salvation. Refer to (Ephesians 1:3–14).

Discussion Questions

• What is the trinity?
• How does the baptism of Jesus display the trinity?
• What is a good illustration to explain the trinity?
• Is one part of the trinity more powerful or has more authority then another?
• How do the different persons of the trinity work together for our good?

Posted in Study Guides Family Devotional Guidelines Phil Anady Ephesians 1:3-14 Matthew 28:16-20
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Doctrinal Standard WSC #4

Q. What is God?

A. God is a spirit, whose being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth are infinite, eternal, and unchangeable.

Scripture Memory

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9, ESV)

Study Passage: Psalm 94

Support Passages: (Holy)Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 15:4 (Just) Isaiah 30:18; Job 34:12; Revelation 16:7; Psalm: 82; Psalm 103:6; 146:6-9 (Good) Psalm 145:8-9, 103:8

Bible Story: John 10:1-18 Jesus the good Sheppard

Thoughts

Justice – the perfection of His nature whereby He is infinitely righteous in Himself and in all He does, the righteousness of the divine nature exercised in his moral government. At first God imposes righteous laws on His creatures and executes them righteously

Holy – most common association is separation and brightness. There is nothing else like God. He is holy.

Good – viewed generally, it is benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of His creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favour on the unworthy it is grace

(Easton, M. (1996). Easton’s Bible dictionary. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.)

Discussion Questions

• What does it mean that God is holy?
• Why does the Bible call believers to be holy?
• How does Christ death and the Holy Spirits indwelling help us become holy?
• What does it mean that God is just?
• If God is just why is there so much injustice?
• What does it mean that God is good?
• What is the standard of good?
• How do you measure up to that standard?
• How does Christ help us measure up to that standard?

Posted in Study Guides Family Devotional Guidelines Phil Anady Psalm 94
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With the Veteran’s Day Holiday on Friday and Thursday being Melissa’s and my marriage anniversary we are canceling youth this week.   Have a great week!

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This Thursday, we are going to take a break from our apologetic study of scripture and focus on the first five catechism questions from the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Each week, we have briefly discussed the weekly catechism question and answer keeping pace with the children and the rest of the church. This week, we will take time to examine, discuss, and strive to understand these important doctrinal standards. Listed below are the catechism question and answers we will be looking at. Hope to see you there!

WSC #1
Q. What is man’s primary purpose?
A. Man’s primary purpose is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.
(1 Co 10:31; Ro 11:36; Ps 73:25-28)

WSC #2
Q. What authority from God directs us how to glorify and enjoy Him?
A. The only authority for glorifying and enjoying Him is the bible, which is the word of God and is made up of the Old and New Testaments.
(2 Ti 3:16; Eph 2:20; 1 Jn 1:3,4)

WSC #3
Q. What does the bible primarily teach?
A. The Bible primarily teaches what man must believe about God and what God requires of
man.
(2 Ti 1:13; 2 Ti 3:16)

WSC #4
Q. What is God?
A. God is a spirit, Whose being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth are infinite, eternal, and unchangeable.
(Jn 4:24; Job 11:7-9; Ps 90:2; Jas 1:17; Ex 3:14; Ps 147:5; Rev 4:8; Rev 15:4; Ex 34:6,7)

WSC #5
Q.Is there more than one God?
A. There is only one, the living and true God.
(Dt 6:4; Jer 10:10)

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Doctrinal Standard WSC #4

Q. What is God?

A. God is a spirit, whose being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth are infinite, eternal, and unchangeable.

Scripture Memory

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9, ESV)

Study Passage: Psalm 139

Support Passages: Psalm 90:1-6; I Kings 8:27; Job 11:7-9; Romans 11:33-36; Psalm 147:4-5

Bible Story: Exodus 3:1-15

Thoughts

The name God uses to describe himself is “I am who I am.” This name communicates that He always has and always will be present. The Expositor’s commentary explains it as, “I am truly He who exists and who will be dynamically present then and there in the situation to which I am sending you.” Moses had the confidence that God would not leave Him. The Holy Spirit is evidence in our own lives that God will never leave us because of what Christ did on the cross for our sins.

God is omnipresent and contains complete wisdom and knowledge of all that is created. We have the comfort that the God who dwells in us will guide us and help form us into the image of His Son Christ Jesus.

Discussion Questions

• Psalms 139 says that God knows everything about us so why do we think we can hide sins from God?
• How does the fact that you can never escape God’s presence make you feel?
• How does creation display the power of God?
• How does creation display God’s wisdom?
• According to Psalms 139 why is human life so sacred?
• What did God mean when He told him His name was “I am who I am”?
• How does this name speak to God infinite, eternal, and unchangeable attributes?
• Why is there comfort in the fact that God is unchangeable?

Posted in Study Guides Family Devotional Guidelines Phil Anady Psalm 139
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This week we will conclude our three week study on the evidence for the existence of God. The last two weeks we examined the cosmological argument also known as the first cause argument and the moral argument. This Thursday we will be examining teleological or intelligent design argument. With the increase of technology and the ongoing study of molecular biology scientist are beginning to see that living things are composed of microscopic complex organisms that point to an intelligent designer known as God.  To aid us in the study of the teleological argument, we will be watching and discussing a DVD titled “Unlocking the Mystery of Life” by Michael Behe.

As we conclude our series on the evidence for the existence of God. I want to remind you that we have only briefly addressed these topics. The goal of doing so is to expose our students to the fact that there are logical and evidential reasons for believing in God. I pray that our students will further their study in these areas as they grow in their faith and are challenged by their peers and teachers.

Hope to see you there!

-Phil

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Doctrinal Standard WSC #4

Q. What is God?
A. God is a spirit, whose being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth are infinite, eternal, and unchangeable.

Scripture Memory

“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24, ESV)

Study Passage: John 4:1-26, 38-42
Support Passages: I Timothy 1:15-17, 6:13-16; Isaiah 40:12-31, 45:5-25
Bible Story: I Kings 18:21-40;

Thoughts

God is a spirit. He is not a material being nor is not confined to one location. We are called to worship God in spirit. The worship of God the Father must be done with the understanding that His Spirit dwells within the individual believer and that we are accepted by the Father because of the death of Christ for the punishment of our sins. Furthermore, God is Spirit He is not confined to a single place therefore we are able to worship God at any location that we may be. Last, God is a spirit that is unseen therefore our worship is out of faith of the unseen.

We are to worship God in truth. Worshiping God in truth starts with the understanding Jesus is the only way to the Father. If we are to worship God in truth it must be done through the redeeming power of Christ blood. We must also worship God in accordance to His everlasting attributes and in the manner by which he prescribed in His commands.

Discussion Questions

• What does it mean that God is a Spirit?
• If God is a Spirit why is He described as having physical features of humans (eyes, hand, etc)?
• Is God the only spirit?
• If God is a spirit then why did Jesus come as a man?
• Why should we be careful to only think of Jesus as a physical being?
• What does it mean to worship God in truth?
• What can we learn about God from His attributes?
• Can God’s attribute’s conflict with one another?

Posted in Study Guides Family Devotional Guidelines Phil Anady John 4:1-26 John 4:38-42
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